Millets THE Indian superfood

Millets are superfoods, rich in macro and micro nutrients. Their inclusion in children’s diet is highly recommended. Try these simple millet recipes: writes Ramiya Sakthivel Health benefits. Millets are a good source of protein, fibre, minerals and vitamins. They boost cardiovascular health, prevent diabetes and obesity, reduce inflammation in the gut and aid digestion. MILLET PORRIDGE Ingredients • 1 cup millet of your choice • 1 tbsp oil or ghee • Coriander leaves • 1.5 cups of water Preparation guide • Roast millet of your choice in a heavy bottomed pan • Add oil or ghee • Once golden brown, simmer and add water and coriander leaves. • Simmer for 20 minutes • Serve hot (For an Italian twist, season it with oregano and chilli flakes)   LITTLE MILLET BIRYANI Ingredients • 1 cup washed and soaked little millet • 1 onion (big) • 1½ cup mixed vegetables (1 carrot, potato, a handful of peas, 5 beans) • 1 tomato (small) • 2 tbsp cooking oil or ghee • Whole spices — 1 cinnamon, 2 cloves, 1 cardamom, bayleaf, star anise • ½ tsp fennel seeds • ½ tsp ginger garlic paste • Chopped mint leaves • ¼ tsp turmeric powder • 1 tsp red chilli powder • ½ tsp garam masala • 1 tsp yogurt • Salt to taste • 1.5 cups water to cook rice Preparation guide • Heat a cooker with oil or ghee, temper it with whole spices, add fennel seeds and onions. Saute until translucent. • Add ginger and garlic and saute until raw smell is gone • Add half of the mint leaves and mix well • Shell peas and chop vegetables. Add vegetables, tomato, yogurt and all the dry powders except for salt. Cook over low flame until oil is released from the sides. • Add water, remainder mint leaves and millet. • Mix well and pressure cook on low flame for one whistle. • Open cooker after the steam is released. If necessary, add ¼ cup water and cook for one more whistle on high flame. • Don’t add more water, as little millet gets soppy fast. • Serve hot with onion and cucumber raitha. (Little millet can be replaced by kudo millet)   FOXTAIL MILLET NIPPATTU Ingredients • 1 cup foxtail millet flour • 1 cup rice flour • 1 cup gram flour (besan) • 2 tbsp dry roasted peanuts (peeled and lightly crushed) • 2 tbsp finely crushed dry red chillies (chilli flakes) • 1 tsp desiccated coconut (shredded and dried) • 1 tbsp cumin seeds • 1 tbsp sesame seeds • ½ tsp ajwain • ½ cup finely chopped dill leaves • ¼ tsp hing • 1 tbsp hot and melted butter • 1-2 cups hot water • Salt to taste • Oil to deep fry Preparation guide • Dry roast all three flours separately over medium flame until they turn aromatic (4-6 minutes). Let them cool. • Mix all flours, chilli flakes, sesame seeds, cumin seeds, ajwain, dill…