What was ‘marinated millet’ on Modi’s US menu?

While most people know the popular millets like ragi, jowar, bajra, cheena and sorghum, but what is marinated millets? “Marination basically means adding masala of the chef’s choice,” Chef Pillai says. “The menu does not say the millet of choice or the type of marination used. The chef can prepare the dish after softening the millet or even as a salad.”

What is the best practice to cook and consume millets? Or How to Cook Millets Perfectly

Millets the Superfood, the powerhouse of nutrients that are rich in iron, calcium, protein, vitamins phytochemicals, and anti-oxidants. Due to its magical properties, it has again come back to our plate. These grains were completely lost and we also forgot or not familiar with them.

Lets learn a little bit on marinated millets:

1. Millets and types of millets
2. Soaking and marination
3. Best Way to Cook millets
4. Millet Recipes

Millets and Types of Millets: Millets are the small-seeded grains that are gluten-free, diabetic-friendly with full of nutrients, we can say the treasure of nutrients. It was mostly consumed in every household in India but slowly it was disappearing from our plate due to our more preference for wheat and rice. But now, due to lifestyle diseases again we are bringing back to our diet. The right technique to cook millet is to go with measurement. If the measurement of millet grains and water is perfect, we get the right cooked millets. Lets us follow some tips before and after cooking millets.

Soaking of Millets: When both parents are working and there is always a hurry in cooking breakfast or lunch and the same case of many families. So, it’s better to decide what to cook the next day before going to bed. Soak the millets overnight and it becomes easy and fast in cooking. The best thing is that soaking millets for 6-8 hours breaks down the phytic acid and becomes easy for digestion. If you are planning to cook millet, remember to soak it overnight.

Marination of millets Start early at the time of soaking for good results. Add your flavorful marination mix to your choice of millets and soak overnight. Marinate with whole spices like cloves, cinnamon sticks, black pepper, fennel etc. and a pinch of salt.

Measurement of Water and Grains: We require water as per the Millet Recipe we plan to cook. Let me give you the exact measurement for different recipes. Millet Rice – 1:2 (Millet : Water) Millet Upma with Vegetables – 1:2.5 Millet Khichdi with Pulses & Vegetables – 1:3 Millet Pongal/Porridge – 1:4

Cooking Time: Generally, we require about 5-10 minutes for cooking overnight soaked and marinated millets. If we are cooking in a pressure cooker, we need to go for 2 whistles on a medium flame, and if in an earthen pot/vessel we need to cook for 5-10 minutes on medium flame by covering with a lid. After 5-10 minutes turn off the gas and give a resting time of 10 minutes. Resting time makes the millets fluffy. When we are cooking in a pressure cooker for up to 2 whistles, we need to allow to rest for 10 minutes or up to release pressure.

Millets Recipes:

Millet Pulao Recipe: Millet Pulao Recipe is delicious, healthy, nutritious, and easy to prepare. Millets are good for health as it is gluten-free, rich in dietary fiber, and also helps in weight loss. In this pulao recipe, Millet pulao can be prepared with Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, Kodo Millet, Barnyard Millet, or Little Millet. Millet Upma Recipe: Jowar Upma or Foxtail Millet is diabetic and heart-friendly. It is used as an energy source for pregnant and lactating women, and for sick people and children. Foxtail Millet releases glucose steadily without affecting the metabolism of the body so, it has a low glycemic index. The incidence of diabetes is found to be rare among the people consuming jowar or foxtail millet.

Barnyard Millet Upma Recipe in an Clay/Earthen Pot: Cooking in a Clay/Earthen pot increases the taste, flavour and aroma of the food. Use overnight marinated millets to prepare this recipe. Simply pour the marinated millets to tadka prepared with cumin or mustard and saure of your choice of vegetables. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes and cover with lid to make it fluffy.

Proso Millet Khichdi: Millet Khichdi is healthy and nutritious. This recipe is good for children. This recipe is made using ingredients like proso millet with dal and many vegetables. In the case of vegetables, you can add as per your choice. Prepare it with overnight marinated millets.

Kodo Millet Chicken Biriyani: Biriyani is the royal food introduced in India by the Mughals. It is consumed in most of the family during special occasions. Chicken Biriyani is a delicious savory dish loaded with spicy marinated chicken and flavored with spices. In India, everyone makes biriyani with basmati rice but it can also be made with Millets. Prepare it with overnight soaked and marinated millets. Cook marinated millets sepearely and drain the extra water and spread it to cool down which makes it fluffy. Cook and prepare marinated chicken mix. Now layer alternately with marinated millets and chicken in an earthened pot or any vessel after greasing the bottom. Cook covered until lid feels hot. Serve hot and enjoy.  Cook with OrganoNutri millet mixes for better nutrition with convenience.​