Friday, October 4, 2019

Kodo Millet (Varagu)~Gherkins (Tondli) Masala Bhaat.


"Kodo Millet (Varagu/Harka/Kodra)~ Gherkins (Ivy Gourd/ Tendle/ Tondli) Masala Bhaat" ... tasty spiced/ masala dish prepared with the goodness of millets ... Yummilicious .....  

** Once again a simple Masala Bhaat using millets, this time I used Kodo Millet/Varagu/ Harka/ Kodra along with Gherkins/ Ivy Gourd/ Tendle/ Tondli and it was delicious. The recipe is the same as posted a few days back wherein I used Varai ie Indian Barnyard Millet along with Tambdi Bhajji ie Red Amaranth Leaves. I will not run into much details, as I have already written about them, so will straight away post the recipe. You can also refer to the previous masala bhaat’s posted in the Blog using the search option or the label section. Do try in to includes millets into your diet though not at one go, as I found that they are a little bit difficult to digest unlike those prepared with rice. So go slow and prepare the leaving out a few days and you will be fine till you get sort of used to millets. 

** Here is the simple Method of preparing "Kodo Millet (Varagu/Harka/Kodra)~ Gherkins (Ivy Gourd/ Tendle/ Tondli) Masala Bhaat" ... My Style using simple powders available in our kitchen ... 

** Wash and soak 2 cups of "Kodo Millet (Varagu/Harka/Kodra)" for 10-15 mins. Strain, wash and put it in a pressure cooker pan with 4 cups of water, 1 tsp of oil and ½ tsp of salt and cook on medium flame to 2 whistles back to back. 

** Remove from fire and keep this aside to cool, when you are able to open the lid, do so and allow the cooked millet to cool for 5 minutes. With a fork, slightly separate the cooked millet, breaking down all lumps if any and keep this ready aside. 

** Wash the "Gherkins/Tendle" say about 200 gms. Slice off the edges and cut them into 4 pieces lengthwise. Once again wash them and put them in a pan with about one cup of water and cook till 80% done. Remove and keep it aside ready. 

** In a small bowl add in a small piece of "Tamarind" with half a cup of hot water and allow to rest for 15 minutes, gently squeeze out the pulp, strain and keep it ready aside. 

** Add 2 tblsp of oil + 1 tblsp of ghee in a thick bottomed kadai / pan and when hot enough, lower the heat and add in 1 tsp of mustard seeds, when they begin to splutter add in 10-12 curry leaves and fry well. Add in ½ - 1 tsp of hing powder, 2 tblsp of kashmiri red chilly powder, ¼ tsp of haldi powder, 1 tblsp coriander powder, 1 tsp of jeera powder, 1 tsp of fennel powder, 1 tblsp of garam masala powder fry for a minute. 


** Add in the cooked and kept aside gherkins/tendle along with salt to taste and the tamarind water and mix well. Be careful with addition of salt as a little bit is already added to the kodo millet while cooking. Cover and let cook for 5 minutes. 

** Now add in the cooked Kodo millet little by little taking care to mix it all as you proceed till all the cooked millet is added. The mixture should be well mixed. Cover with lid and allow to cook/heat well on low heat for a good 10 minutes mixing in between. Garnish with a handful of finely chopped coriander leaves and then remove from fire. 

** "Kodo Millet (Varagu/Harka/Kodra)~ Gherkins (Ivy Gourd/ Tendle/ Tondli) Masala Bhaat" is done and ready to be served. Serve this hot with plain curds or any raita of your choice. You can serve this with any salad or saar or kadhi too. I served it with beetroot raita as I found millets to be little difficult to digest and in such case beetroots always help in digestion of food. 

** Try this simple masala bhaat with millet and enjoy with your family and friends. You can prepare this dish with any millet like foxtail, varai, sama or any other that is available in your vicinity. I have purchase a few varieties of millets and will be trying them out each in the same manner one day at a time. 

** You should understand that the taste of millets may differ slightly from the one’s prepared with rice and one has to adapt to it slowly as millets are somewhat bland. So do keep the spice level slightly higher than for the normal ones prepared with rice. It is believed to be healthier, so do introduce at least some time into your diet. 

** You can use the search option or the go through he link provided below and check out different types of masala bhaat/ bhaatH prepared and posted in my Blog before and choose and prepare that which you would like to try …

** An Earnest Request : There are many more recipes of different types in the blog. For all my Recipes, use the search option or the label section in the Blog. If you are still not able to find it or have a query, please leave a message in comment section or mail me the same. I will try my best to get back to you as soon as possible. Do try out various types of dishes included in the Blog and Enjoy them with your family and friends and do give me a feedback if possible.

** I am happy to inform you that I have also started a food group for by the name "KONKANI DELICACIES" which is over and year old, with about 22 K strong members. It is a pleasure to inform that you will find in the group many more recipes posted by our expert members and you too can share some of your own. The link to the group is posted on the left side of the blog page. Do join us in our culinary journey. I strongly believe in Sharing and always endorse that "Sharing Is Caring" Thank You.

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