Bread (Pav) Upkari (Usli) - 1

"Bread (Pav) Upkari (Usli) - 1" ... A delicious bread upkari prepared usually for breakfast with leftover bread slices ... but then the desire to relish them makes me buy them fresh to prepare the same ... The soft spiced bread pieces are really a delight to bite on early in the morning .... Yummilicious ... 

** There is nothing elaborate about this dish and is prepared in almost all homes in southern parts of India. It is was a sort of making best out of waste sort of dish for evening tiffin in my parents home when we came home hungry from school. I really have nostalgic memories of this and the bun my father used to bring home from bakery for us children to have in the evenings. Bread Upkari / Usli can be prepared for breakfast was news to me as my Mom never prepared the same for bf. Being a large family we always had dosas or Idly for bf. and all such dishes were always reserved for tiffin in the evening. But nowadays the family being nuclear it serves the purpose to prepare the same for breakfast too. Frankly in my home we never prepare bread upkari out of leftover bread for the very purpose that there never remains any. We get small packs and I never buy in large quantities. But I love bread usli, so whenever I desire for the same, I just buy a large pack and prepare the same with it. Again, Mumbai is famous for laadi pav (bread) which is available in every nook and corner in bakeries fresh almost on hourly basis. Many a times I buy pav and tear them into small pieces and prepare the same too. Do try this out if you have not yet tried it out, sure to love it. I have not yet come across anyone who tasted it say it is just ok. the reply always was fantastic, delicious, superb or yes as I always say yummilicious. 

** Here is the simple Method of preparing "Bread (Pav) Upkari (Usli) - 1" .... My Style ...

** Make small pieces of 10-12 slices of bread and put it in a wide bowl. You can keep a stack of 4 bread slices and cut them lengthwise into 4 and then width wise into 4 and you will get perfect squares. Apply about 1-2 tblsp of cold milk all over the bread slices loosely and keep it aside. 

** Note : You can use any type of bread like in Mumbai we get laadi pav where in each laadi meaning set has about 6 or 8 pav / bread pieces attached together. Commonly served with vadas with chutney in between or with bhaji they are very famous as Vada pav and Pav bhaji. If its available you can prepare the upkari / usli using them too like I do. Just tear them into small pieces and proceed to prepared in the same way as that of bread.

** Heat 2 tblsp of ghee / oil in a thick bottomed kadai, when hot add in ½ of urad dal and when they slightly change in colour add in ½ tsp of mustard seeds (rai/sasam), when it splutters, add in a large pinch of jeera seeds (cumin) and 4-5 green chilly cut lengthwise, fry for a few second and then add in 8-10 fresh curry leaves (kadipatta/karbevu) and fry another second, add in ¼ tsp of haldi (turmeric) powder and ½ tsp of hing (asafoetida) powder and stir well. 

** Immediately add in 2 finely chopped medium sized onions and fry till translucent. Add salt to taste, 2 tbslp of freshly grated coconut (Optional) and fry for another minute or so. Finally add in the prepared bread pieces and mix well, cover and let cook on minimum heat for a few minutes, keep stirring in between so that it does not get burnt. Lower the heat to minimum, cover and let cook on low heat in its own steam for about 4-5 minutes. Garnish with coriander leaves and remove from fire.

** "Bread (Pav) Upkari (Usli) - 1" is done and ready to be served. Serve it fresh immediately as it is. This snack does not need any accompaniment and tastes lovely both as breakfast or tiffin in the evening. You can also carry the same in your lunch box to work, in which case if your tiffin box is not the insulated type avoid addition of coconut gratings as they tend to turn sour after 6 hours of time. 

** I am sure there is plenty of bread available in your vicinity or there will always be left over bread slices in your home. Do try this out and relish with your family and friends. Children who are sometimes reluctant to eat other meas always like bread dishes like sandwiches, toasted with cheese etc. I am sure bread is one of their fav. items, do try this out and ask them share it with their friends, I am sure they will like it. 

** I would like to say something which I hope all of you will take it in good spirit. NEVER EVER WASTE FOOD, be thankful to God for the lovely meals you get to relish, there are people out there who sometimes do not get to eat a morsel all through the day. If you make it a habit in your homes not to waste food the next generations will pick this good gesture from you and so will the coming generations from each generation. Food Saved is food earned. 

** If at all you do not want to eat leftover food, in this case you can prepare with fresh bread slices, but in case of other dishes, it may not be so. So cook food only that much how much you will need, a little bit less is much better than having to throw away food. But in case of leftovers, store it in well condition, packed well in fridge and give it away to the needy. Do heat it well before you give it over to them. NEVER give stale or spoilt / rotten / fermented food to anybody. Food shared to the needy will always give you huge profits in way of  blessings from a helpless heart. Thank you.