Health

How To Cook Millets?

To maintain good health, what becomes imperative is to plan our diet. Yes, this means you have to cut down on all the fast food and replace them with healthy substitutes. Millet is one such healthy substitute that must feature in your diet. But don’t be sad, in this blog alongside listing the benefits of millets, we will be also listing ways, that is, how to cook millets with some exciting recipes.

The famous English Proverb “Health is Wealth” has perhaps made the most sense with the onset of this Pandemic. Of the many things that the Pandemic has made us realize is definitely the importance of maintaining good health. It is only when we are healthy, we can be productive and ensure our holistic well-being.

So let’s get started!

About Millets

Before we dive into the ways of preparing millets along with a few of its exciting recipes, let us first know a bit about this cereal.

Millets are a group of coarse grains indigenously grown in the central and southern parts of the country. They have high nutritional benefits and are packed with protein, fibre and vitamins- which gives you all the reasons on why you should eat them! Millets is an umbrella term for a host of different varieties of cereals –ragi, jowar, bajra, sonwa, barr, chenna etc. etc. Amongst these various kinds, the most popular form of millet is bajra followed by ragi and jowar.

How to cook Millets:

It is definitely now known to us that millets are the best for your health. However, one of the reasons why people are not so fond of including millets in their diet is because they don’t seem pleasing to our taste buds. Sure they look like birdseed, but when cooked the right way they can be extremely delicious. 

Tips for cooking Millets

Cooking Millets can be a little tricky but once you know the right technique, you will love the dishes prepared as they will become your comfort food. So, here are a few tips to cook Millets:

1. If the Millets cool down, it will become difficult for you to chew or swallow. Hence it is advised to sprinkle some water before reheating them.
2. If you are cooking Millets in the microwave, you must use a microwave-safe bowl and cover it with a lid on partial terms.
3. Whether cooking the Millets in a pan or microwave, it takes 20-25 minutes.
4. It is very important to wash the Millets properly before cooking to get rid of any dirt.
5. It is suggested to pre-soak the Millets sometime before the preparation, approximately 15-20 minutes.
6. While cooking the Millets in a pressure cooker, add 1 ¾ cups of water along with salt as per your taste.

Still don’t believe us? Well, we will be now listing three different millet recipes, which will change your perception of millets.

Jowar upma

Take the jowar and wash it several times in water, until it turns clear. For this, you might need to rub the jowar between your palms. Add fresh water and soak them overnight. This helps to digest the fibre and increase its bioavailability.

• Next morning, drain the water completely out of the jowar. Take jowar in a cooker and add fresh water and turmeric. Pressure cook them for 3 whistles. (2 whistles on medium flame and 1 whistle on low flame respectively.) After the pressure goes off, fluff them up.
• Heat oil in a pan and add cumin and mustard. Saute them evenly. When they begin to splutter, add urad dal and fry them until golden.
• Now add onion, chilli and ginger. Saute them until they are soft.
• To this add the vegetables of your choice. Cover the lid and let them cook till they are soft. Afterwards, add some salt and turmeric.
• Finally, add the fluffed Jowar and some grated coconut for flavour. Cook for 2-3 mins.
• Sprinkle some lemon juice and coriander to complete it. Serve hot with some papad!

Check out the basic jowar millet recipes.

Savoury millet pancakes

• Wash different varieties of millets-sorghum, kodo and pearl millet. Soak them overnight
• Next day, put the different varieties of millets in a grinder. Add some water and grind the grains-till it turns into a smooth and thick batter.
• To this batter, add salt and ferment for 6-8 hours.
• After 6-8 hours, add spices-ginger, jeera, green chillies, curry leaves, onion and coriander leaves. Mix them well into the batter.
• Heat the pan by adding some oil. Pour 2-3 ladles of the batter. Cover with a lid and cook on low heat for 8-10 mins.
• Keep on flipping the pancakes till it’s well-cooked.

Millet porridge

• Take the desired quantity of millet and roast them well in a saucepan. Make sure you only roast them till they start crackling.
• Now add some almond milk (4cups), ¼ cup of coconut sugar, 1tsp vanilla extract, ½ tsp almond extract, ½ tsp cinnamon and ½ tsp salt. Finally, add some nuts to it.
• Mix them well to ensure there are no lumps. Cover the lid and cook it for around 20 mins. Keep stirring occasionally.
• Once cooked well, pour it in a bowl. Serve hot with some fresh fruits or nuts.

All these recipes definitely sound delicious right! They surely are. So definitely try them out and incorporate them into your diet. It is only when we eat well, we will be healthy, wealthy, and wise!

10 Different And Delicious Kodo Millet Recipes

Kodo Millet is an annual grain that is primarily grown in India and also in various parts of the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand. This is a popular Upvas (fast) food in various parts of India. This type of millet is considered superior to rice, is gluten-free, and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Millets are all very nutritious and have many benefits, check out the benefits of millets. Let’s get into the Kodo millet benefits and some delicious recipes.

These grains are well-suited to poor soils and dry land and chemical-free cultivation, are the closest we have come to finding a climate-resilient grain that benefits farmers and consumers equally.

Kodo millet in Telugu is Arikelu or Arika, kodo millet in Hindi is Koden or Kondra, kodo millet in Tamil is varagu and kodo millet in Kannada is Harka.

Arikelu / Kodo Millet Nutrition

Kodo millet can substitute rice or wheat. It can be cooked just like rice or ground into flour. It provides balanced nutrition, unlike regular white rice or wheat. Listed below is the nutritional value of Kodo Millet. 

1. Antioxidant and Anti microbial activity 

Kodo Millet consist of polyphenols and antioxidants. They possess antimicrobial action against some bacterias 

2. Anti-Diabetic

Anti-diabetic compounds in Kodo Millet such as quercetin, ferulic acid , p-hydroxybenzoic acid , vanillic acid etc helps reduce fasting blood glucose level and promotes significant increase in serum insulin level.

3. Cholesterol Reduction 

Regular consumption of Kodo millet helps to lower the triglycerides and C-reactive protein,thus it lowers the bad cholesterol and is ideal for your heart.

4. Anti-obesity 

Kodo is high in fiber and prevents gain in weight . It also helps to prevent rise in cholesterol and triglyceride levels and is a functional food to manage weight and promotes weight loss.

Kodo Millet Benefits (Arikelu Benefits)

Here is the list of traditional benefits of Kodo millet. 

• Beneficial for postmenopausal women 
• Hydration of colon 
• Controlling blood sugar and cholesterol 
• Reduction of cancer risks 
• Management of diabetes mellitus 
• Treatment of inflammation , hemorrhages and general debility.

How To Cook Kodo Millet? 

All you need is just a pan or a pot and the right proportions of water to millet to perfectly cook the millet. Here is the procedure to cook Kodo millet. 

• 1 cup raw Kodo millet 
• 2 cups of water 
• One pinch of salt ( optional ) 
• Half a teaspoon of clarified butter or ghee ( optional ) 

Process:

Take a pan , add in the raw kodo millet. Toss it for about two minutes on medium flame and add 2 cups of water , salt and ghee to it . Cover it and cook for about 15 mins.

For porridge like consistency add 3 cups of water instead of 2. 

10 Yummy Kodo Millet Recipes 

Kodo Millet can replace regular white rice or some fancy grains like quinoa in almost any recipe. Kodo millet is one of the most fiber-rich foods grown across the globe. This high fiber millet needs to be soaked beforehand for about 1 hour to reduce its cooking time. Here are some simple Kodo millet recipes that anyone can indulge into.

Here are some simple kodo millet recipes that anyone can indulge into. 

1. Kodo Millet Tamarind Rice | Kodo Millet Puliyogare | Kodo Millet Pulihora 

Puliyogare or puliyodharai or pulihora is a rice recipe primarily made with rice and tamarind paste. In this recipe for Kodo millet tamarind rice we are going to replace regular white rice with the kodo millet to make it healthier. Let us check out the recipe.

Ingredients:

• Kodo millet – 1 cup 
• Tamarind extract (thick) – 1 cup 
• Coriander seeds – 1tsp
• Fenugreek seeds – ½ tsp 
• Urad Dal  -½ tsp 
• Bengal gram – ½ tsp 
• Dry red chillies – 6 
• Asafoetida 
• Turmeric powder – a pinch 
• Cuyrry leaves 
• Mustard seeds – ½ tsp 
• Cold-pressed sesame oil/coconut oil/any refined oil 
• Salt to taste 

Method:

1. Soak the Kodo Millet for one hour. 
2. Pressure cook the Kodo millet rice with turmeric powder. 
3. Grind the coriander seeds and red chilies. 
4. Now heat some oil in a pan. Fry the Bengal gram, urad, mustard seeds, and fenugreek seeds for 45 seconds. 
5. Pour the tamarind pulp, add salt, coriander-chili powder, curry leaves, and bring to a boil. 
6. Add the cooked Kodo millet and stir well.

Kodo Millet Tamarind rice is ready to serve.

2. Kodo Millet Methi Pulao 

Methi Pulao is very easy to make one pot rice dish made with rice and methi leaves. As a side dish for methi pulao you can always use raita. In this recipe for Kodo Millet Pulav we are going to use kodo millet as the main ingredient instead of regular white rice. Check out the recipe given below.

Ingredients:

• Kodo millet rice – 1 ½ cups 
• washed methi leaves – 1 Bunch ( large variety) 
• Desi cow ghee -2 tsp 
• Cashew nuts – 10 
• Green chillies -2 
• Ginger – Small piece 
• Garlic – 3 to 4 cloves 
• Cinnamon – 2 inch 
• Cardamom – 1 
• Coconut Milk – 1 cup 
• Salt to taste 

Method:

1. Soak Kodo millet for one hour.
2. Grind the green chilies, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom into a coarse powder.
3. Heat some ghee in a pan and add thinly sliced onions, fry them till they are golden brown, and keep them aside.
4. In the same pan add cashew nuts, fry them till they are brown.
5. Add ground masala powder and fry it for a minute, add washed and drained methi leaves and stir cook until the leaves start to wilt.
6. Next, add the soaked Kodo rice and the coconut milk, and 2 cups of water.
7. Add salt to taste and mix it well.
8. Cover and cook on low heat for about 12 to 15 mins stirring a couple of times in between.

Switch the flame off, add the fried onions on top and Kodo millet methi pulao is ready to serve. 

3. Kodo Millet Upma

Upma is the most common south Indian breakfast dish typically made with rava. This vegetable upma recipe is packed with the goodness of vegetables and also the rava is replaced with kodo millet for a healthier version of it.

Ingredients:

• Kodo millet – 1 cup 
• 2 – 2 ½ cups water 
• Onion – finely chopped 
• Small tomato – finely chopped 
• ½ cup mixed vegetables – beans , carrots , peas etc 
• Green chillies – 2 to 4 finely chopped 
• Coriander leaves 
• Lemon juice to taste 
• For tempering – mustard seeds , black urad gram , bengal gram , pinch of turmeric and a few curry leaves 

Method:

1. Take a pan and heat some oil.
2. Add the tempering seeds and fry them till they are brown, then add curry leaves, onion, and green chili and saute for a minute.
3. Now, add the finely chopped vegetables and saute for 4 mins.
4. Add water and bring that to a boil.
5. Now add in the millets, cover, and cook for about 12 to 15 mins.

Kodo Millet Upma is now ready to serve.

4. Kodo Millet Dosa 

Dosa is a very good breakfast option. The traditional recipe of dosa is made with rice and urad dal. In this recipe for kodo millet dosa a major portion of rice is replaced with kodo millet. A reasonable amount of raw rice is used to make the dosas crisp. Here is the process of how to make kodo millet dosa.

Ingredients:

• Kodo millet – 1 ½ cups 
• Raw rice – ½ cup 
• Urad dal – ¼ cup 
• Methi seeds – 1 tsp 
• Salt 
• Water 
• Oil 

Method:

1. Wash the dry ingredients thoroughly with water and soak in water for 5 to 6 hours. Drain the water, add enough water to it and grind it into a fine batter.
2. Make sure to ferment the batter for about 12 hours at room temperature.
3. Add salt to taste and cumin seeds.
4. Heat a skillet, take enough batter, and spread it.
5. Add a bit of oil to the edges and flip it when one side of it is fried.

Serve it hot with chutney or sambar.

Note: For an instant millet dosa recipe i.e; millet dosa without fermentation, use kodo millet flour instead of kodo millet rice. Also add 2 tbsp curd to it, mix well and make dosas.

5. Kodo Millet Coconut Rice | Kodo Millet Thengai Sadam

Coconut rice is a filling and wholesome one-pot rice dish made with rice and coconut as the main ingredients. Coconut milk is the main ingredient that makes the dish flavourful and tasty. This Kodo millet recipe is made with Kodo millet instead of regular white rice.

Ingredients: 

• Scraped coconut – 1 cup 
• Cooked kodo rice – 2 cups 
• Oil 
• Mustard seeds – ½ tsp 
• Red chilies – 2 
• Split black gram – 1 tsp 
• Curry leaves 
• Ginger – a small piece 
• Green chili – 1 
• Peanuts (deep-fried) – ½ cup 
• Salt to taste 
• Coriander leaves 

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan.
2. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter, then add red chilies, urad dal saute till the dal turns light brown.
3. Add curry leaves, ginger, and green chill.
4. Mix and add coconut and saute for a while on low heat. Add peanuts and mix, add Kodo rice and mix lightly. Add coriander leaves and mix.

Serve hot with sambar.

6. Kodo Millet Pongal 

Pongal is a breakfast or lunch recipe. It is the easiest among the Kodo millet recipes. It is usually made of rice and moong dal cooked together in a pressure cooker by adding a few spices to add a mild flavor to it. In this tasty Pongal recipe, rice is replaced with Kodo millet to give it a healthy twist.

Ingredients:

• Kodo millet – 1 cup 
• Moong dal – ⅓ cup 
• Salt to taste 
• Ghee – 3 tsp 
• Cumin seeds -½ tsp 
• Pepper powder – ½ tsp
• Curry leaves 
• Ginger – small p[iece 
• Green chilies – 1 to 2 

Method:

1. Dry roast Moong dal in a pan till the aroma comes out. Make sure you don’t brown them.
2. Wash the millet once or twice and combine with moong in a pressure cooker.
3. Give a quick saute to the chilies and ginger and add it to the cooker.
4. Add salt, ghee, and water and cook it over medium flame for one whistle. Reduce the flame and cook for 3 minutes. Switch off the gas. Fry some cashews, curry leaves, and whole peppercorns and add them to the Pongal.
5. Sprinkle the coarsely ground jeera-pepper powder and give a gentle toss to the Pongal and serve it hot.

7. Kodo Millet Kheer (Kodo Payasam)

Payasam is made in many versions with different ingredients. A few of the varieties are rice, vermicelli, sago, etc. This recipe for Kodo millet kheer is made with Kodo millet instead of rice and is packed with the flavor of coconut milk for making it healthier.

Ingredients:

1. Kodo millet – 1 cup 
2. Jaggery 1 ½ cups 
3. Grated coconut – 2 tsp 
4. Coconut milk – ½ cup 
5. Cardamom – a pinch 
6. Ghee – 2tsp 
7. Garnish – fried cashew nuts , raisins, almonds and coconut pieces 

Method:

• Cook Kodo millet in a pressure cooker. See if it’s well cooked.
• Meanwhile, melt jaggery in a pan. Remove scrum.
• Then add cooked Kodo millet, grated coconut, coconut milk, water to the melted jaggery. Bring to boil.
• Heat ghee in a pan and roast all the nuts and then pour over the payasam.

This is simple sweet recipe among the Kodo millet recipes, is ready to serve.

8. Kodo Millet Brinjal Rice | Kodo Millet Vangi Bath

Brinjal rice or vangi bath is a traditional rice dish. It is made differently in different areas across India. Here is the recipe for a healthy and tasty version of Vangi bath with Kodo millet. Let us now check out the recipe.

Ingredients:

• Kodo millet – 1 cup 
• Brinjal – 4 
• Onion – 1 
• Bengal gram – 1 tsp 
• Urad dal – ½ tsp 
• Turmeric powder – a pinch 
• Mustard seeds – ½ tsp 
• Ghee 2 tbsp
• Curry leaves 
• Salt to taste 
• For making masala powder – red chillies 2 to 3 , coriander seeds  1 tsp ,bengal gram 1 tsp , urad dal 1tsp ,cinnamon stick , cloves 2 , coconut gratings , 1tblsp, cold pressed sesame oil 

Method:

1. In a pan put 2 tsp of oil and fry red chilies, coriander seeds, Bengal gram, urad dal, cinnamon stick, and cloves separately.
2. Finally, add the coconut gratings and fry well. Cool it.
3. Add salt and grind it into a powder. Cook Kodo rice until soft. Chop the onion finely.
4. Cut the brinjal into lengthwise thin slices.
5. In a pan put the ghee and when it is hot add mustard, when it pops up, add Bengal gram dal and urad dal and fry till it turns light brown.
6. Add chopped onion, curry leaves, and fry well.
7. Then add brinjal along with turmeric powder and salt and stir fry till the brinjal is soft. Add ground masala powder and stir well.
8. Then add cooked Kodo millet and mix well. Serve hot with fried papad or chips.

9. Kodo Millet Masala Vada:

This mix dal vada recipe is an easy to make snack dish. Kodo Masala Vada is packed with protein as we use different dals in it. Here is the recipe of how to make masala vada using kodo millet and different dals. 

Ingredients:

1. Boiled Kodo millet – 1 cup 
2. Urad dal – ¾ cup 
3. Chana dal – ½ cup 
4. Toor dal – ½ cup 
5. Green chilies – 4 
6. Red chilies – 4
7. Ginger 1 inch piece 
8. Salt 
9. Asafoetida 
10. Curry leaves 
11. Groundnut oil 

Method:

• Soak each of the dals and Kodo rice separately for 4 to 5 hours.
• First, grind Kodo rice coarsely, then grind urad dal finely.
• Now grind the two dals along with chilies, ginger and curry leaves, and asafoetida coarsely.
• Now mix it all together, add salt to taste.
• Heat oil in a pan. Now deep fry this Kodo vada, flip them and serve hot with spicy coconut chutney.

10. Kodo Millet Banana Flower Vada | Vazhaipoo Vadai Recipe

Banana flower or Vazhaipoo is healthy and tasty when used in the right proportions. This banana flower recipe Vazhaipoo vada recipe below is a snack recipe that is packed with the health benefits of Kodo millet, jowar flour, and banana flower. 

Ingredients:

1. Banana flower – cleaned and chopped – 1 cup 
2. Kodo millet rice – 1 cup 
3. White jowar flour  – ¾ cup 
4. Urad dal – 2 tbsp 
5. Green or red chili – 4 to 5 
6. Fennel seeds 
7. Cumin seeds 
8. Onion – ¼ cup 
9. Grated coconut – 2 tbsp 
10. Asafoetida 
11. Coriander leaves 
12. Curry leaves 
13. Salt to taste 
14. Cold-pressed coconut oil for deep frying 

Method:

• Soak dal, Kodo millet rice together for 3 hours.
• In a blender, grind chili, cumin, fennel first, and then add the dal, completely drained from water and grind coarsely.
• Then add the chopped banana flower and grind to your desired consistency.
• Transfer it to a mixing bowl and add coriander, curry leaves. Mix well.
• Heat cold-pressed coconut oil in a Kadai.
• Grease your hands with water and make medium-sized vadas in your palm.
• Drop the vadas in oil and cook on medium flame.

You can fry 4 to 5 at a time. Fry both sides until brown and crisp or until the inside gets cooked well. Kodo Millet banana flower vada is ready to serve.

Kodo millet is rich in fibre and other nutrients. This millet can also be used for weight loss and other health benefits. The above mentioned kodo millet recipes are easy to make recipes and can be used as healthy replacements for your regular rice varieties. Hope you try these recipes. 

How to keep yourself hydrated during the winter season?

Frost biting cold is the perfect weather for a winter break – but is not at all perfect for our sensitive skin. You may love winters personally but when it comes to skincare, it can be a little harsh! Just as summer or rainy seasons, in winters too, your skin demands intensive care. While you all love to snuggle up in the winters, your skin wants to stay hydrated. 

The harsh and gripping cold makes your skin dry, chapped and flaky. This is not a good sign at all. You may not sweat at all in the winters; hence you may not feel the need to drink water. But your skin demands extreme care so that it remains hydrated even in winters. So how do we do that? 

Here are some hydration tips for winter that are a must to keep your skin soft and smooth: 

1. Drink enough water 

Staying hydrated during the winters might feel a tough task as you do not feel that thirsty as compared to summers. So when you drink less water, you urinate less and the toxins remain in your body. This is not good for your skin. 

Eventually, you will lose out on the appearance of your skin likewise. So even if you do not feel thirsty, think about your skin that needs that water and hydration to remain healthy and glowing. At the same time, make it a habit of carrying your own water bottle anywhere you go. Remember, that your skin needs enough water! 

2. Consume hydrating foods 

Eat foods and fruits that are rich sources of water content. Consume lots of spinach, radish, carrot and other leafy veggies. They are not only rich in water content but also iron. Oranges, watermelon, papaya, kiwis and pineapple are rich in vitamin C and minerals as well. 

On the other hand, strawberries, celery, and yoghurt are some more food that are rich in water content and will keep your body hydrated for long hours. You can also prepare homemade soup by combining all the winter veggies together. This will increase the intake of fluids in winters. 

3. Layer your clothes 

One of the most unique and effective hydration tips for winter is to layer your clothes. Wearing breathable fabrics even in winters allows air to enter your body. This will keep you hydrated. Wearing extremely skin-hugging or tight cardigans will not allow air to pass. This will minimise water loss of your body. 

4. Sweat in the gym 

Consider your workout needs. The more you workout, the more you sweat. This will enhance your water intake. You will not feel the need to drink water unless you sweat out. 

If you are not the one to hit the gym early in the winter mornings, the next best option for you is yoga and workout at home. Performing yoga daily will keep your body and muscles warm and relaxed. This will also increase the intake of fluids. Also, you can opt for facial yoga. This will also help you achieve healthy skin in winters. 

5. Olive Oil 

Olive oil is a must in winters! So not only for eating but olive oil is also used for massage. A good body massage with warm olive oil keeps your skin hydrated enough so that it doesn’t get flaky. 

It is power-packed with the goodness of nutrients and fat; keeps your skin hydrated, soft and plump for long hours. You can also use extra virgin olive oil on your face so keep your skin soft. 

6. Dark chocolate 

Who doesn’t love dark chocolate? If you are the one who loves eating dark chocolate, here is one more reason enough for you to get these. Chapped skin, dryness, dull and dehydrated skin is all so common in winters. To keep your skin glowing even in winters, consume dark chocolates. 

Here is another alternative – if you don’t like dark chocolates, you can very well apply it on your face. Give your skin a good massage with melted dark chocolate to rejuvenate your skin. Within minutes, your skin will glow and feel hydrated. Because dark chocolate contains flavanols, this nutrient helps to keep your skin hydrated, glowing and healthy. 

Note:

Everything is interrelated when it comes to hydration tips for winter– from exercise to yoga to gym, to drinking lots of water and eating healthy and nutritious food.

By doing all this the entire winter season, you will keep your body and skin hydrated. And most of all do not forget to follow a healthy diet as following a healthy diet regime is important as it will also improve blood circulation in your body. A healthy diet in winters is equal to healthy and glowing skin and body.  

Now, all you need to do is get out of your blanket and let go of that procrastination and just be out there. Keep yourself hydrated and fulfil all your dreams!