Bread Upma (Bread Poha) is a South Indian-style breakfast or snack recipe made using bread slices, onions, tomatoes, and spices. This quick and easy dish comes together in under 20 minutes and is a great way to use leftover bread slices (vegan).

About Bread Upma (Bread Poha)

Bread Upma (Bread Poha) is a South Indian-style breakfast or snack recipe that is super easy to make and a great way to use the leftover bread sitting in the fridge.

Made using bread slices and a few spices, bread upma comes together in under 20 minutes using simple ingredients. Load it with veggies or nuts for a healthier version.

This tasty and filling leftover bread recipe is vegetarian and vegan, too.

South Indian style bread upma is made like our usual poha. The difference is that instead of poha (flattened rice), bread is used to make this dish.

Serve it for breakfast with a cup of kadak masala chai or pack it for school or office lunch boxes.

This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.

Here are some more everyday Indian breakfast recipes you must try

• Paniyaram
• Moong Dal Chilla
• Paneer Bhurji
• Rava Upma
• Semiya Upma
• Dalia Upma
• Poha
• Indori Poha
• Veg Cutlet
• Rava Pongal
• Masala Paratha

Ingredients and Variations

Bread – Use fresh bread or leftover stale bread; both are fine.

Bread Upma made using white sandwich bread tastes the best. You can also use multigrain bread, brown bread, whole wheat bread, dinner rolls, pav, or soft bread. Try not to use sourdough as they are a little hard.

You can keep the edges of the bread if they are not too hard. If they are hard, I suggest cutting them off.

If you want a gluten-free version, use any gluten-free bread.

This recipe is also a great way to use the top and bottom slices from the packet, which are otherwise left unused.

Vegetables – I like to keep it simple and add only onions, tomatoes, green peas, and green chilies. To make it more wholesome, you can add green beans, sweet corn, carrots, zucchini, etc..

Adjust the green chilies as per your taste. I used Indian green chilies but you can use Serrano peppers, Thai green chilies, or jalapenos.

Oil – Use any cooking oil to make this simple breakfast recipe: light olive oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, etc works fine. You can also use butter or ghee for a richer and more flavorful taste.

Peanuts – Raw peanuts add a great crunch to the otherwise soft upma. Also a great source of protein, it adds to its nutrition too. You can replace peanuts with cashew nuts.

Other Ingredients – You will also need curry leaves, brown mustard seeds, freshly squeezed lime juice, cilantro (fresh coriander leaves), salt, and turmeric powder.

Lime juice can be replaced with lemon juice.

To make this upma protein-rich, add 2 scrambled eggs to the recipe and make bread egg upma.

Add a tablespoon of pav bhaji masala or sambar masala powder along with veggies to make a variation of bread upma recipe.

How To Make Bread Upma

Cut 8 white bread slices into small squares (¼-inch) using a serrated knife.

Note – You can also tear the bread slices using your fingers instead of cutting them. Instead of cutting the slices into cubes, you can also shred the bread into very fine pieces for a texture change.

Splash 2-3 tablespoon of water or buttermilk over them and toss once. Keep aside. This process will make the bread pieces soft.

Heat 2 tablespoon cooking oil in a pan over medium-high heat.

Once the oil is hot, add 1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds and 10-12 curry leaves and let them crackle for 4-5 seconds.

Add ¼ cup of raw peanuts and fry for 20-25 seconds until crispy.

Add

• ½ cup chopped onions
• 2 teaspoon chopped green chilies
• ¼ cup frozen peas
• ¼ cup chopped tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger

and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Note – If using fresh peas, cook them until tender before adding them to the pan.

Now add ½ teaspoon turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon salt and cook for a minute.

Add

• bread cubes
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro

and toss everything well.

Check for salt and add more if needed.

Cook for 3-4 minutes on low heat. Serve hot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Serving Suggestions

Serve this delicious bread upma for a quick breakfast or evening snack, or pack it for school and office lunch boxes.

It can be served independently with a cup of Adrak Wali Chai or South Indian Filter Coffee.

You can also serve Green Chutney or Tomato Ketchup on the side; it tastes good with this upma. I like to top my Bread Upma with some Bikaneri Sev or Aloo Bhujia.

Storage Suggestions

I like to make it fresh! But if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container for about a day or two.

Reheat in a pan or a microwave before serving.

Splash a little water before re heating if the upma looks dry.

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