Barnyard Millet Vegetables and Lentil Porridge

Barnyard Millet Vegetables and Lentil Porridge

     Kuthiraivali Sambar Sadam is a well-balanced one-pot meal. Right now, one-pot meals are the necessity of the time. One-pot meals not only helps you in saving cooking time but also reduces vessels to wash. You can find many interesting and easy to make one-pot meals in Indian Cuisine.

Why Millets?

     Off late, Millet have been in fashion and you can see many recipes where millets have easily replaced rice. Adding millets instead of rice in any rice-based recipe, reduces the carb level and make the recipe nutritious and light on tummy. Millet carry many health benefits as they are gluten-free and helps in reducing blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Which Millet is good for making Sambar Sadam?

     You can use Barnyard Millet (Kuthiraivali) or Foxtail Millet (Thinai) to make sambar sadam. Both these millets carry almost the same taste and texture upon cooking. Do give it a try. I have used Barnyard Millet in making this sambar sadam.

     Kuthiraivali Sambar Sadam is a nutritive, well-balanced, gluten-free, vegan and plant based one-pot meal. In this lockdown period when we are running low on grocery and vegetables, I find this millet sambar sadam a perfect recipe to keep us going. All you need is a papad or pickle to finish off this piping hot millet sambar rice. Do give it a try today!

INGREDIENTS:

• ½ cup Kuthiraivali | Barnyard Millet
• ½ cup yellow Moong Dal
• 4 Shallots or 2 small Onions, peeled
• 1 Tomato, chopped
• ¾ cup mixed Vegetables *
• 3 tbsp. thick Tamarind paste
• 2 tbsp. Oil
• ½ tbsp. Jaggery
• 1 tbsp. Sambar Powder
• ½ tbsp. Turmeric powder
• 1 sprig Curry leaves
• Salt, as per taste

MIXED VEGETABLES:

• I used Drumstick, Carrot, Radish, French Beans and Brinjals (Purple)

How to make Kuthiraivali Sambar Sadam:

PREPARATION:

1. Thoroughly wash and soak kuthiraivali for at least 30 minutes in enough water.
2. In a pan, dry roast mung dal on medium flame, until it starts to change color (Be careful, don’t burn the dal). Remove this into a bowl and wash thoroughly.
3. Add this dal to a pressure cooker along with soaked kuthiraivali, turmeric powder and 4 cups of water. Pressure cook for 3 whistles. Once the pressure settles, mash with a back of a spoon and set aside.
4. In the meantime, add oil to a pan and drop in onions, chopped tomato and mixed vegetables.
5. Fry on high for 2 minutes and add 1 cup of water. Cover with a lid and cook till water is completely absorbed and vegetables turn soft.
6. To this add cooked kuthiraivali-dal mixture, tamarind extract, sambar powder, jaggery, salt and 3 cups of water.
7. Bring this to boil and add curry leaves. Stir well and check for salt. If required adjust the consistency by adding water. Cook for 6-8 minutes and turn off the flame.
8. If you like, you can fry few cashews or peanuts in a tbsp. of ghee and add to this kuthiraivali sambar sadam.

                                                                                                                                         EnjoyFood!