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. 

Bajra Khichdi (Pearl Millet Porridge)

          Khichdi is a great comfort food. It is generally prepared as a quick one-pot meal. Here in this recipe I have replaced rice with bajra (pearl millet) and have used whole moong dal (green gram lentil) to come up with this healthy food. 

          Please note that this is a pure satvik food. I have not added any onion or garlic. It can be relished as a brunch / lunch or dinner along with pickles, papad or yoghurt. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 1 cup Bajra (Pearl Millet), dry roasted & soaked overnight
• 1/2 cup Sabut Moong Dal (Whole Green Gram Lentil), soaked overnight
• 2 tbsp. ghee
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp. asafoetida
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 tsp. grated ginger
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. cumin powder
• 1 tsp. coriander powder
• salt to taste
• 4-5 cups lukewarm water
• 1 tsp. ghee to garnish
• 1 tsp. chopped coriander leaves, to garnish

          Coarsely grind the soaked bajra and moong dal. Keep aside. Heat ghee in a pressure cooker and temper with cumin seeds, asafoetida, green chilies and ginger. Sauté for a few seconds.

          Add all the dry spices and mix well. Now add the ground bajra and moong dal. Mix to combine well and stir fry for 1-2 minutes. 

           Add 4-5 cups water and pressure cook for 5-7 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. 

           Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with ghee and coriander leaves. Relish with some roasted papad and pickle for a healthy one- pot meal.

                                 Coarsely grind the soaked bajra and moong dal.

                    Heat ghee in a pressure cooker & temper with cumin seeds, asafoetida,
                    green chilies & ginger. Sauté for a few seconds.

                                 Add all the dry spices and mix well. 

                          Add ground bajra & moong dal. Mix well & stir fry for 1-2 minutes. 

                       Add 4-5 cups water & pressure cook for 5-7 minutes on a low flame 
                       after the first whistle. 

                  Transfer to a serving dish & garnish with ghee & coriander leaves. Relish
                  with some roasted papad and pickle for a healthy one-pot meal.

                  

Bajra Pakora (Pearl Millet Fritters)

           Make something different with the Bajra (Pearl Millet) grains. So how about some healthy and yummy pakoras for an enjoyable tea-time snack? It is made with few basic ingredients easily available in your kitchen and can be dished out in no time. 

          They can also be enjoyed hot, with kasundi (mustard sauce), tomato sauce or green chutney as appetizers too. They also tastes great with hummus or mayo. So check the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

          As Bajra 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 yummy pakoras / fritters. Potatoes can be substituted with sweet potato for a healthier version. So check for a step by step guide with pictures to prepare it.

• 1/2 cup bajra grains, soaked overnight (makes around 20-22)
• 1 potato, boiled & mashed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1" ginger, grated
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. roasted coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 2 fresh red chilies, chopped
• 2-3 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 tsp. flaxseed
• oil to deep fry

          Pressure cook the bajra in sufficient water for 15 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. Drain and add with rest of the above mentioned ingredients (except oil) into a dough.

           Make round balls out of it and refrigerate for some time. Heat oil in a pan and deep fry in batches till golden in colour.

           Drain on a kitchen towel and serve with kasundi (mustard sauce), tomato ketchup or green chutney for an evening tea-time snack. 

                     Pressure cook bajra in sufficient water for 15 min. on low flame after the 
                     first whistle. Drain & add rest of the ingredients (except oil) into a dough.

                                Make round balls out of it and refrigerate for some time.

                     Heat oil & deep fry in batches till golden. Drain on a kitchen towel.

                      Serve with kasundi (mustard sauce), tomato ketchup or green chutney for
                      an evening tea-time snack. 

Bajra (Pearl Millet) Tikki / Cutlet / Patty

         Introduce your family and friends to some healthy and yummy tikkis made of Bajra (Pearl Millet) for an enjoyable tea-time snack. It is made with few 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 Bajra 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 tikkis. Potatoes can be substituted with sweet potato for a healthier version. 

• 1/2 cup bajra grains, soaked overnight (makes around 10-12)
• 1 potato, boiled & mashed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1" ginger, grated
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. roasted coriander powder
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 2 fresh red chilies, chopped
• 2-3 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 tsp. flaxseed
• oil to shallow fry

           Pressure cook the bajra in sufficient water for 15-20 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. Drain and add with rest of the above mentioned ingredients (except oil) into a dough.

           Make round shaped tikkis out of it and refrigerate for some time. Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a tawa / pan and shallow fry the tikkis, few at a time, on both sides till light golden in colour.

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

                            Mix boiled bajra with other ingredients (except oil) into a dough.

                    Make round shaped tikkis & refrigerate for some time. Heat 1 tbsp. oil &
                    shallow fry the tikkis on both sides till light golden in colour.

                                  Drain on a kitchen towel.

                       Serve with tomato sauce / green chutney for an evening tea-time snack. 

Bajra (Pearl Millet) Dates Burfi

           Want to surprise your family and friends with a really unique dessert? Then try this guilt free burfi made of Bajra (Pearl Millet) and dates. I have not added any sugar or artificial colour and I guess this type of burfi is generally not made or heard of. 

          So give it a try and surprise your loved ones with this healthy and exotic dessert. They are extremely easy and quick to prepare. Serve them as an offering to God or store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator to be enjoyed later.

• 1/2 cup bajra grains, dry roasted & ground to a fine powder
• 12-15 seedless dates, soaked in warm water for an hour
• 3 tbsp. ghee
• 2 tbsp. milk powder
• 2 tbsp. almond powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. rose water
• 1 tbsp. mixed nuts
• 1 tsp. dry rose petals
• 1/2 tsp. toasted sesame seeds

          Blend the dates into a fine paste and keep aside. Heat 2 tbsp. ghee in a pan and sauté the bajra powder for 1-2 minutes. 

          Add the dates puree, milk powder and almond powder. Mix well and add the milk followed by the cardamom powder.

           Combine everything well and continue to sauté on a low flame till everything comes together and leaves the sides of the pan. Add the remaining ghee and mix well.

           Switch off the flame and add the rose water. Transfer to a greased plate and garnish with the chopped nuts, rose petals and sesame seeds.

           Set aside to cool down before refrigerating for an hour. Cut as desired and relish this unique, healthy and exotic dessert.

          

         

Stuffed Bajra (Pearl Millet) Sandwich

          If you are thinking of introducing some healthy snack in your family, then try this simple and easy sandwich. I stuffed it with some boiled bajra and cheese along with some seasonings for a quick sumptuous snack. They can also be served as an after-school snack or as a lunch box meal. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

• 4 brown bread slices
• 1/2 cup boiled & drained bajra (pearl millet)
• 2 cheese cubes
• pinch of salt
• pinch of pepper
• 1 fresh red / green chili, chopped (opt)
• 1-2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• butter as required

           To make these yummy sandwiches, spread some butter over the bread slices. Place one slice on a greased sandwich maker and spread 1/2 of the bajra, cheese, chili's, coriander leaves and a pinch of salt and pepper powder.

          Place another slice over it and close it firmly. Now place the sandwich maker over an open flame and roast on both sides till done. 

           Gently remove it and serve with green chutney or sauce for a healthy and nutritious breakfast / evening snack. They may also be packed for a lunch box meal. 

                   Spread some butter over the bread slices. Place one slice on a greased 
                   sandwich maker & spread 1/2 of bajra, cheese, chilies, coriander leaves,
                   pinch of salt & pepper powder. Place another slice over it & close it.

                    Place sandwich maker on an open flame & roast on both sides till done. 

                    Gently remove it & serve with green chutney / sauce for a healthy and
                    nutritious breakfast / evening snack. 

                               They may also be packed for a lunch box meal.