Semiya Bagalabath or Curd Semiya is an excellent alternative to traditional curd rice. This Thayir Semiya is a good party dish to make in under 30 minutes.

When my mother visited this summer, I had a lot of opportunities to learn several simple dishes that were classic and traditional. The semiya bagalabath or vermicelli bagalabath was such a pleasant change from the routine curd rice .

Semiya Bagalabath in a bowl - 1

I am not in any way saying this could take away the thayir saadham / curd rice’s place from my family. That always holds a special spot, but when making semiya upma , this is a wonderful thing to make along with it.

My mother started off the procedure just as we would for semiya upma and then let it cool down and added the curd to it. This way the spices were spread all across the dish. This is also a lovely party dish to make.

If using the roasted vermicelli available in the market, making the dish is a breeze. I have made the semiya bagalabath without any vegetables, but if preferred you could add onions and any other vegetable of your choice.

Preparation time - 5 minutes Cooking time - 25 minutes Difficulty level - easy

Semiya Bagalabath in a blue bowl - 2

Ingredients - serves 4 (along with another dish or 2 by itself)

  • Semiya / Vermicelli - 1 cup
  • Curd / Yogurt - 1 cup (whisked slightly)
  • Water - 2 cups
  • Salt - to taste
  • Oil - 1 tsp

To season -

  • Mustard seeds - ½ tsp
  • Jeera - ¼ teaspoon (optional)
  • Ullutham paruppu / urad dal - 1 tsp
  • Kadalai paruppu / channa dal - 1 tsp
  • Red chilies - 1
  • Green chilies - 1 (sliced)
  • Asafetida - a pinch
  • Curry leaves - few
  • Oil - 1 tbsp

To garnish -

  • Cilantro - few (chopped)
  • Cashews - 2 tablespoon (cut into small pieces)
  • Raisins - 1 tbsp

Procedure to make Semiya Bagalabath -

  • Heat a wide pan and add 1 teaspoon of oil to it. Add the cashews and the raisins and let it fry until golden brown. Drain it and keep it aside.

  • In the same pan, add the semiya and fry it until it slightly starts to change color. If using roasted semiya, you could skip this step. Remove it from the pan and keep aside.

  • Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan and add all the ingredients under seasoning. Fry them till the mustard seeds splutter and then add the water. Add the salt needed for the dish and let the water come to a boil.

Frying the ingredients in a pan - 3
  • Once the water boils vigorously add the semiya to the boiling water and cook it until very soft. The semiya would be a little watery when done, but when it cools down it will come together.

  • Let the cooked semiya cool down and bit and then add the whisked yogurt to it. Mix it well and check the seasoning. If needed, add more yogurt to the Thayir Semiya.

Cooking in a pan - 4
  • Garnish the semiya bagalabath with roasted cashews and raisins and add the cilantro.
Semiya Bagalabath served in a bowl - 5

Similar Dishes

  • Thayir Saadham - Curd Rice - Spiced Yogurt Rice
  • Homemade Yogurt / Curd / Dahi / Thayir
  • Dahi Paneer - Dahi Wala Paneer - Paneer Subzi in Yogurt Gravy
  • Dahi Baingana | Fried Eggplant in Yogurt Sauce

Recipe

Semiya Bagalabath in a bowl - 6

Equipment

  • ▢ pan
  • ▢ bowl
  • ▢ spatula

Ingredients

  • ▢ 1 cup Semiya / Vermicelli
  • ▢ 1 cup Curd / Yogurt whisked slightly
  • ▢ 2 cups Water
  • ▢ to taste Salt
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon Oil

To season -

  • ▢ ½ teaspoon Mustard seeds
  • ▢ ¼ teaspoon Jeera optional
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon Ullutham paruppu / urad dal
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon Kadalai paruppu / channa dal
  • ▢ 1 Red chilies
  • ▢ 1 Green chilies sliced
  • ▢ a pinch Asafetida
  • ▢ few Curry leaves
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon Oil

TO GARNISH -

  • ▢ few Cilantro chopped
  • ▢ 2 tablespoon Cashews cut into small pieces
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon Raisins

Instructions

  • Heat a wide pan and add 1 teaspoon of oil to it. Add the cashews and the raisins and let it fry until golden brown. Drain it and keep aside.
  • In the same pan, add the semiya and fry it until it slightly starts to change color. If using roasted semiya, you could skip this step. Remove it from the pan and keep aside.
  • Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan and add all the ingredients under seasoning. Fry them till the mustard seeds splutter and then add the water. Add the salt needed for the dish and let the water come to a boil.
  • Once the water boil vigorously add the semiya to the boiling water and cook it until very soft. The semiya would be a little watery when done, but when it cools down it will come together.
  • Let the cooked semiya cool down and bit and then add the whisked yogurt to it. Mix it well and check the seasoning. If needed, add more yogurt.
  • Garnish the semiya bagalabath with roasted cashews and raisins and add the cilantro.

Nutrition

More Entree

  • Mooli Ka Paratha | Radish Paratha
  • Vellam Sadam | Sweet Jaggery Rice
  • Ajwain Paratha | Carom Seeds Flatbread
  • Bikaneri Chana Dal Paratha | Lentil Stuffed Flatbread
Semiya Bagalabath in a bowl - 7

Semiya Bagalabath / Curd Semiya / Thayir Semiya

Equipment

  • pan
  • bowl
  • spatula

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Semiya / Vermicelli
  • 1 cup Curd / Yogurt whisked slightly
  • 2 cups Water
  • to taste Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Oil

To season –

  • ½ teaspoon Mustard seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon Jeera optional
  • 1 teaspoon Ullutham paruppu / urad dal
  • 1 teaspoon Kadalai paruppu / channa dal
  • 1 Red chilies
  • 1 Green chilies sliced
  • a pinch Asafetida
  • few Curry leaves
  • 1 tablespoon Oil

TO GARNISH –

  • few Cilantro chopped
  • 2 tablespoon Cashews cut into small pieces
  • 1 tablespoon Raisins

Instructions

  • Heat a wide pan and add 1 teaspoon of oil to it. Add the cashews and the raisins and let it fry until golden brown. Drain it and keep aside.
  • In the same pan, add the semiya and fry it until it slightly starts to change color. If using roasted semiya, you could skip this step. Remove it from the pan and keep aside.
  • Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan and add all the ingredients under seasoning. Fry them till the mustard seeds splutter and then add the water. Add the salt needed for the dish and let the water come to a boil.
  • Once the water boil vigorously add the semiya to the boiling water and cook it until very soft. The semiya would be a little watery when done, but when it cools down it will come together.
  • Let the cooked semiya cool down and bit and then add the whisked yogurt to it. Mix it well and check the seasoning. If needed, add more yogurt.
  • Garnish the semiya bagalabath with roasted cashews and raisins and add the cilantro.

Nutrition