Barnyard Millet Kanchipuram Idli (South Indian Breakfast)

 

            Millets are very popular these days, So let me share an idli recipe made of Barnyard millet. This wonder grain is both diabetic and heart friendly. It is a great substitute to rice and has a lot of health benefits and antioxidants. So do try this yummy millet idli and relish for breakfast / brunch with coconut chutney and sambar. Do check the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this amazing comfort meal.

          Kanchipuram idlis are slightly different from the usual idlis. A tempering of mustard seeds, cumin seeds, crushed black pepper, broken cashew, urad & chana dal, grated ginger, chopped green chilies, asafoetida and curry leaves in ghee is poured into the batter before steaming.

          Another unique feature is that idli moulds are not used to steam them. Instead, greased small tumblers or containers are made use of to prepare these Kanchipuram idlis. 

Ingredients - 

• 1 cup Barnyard millet
• 1/3 cup urad dal (split black gram)
• 1/2 tsp. fenugreek seeds 
• a pinch of asafoetida
• 1/4 tsp. dry ginger powder
• 1 tsp. oil to grease the idli moulds
• coconut chutney & sambar to serve

Tempering - 

• 1 & 1/2 tbsp. ghee
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
• 8-10 cashew nuts, broken
• 1 tsp. urad dal
• 1 tbsp. chana dal
• 1 tsp. black peppercorns, coarsely pounded 
• 1-2 green chilies, chopped
• a pinch of asafoetida
• 1 tsp. ginger, grated
• 1 sprig curry leaves

          

          Wash the millet, urad dal and fenugreek seeds well and soak in sufficient water overnight or for a minimum of 4 hours. Wash again and rinse. 

          Grind into a smooth paste and make a batter of pouring consistency. Add salt to taste, dry ginger powder and asafoetida. Mix well and keep aside to ferment overnight or for a minimum of six hours. 

          Just before steaming the idlis, heat ghee in a pan and temper with all the mentioned ingredients. Sauté for a minute and pour this tempering over the prepared batter. Give it a mix.

          Grease the tumblers / small containers and ladle the batter into it. Fill only 3/4 of the tumbler.

          Steam for 12-15 minutes or till a knife inserted into it comes out clean. Time may vary depending on the height of the tumblers.

          Set aside to cool for some time. Then demould with the help of a knife dipped in water.  Serve them hot with coconut chutney and sambar for a healthy, sumptuous breakfast.

                       Take 1 cup Barnyard millet, 1/2 cup urad dal & 1/2 tsp. fenugreek seeds.

                      Wash them well & soak overnight or for a minimum of 4 hours. Wash 

                      again and rinse. 

                       Grind into a smooth paste & make a batter of pouring consistency. Add 

                       salt to taste, dry ginger powder & asafoetida. 

                      Mix well & keep aside to ferment overnight or for a minimum of six hours. 

                     Just before steaming the idlis, heat ghee in a pan & temper with all the 

                     mentioned ingredients. Sauté for a minute.

                                 Pour this tempering over the prepared batter. Give it a mix.

                           Grease the tumblers / small containers & ladle the batter into it. 

                           Fill only 3/4 of the tumbler.

                         Steam for 12-15 minutes or till a knife inserted into it comes out clean. 

                         Set aside to cool for some time. Then demould with the help of a knife

                         dipped in water.  

                             Serve them hot with coconut chutney and sambar for a healthy, 

                             sumptuous breakfast.

Foxtail Millet Cutlet

 

           Millets have been cropping up as wonder foods on menus across the world and people are  replacing rice / wheat for millet substitutes. Foxtail, a variety of millet is highly recommended for its high nutritional benefits. So introduce your loved ones to some healthy and yummy cutlet / tikkis made of Foxtail Millet for an enjoyable tea-time snack. It is made with basic ingredients easily available in your kitchen and can be dished out in no time. 

          They can be enjoyed hot, with some tomato sauce or green chutney as appetizers too. They also tastes great with hummus and can be wrapped in parathas / chapattis for a lunch box meal. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

           As this particular millet is packed with essential nutrients like fibre, protein, iron, etc. it is highly recommended in our diet. So make use of it by preparing these cutlets. Paneer can be substituted with potato as per your preference. 

• 1/2 cup foxtail millet, soaked for 2-3 hours
• 100 gms. paneer
• 2 tbsp. gram flour
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1" ginger, grated
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• salt to taste
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp. coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp. cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1/2 tsp. red chilil powder
• 2-3 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• oil to shallow fry

             Pressure cook the millet in 1 cup water for 4 whistles. 

           Then blend in a food processor along with the paneer. (Do not add any water) 

  

           Mix with the rest of the ingredients (except oil) and form a dough.

           Make cutlets of any shape out of it and refrigerate for some time. 

 

           Heat oil in a pan and shallow fry the cutlets, few at a time, on both sides till light golden in color.

           Drain on a kitchen towel and serve as an evening tea-time snack or as an appetizer with tomato ketchup / green chutney.

                Mix the blended millet & paneer with the rest of the ingredients (except oil).

                                 ...... and form a dough.

                            Make cutlets of any shape out of it and refrigerate for some time. 

                      Heat oil & shallow fry the cutlets on both sides till light golden in colour.

                                  Drain on a kitchen towel.

                  Serve as an evening tea-time snack or as an appetizer with tomato ketchup / 

                  green chutney.

Bajra (Pearl Millet) Fried Rice

 

           Bajra (Pearl Millet) is a wonderful substitute to rice. So try this yummy fried rice made of Bajra and serve something different to your family. It will be very much appreciated. Add in some of your favorite veggies or some boiled and shredded chicken / prawns for a non-veg. version. It can be relished just as it is or with any side dish. It makes for a healthy and a wholesome one-pot meal. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 1/2 cup Bajra, soaked overnight
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 tbsp. ghee
• 1" cinnamon stick
• 2 green cardamom
• 4 cloves
• 2 dry red chilies
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 tsp. ginger, chopped
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 cup mixed veggies, slightly steamed (opt)
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• 7-8 cashew nuts
• 7-8 almonds
• 1-2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

           Pressure cook the soaked Bajra in sufficient water for 15-20 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. Drain and keep aside. 

          Heat oil and ghee in a pan. Temper with bay leaves, dry red chilies, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, cumin seeds and ginger. Sauté for a few seconds.

           Add the onion and stir fry till light brown. Add the mixed veggies and stir fry for a minute. Now add the boiled Bajra, salt, cashews, almonds and garam masala powder.

          Mix Everything well and stir fry for 2 minutes. Switch off the flame and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve with any side dish or relish just as it is. 

                      Pressure cook soaked Bajra in sufficient water for 15 minutes on a low

                      flame after the first whistle. Drain and keep aside. 

                        Heat oil & ghee & temper with bay leaves, dry red chilies, cinnamon, 

                        cardamom, cloves, cumin seeds & ginger. Sauté for a few seconds.

                                  Add the onion and stir fry till light brown. 

                                 Add the mixed veggies & stir fry for a minute. 

                       Add the boiled Bajra, salt, cashews, almonds & garam masala powder.   

                       Mix well & stir fry for 2 minutes. 

                                  Switch off the flame & garnish with coriander leaves.

                                  Serve with any side dish or relish just as it is. 

Quinoa Idli (Instant Version)

          I like to start my day with this super healthy and yummy breakfast of Quinoa Idli with my favorite coconut chutney and sambar. So if you are looking to introduce your family to a nutritious meal, then Quinoa Idli is highly recommended. 

          This is an instant version where there is no soaking or fermenting required. It was my first try and they came out very soft and fluffy. So check out a simple step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

           This wonder grain contains dietary fibre, iron and protein and makes for a wholesome first meal of the day. 

            Moreover, you can serve them in a jiffy to your loved ones. They can also be enjoyed anytime of the day and can be packed for a lunch box meal too.

• 1 cup quinoa, powdered
• 1/2 cup semolina
• 1-2 tbsp. oil
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds 
• 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds 
• 1 tsp. urad dal (split black gram)
• 1 tsp. grated ginger
• 1-2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. roasted coriander powder
• 2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 tsp. flaxseeds (opt) 
• salt to taste
• 1 cup yoghurt
• water as required
• 1/2 tsp. oil to grease the idli molds
• sambar & chutney to serve

          Heat oil in a pan and temper with mustard seeds. After it stops spluttering, add the cumin seeds and urad dal. Sauté for a few seconds. 

          Add the green chilies, curry leaves and ginger. Sauté for a few seconds and then add all the dry spices and mix well. Now add the semolina and continue to sauté for two minutes. 

          Then add the powdered quinoa and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Switch off the flame and add the coriander leaves and flaxseed. Keep aside to cool.

          Add the yoghurt and required quantity of water to make a batter. Keep aside for 15 minutes. Add more water to make a thick, but pourable batter. 

          Spoon them into greased idli molds and steam for 15-20 minutes. When it has cooled down slightly, demold and serve them hot with coconut chutney and sambar for a healthy and a wholesome breakfast.

                      The ground quinoa.

                      Heat oil & temper with mustard seeds. After it stops spluttering, add 
                      cumin seeds & urad dal. Sauté for a few seconds. 

                     Add green chilies, curry leaves & ginger. Sauté for a few seconds.

                      Then add all the dry spices & mix well.

                       Add semolina & continue to sauté for two minutes. 

                     Add powdered quinoa & sauté for 1-2 minutes. Switch off flame.

                       Add coriander leaves & flaxseeds. Keep aside to cool.

                      Add yoghurt & some water to make a batter. Keep aside for 15 minutes.
                      Add more water to make a thick, but pourable batter. 

                       Spoon them into greased idli molds & steam for 15-20 minutes. 

                       When it has cooled down slightly, demold them.

                       Serve them hot with coconut chutney and sambar for a healthy and a 
                       wholesome breakfast.