Wash and drain the broken wheat. Add about ½ cup of water and let it soak for 30 minutes.
Heat a pan and pour in the oil. Add mustard seeds and as they splutter add the groundnuts and chana dal and fry for about 2 minutes. The groundnuts and chana dal will turn brownish in colour after a while.
Add the onion, slit green chillies and red chillies (broken into two halves) and sauté for about 3-4 minutes. Add salt while sautéing.
Now add 4 cups of water and bring it to boil.
Drain the broken wheat and add to the pan.
Cook with closed lid for about 5 minutes, preferably on a medium flame.
Add the grated coconut and curry leaves, stir the upma and cook until there is no water content.
Don’t cook it for too long as the upma may become dry and stick to the pan.
Serve Broken Wheat Upma hot with pappadams and a hot cup of tea/coffee.