Category Archives: Millet recipes

Jowar Chocolate sponge cake |Gluten free millet cake

December 12, 2023 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 3 Comments

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I had always wanted to bake gluten free cakes as it had been the most requested recipe by my readers. But somehow I never got the confidence to shift from wheat flour to a millet flour completely.

Since few months, Jowar flour had become my best friend as I regularly make dosas, idlis and ladoos with it. So when I saw that people have been using it for baking too, I just could not resist trying it out.

Even the first time I tried this cake, it came out so well that I could not believe my eyes. I cut it in squares and asked my family to taste it. As they ate it, they asked for more and more and finally finished off the cake within a day. It was really that tasty. My son even gave me a million marks for it and always asks me to bake it whenever he has craving for cake.

This morning the weather is so beautiful and foggy here in Qatar that I felt like baking. Baking is truly a therapy for me ❤️ and what better cake than this Jowar chocolate cake, which I had to share with all of you too. So I took the pictures and dedicated it to the beautiful weather 😍

Hope you all try and love this healthy and tasty cake too. Do let me know if any doubts and it will be a pleasure to help. Happy and healthy cooking ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

My 1 Cup = 240 ml and even though I usually measure using cups, this time I also measured using my measuring scale for those readers who want accurate measurements.

Dry Ingredients:

1 Cup Jowar flour (Sorghum flour) {106 grams}

2 Tbsp unsweetened Cocoa powder {10 grams}

1/2 tsp Baking powder

1/4 tsp Salt

Wet ingredient mix:

1/4 Cup thick Curd or Yogurt {60 ml}

1/4 tsp Baking soda

1/2 Cup Jaggery powder {66 grams}

1/2 Cup Milk {100 ml}

1/4 Cup Ghee {54 ml}

Step by step recipe:

1. Take yogurt and baking soda in a bowl. Mix well. Keep aside. Also preheat the oven in the center rack at 180 C for 10 minutes.

2. Now sieve together all the dry ingredients – Jowar flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.

3. Keep the dry ingredient mix aside. Now to the yogurt- baking soda mix, add jaggery powder, milk and ghee. Mix well.

4. Now add the dry ingredient mix to the wet ingredients and mix using spatula. Don’t over mix and just fold until you can’t see any dry flour specks.

5. Now add the batter to the cake pan. I used a loaf pan of length 20 cm and width 7 cm. You can also use a square or round pan. Either grease with butter or ghee or use parchment/ baking paper. Spread the batter as evenly as possible.

6. Now add the pan to a preheated oven (read step 1) and bake at 180 C for 15 to 18 mins. In my square cake pan, it takes 15 mins as cake height is less but in my loaf pan it takes 18 mins since the cake has more height. So keep an eye after 15 mins.

Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center. If comes out clear or with crumbs, cake is done. If it comes out wet, bake again for two mins or till done.

7. Allow it to cool. Once cooled, invert onto a plate.

8. Cut into squares and serve. Store in a moisture free container.

Notes:

* Lasts well at room temperature for a day. After that, I refrigerate since it has milk in it, it may spoil. While serving, I microwave for few seconds and it becomes soft again.

* I use Datar or Amlark brand of Jowar flour as it’s readily available in Lulu and other supermarkets here in Qatar.

* I had got many requests for measurements using scale, so I got one and measured the ingredients using the scale for this recipe. But I feel using Cup is so much easier and I recommend using Cups for just the ease of baking. Just make sure you have 1 Cup = 240 ml measuring cup set and you can use that for all my baking recipes without the need of measuring scale.

* This cake batter is a little thicker but the cake comes out very soft and spongy.

* I use both square and loaf pan for this cake and it bakes quicker in square pan at 15 mins. Loaf pan takes few minutes more as the cake height is more.

* Please remember to preheat the oven at 180 C for atleast 10 mins and don’t open over door for atleast 15 mins into the baking time. These are small but important tips while baking. If you are new to baking, I have written an article on the basics of baking. You can read it here: Baking basics for Beginners

* For more healthy cake and cookies recipes, you can check my page : Healthy cakes and cookies collection of recipes

* More recipes with Jowar flour:

Urad Jowar Dosa

Jowar Idli

Jowar Vegetable Bhakri

Instant Jowar dosa

Jowar flour ladoos

Breakfast time, Millet recipes

Barnyard millet Upma |Varai Upma | Easy breakfast with millets

December 3, 2023 Healthy Cooking with Mitha Leave a comment

Breakfast is the most important meal in the day for me and I make sure it’s as healthy and filling as possible. Usually it’s any kind of dosa or idli but on days when the dosa batter is less, upma is my go to breakfast. Quick to make, quicker to finish, I love upma and often wonder why people make fun about it that it’s their least favorite breakfast. 🤔

Today morning, I felt peaceful as kids left for school after weekend 😀 and as I finished my morning walk, I thought of making this Barnyard millet upma. Since I was already feeling peacefully happy, I decided to utilize this moment to blog the recipe too. It has been long I am making this upma for breakfast and evening snack but never took pictures.

I have been substituting semolina or rava with millet for upma since sometime now as it’s more filling and healthy too. Also, I make pulav with millets too instead of rice for a change and love how delicious it comes out. Will share the recipe soon.

Hope you all try this simple yet tasty Barnyard millet upma. I am sure you will like it. Happy and healthy cooking ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients: { Serves 2 to 3 people }

1 Cup = 240 ml

{ Barnyard Millet is called Varai in Konkani, Kuthiraivali in Tamil, Sanwa in Hindi and Kavadupullu in Malayalam }

1 Cup Barnyard millet

3 Cups Water

For seasoning:

1 Tbsp Ghee

1 Tbsp Coconut Oil

2 tsp Mustard seeds

2 tsp Cumin seeds

A sprig of Curry leaves

3 Green chillies

6 to 8 Cashews

Salt to taste

Freshly grated Coconut for garnish

Step by step recipe:

1. Take 1 Cup of Barnyard millet in a bowl and wash it well. Remove water and keep aside. I use Manna brand of millet as it is readily available here in Qatar.

2. Now heat ghee and oil together in a pan. You can use only oil too but ghee adds a wonderful flavour to the upma. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Once mustard starts spluttering, add curry leaves, green chillies and cashews. Fry till cashews turn light brown in colour.

3. Now add the washed millet and roast for few seconds. Now add salt and mix well.

4. Add hot water and mix together with the ladle.

5. Lower the flame to medium, cover and cook till the water gets absorbed completely by the millet and the mixture turns dry (takes about 10 mins) . Check if millet is cooked by mashing between fingers. Garnish with freshly grated Coconut. Serve hot.

Serve Barnyard millet Upma as it is or with peas curry like I have served and with chutney powder. Coconut chutney also goes well with this upma.

Notes:

* I have used Manna brand of Barnyard millet as it is readily available here in Qatar in all major supermarkets. I get mine from Lulu or Grand mall.

* 1 Cup Barnyard millet needs atleast 3 Cups of water to cook. Keep hot water ready beforehand and add as soon as you roast the millet in the seasoning.

* Making upma with millet takes more time than regular upma with semolina or sooji as millet takes atleast 10 mins to cook but it is more filling and healthier.

* You can also add vegetables to make it vegetable upma.

* I also make Barnyard millet idli and it tastes delicious.

* You can check all my Millet recipes here:

Millet recipes Collection

Desserts, Millet recipes

Easy Jowar flour Ladoos with Jaggery |Sorghum millet ladoos | Gluten free

November 9, 2023 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 1 Comment

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I always make few sweets for Deepavali as we have our friends come over to wish us and they bring homemade goodies with them. It feels so happy to share our sweets and joy during festivals, specially during Deepavali where our houses are lit with lamps and lights.

Today is the last weekday here being Thursday and the next two days, my kids are at home. When they are home, my whole day gets busy cooking, with their studies and listening to them (Amma life 😀). So I decided to make the ladoos this afternoon, when the house was silent 😁 and took step by step pictures to share it with all of you. I was amazed to see how many of you liked the Instant Jowar flour Dosa recipe even though it was very simple. Hence I felt this simple recipe will be very useful to you too, during this festive season.

Jowar flour is a very tasty flour and is healthy too. I am trying to include it more in our diet and I am glad that my kids love it too. Hope you all try and love it as well. Happy and healthy cooking ❤️ Wishing all of you a very happy Deepavali. May this festival of lights bring loads of love and happiness in your lives. 🪔

RECIPE:

1 Cup = 240 ml

Ingredients: { Makes around 20 medium sized ladoos }

2 Cups Jowar flour / Sorghum millet flour

1 and 1/2 Cups Jaggery powder

1/4 Cup Ghee (plus 1/2 Tbsp to fry raisins and cashews)

10 to 12 Cashews

10 to 12 small golden raisins

Step by step recipe:

1. Heat 1/2 (half) Tbsp ghee in a pan and add finely chopped cashews and small raisins. Fry on low flame till raisins swell up and cashew bits turn golden. Remove in a bowl.

2. Now heat 1/4 Cup Ghee and add 2 Cups Jowar flour to it. Make sure the flame is medium to low, else the flour can burn. Saute the flour for about 5 to 8 mins till a nice aroma starts coming. Break the lumps using spatula while sauteing.

3. Once the aroma starts coming, saute for few more minutes (about 2 to 3 mins) till the mixture looks like in the below picture. That is when you press using spatula, it should hold shape.

4. Remove from flame and when it’s still warm, add jaggery powder and the fried cashews/raisins.

5. Now mix well till the jaggery powder blends with the jowar flour into a uniform mixture.

6. Start forming ladoos using your hands by taking a small size mixture in your palm as shown.

7. Open and close your fingers while shaping the ladoos in your palm. It is actually very easy to shape these ladoos and they hold shape quickly but if you find it difficult, you can add a little more ghee to shape the ladoos.

8. Repeat the same with all the mixture and the ladoos are ready to be enjoyed ❤️

Notes:

* Store it in a moisture free container. I usually store in a steel box.

* The ratio of ghee to jowar flour to jaggery works perfect for me. You can reduce jaggery powder if needed but I feel this much sweetness is necessary for these ladoos.

* You can skip cashews and raisins if you don’t like it or add more chopped nuts if you like.

* Important step is sauteing of the flour. Make sure the flame is medium to low and saute till the flour turns aromatic and starts holding shape. Don’t keep on high flame as it may burn the flour.

* If you find it difficult to bind the ladoos, you can add more ghee into the mixture or grease your hands with ghee. I do not do both as it was quite easy to bind the ladoos.

* You can also check the other ladoos I make:

* Wheat flour Jaggery Ladoos ( Churmundo)

* Ragi Jaggery ladoos

* Dry fruit Coconut ladoos

* Peanut Jaggery Ladoos

* Mango Coconut Ladoos

* Coconut Badam Ladoos

* I have compiled some of my easiest sweet recipes. They are all sweets that can be made within 15 mins. Hope it will be helpful for you.

Easy Sweets Collection

* Other dishes with Jowar flour that I make regularly:

* Jowar flour Idli

* Jowar flour Dosa

* Instant Jowar flour Dosa

* Jowar Vegetable Bhakri

Dosa corner, Millet recipes

Instant Jowar flour Dosa | Easy Sorghum millet dosa

November 5, 2023 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 6 Comments

I have been going completely crazy this cricket season rekindling all my childhood memories of watching the world cup with my parents and brother. My kids are wondering what happened to Amma 😄 when I shout “India, India” while cheering for our team. 😍 Right now when Virat Kohli finally made his 49th ODI century which I was eagerly waiting for, that too on his birthday today, I wanted to write it in my blog to share my happiness here.

Amongst all this, I don’t feel like cooking at all and am glued to the TV, not wanting to miss any 4 or 6 when our team bats and not wanting to miss any wickets by our amazing bowlers. 😍 But since I am still a mother 😄, I have to cook and that’s when this instant dosa comes handy. I have been making Instant Jowar dosa since few months now and my kids love it.

It becomes a quick snack when they come back from school. Also a very filling breakfast, easy to make and healthy too. Hope you all try and love it too. Do let me know if any doubts and it will be a pleasure to help. Happy and healthy cooking ❤️

RECIPE:

1 Cup = 240 ml

Ingredients: { Makes about 10 to 12 dosas }

2 Cups Jowar flour/ Sorghum millet flour

Salt to taste

About 3 to 3 1/4 cups water

1 medium sized Onion

3 Green chillies

1/4 Cup finely chopped Coriander leaves

For seasoning:

1 Tbsp Ghee or Oil

1 tsp Mustard seeds

1 tsp Cumin seeds/ Jeera

1 tsp whole Peppercorns

Few curry leaves

Step by step recipe:

1. Take 2 Cups Jowar flour in a vessel and add 3 Cups water. Mix using a whisk to remove lumps and make a smooth batter. Add salt and mix well. (Adding one cup of water at a time helps in less lumps in the batter)

**Batter consistency is thinner than regular dosa batter**

2. Now add finely chopped onion, Coriander leaves and green chillies into the batter.

Also prepare seasoning in a small pan by heating ghee, splutter mustard seeds, add cumin seeds, pepper and curry leaves. Fry for few seconds. Remove from flame.

3. Mix the seasoning into the batter. Batter is ready to make dosas instantly.

4. Heat a good quality non stick pan or a well seasoned cast iron pan. It’s important for the dosas to come out easily as it’s thin dosas. Add about two ladles of the batter into the pan, making sure the flame is high. Start adding the batter in the edges of the pan and then add in the middle.

This is the first dosa from the batter. It looked a little thick. So I added 1/4 Cup water more to the batter.

5. Allow it to cook on high flame till the surface cooks completely and edges turn crisp. If needed, you can turn the flame to medium if the dosas turn black underneath. Add ghee or oil on the edges of the dosa. Now fold and remove from flame.

6. Dosa is ready to enjoy with a chutney of your choice. Repeat the same with the rest of the batter.

Notes:

* I have never refrigerated this batter. So don’t know how it will be if refrigerated. Since it’s easy to make, I make fresh batter each time and use it up the same day. You can keep the batter at room temperature for few hours though. It won’t spoil. I sometimes make the batter in the morning and use it as evening snack.

* For me, 2 Cups Jowar flour and 3 1/4 Cups water yields perfect batter. Depending on your flour brand , it might vary a little for you.

* I keep a little batter separate without green chillies for the kids.

* A good quality non stick pan or well seasoned cast iron pan is necessary for the dosas to come out perfectly.

* If the dosas come out thick and you prefer it that way, you can still make it but cook it both sides. For thin dosas, only one side cooking with suffice.

* Other dishes that I make with Jowar flour regularly:

Jowar dosa with Urad dal

Jowar Idli

Jowar Vegetable Bhakri

* You can also try all my “no rice” dosas which includes instant varieties of dosas and also millet based ones.

“No rice” Dosas Compilation

Breakfast time, Desserts, Millet recipes, Snacks

Ragi Ela Ada | Steamed Finger Millet snack | Vegan, Gluten free and Oil free

May 8, 2023 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 3 Comments

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Kids’ schools have started after Eid holidays and days have started flying again. Waking up early, preparing their snack boxes, sending them to school, morning walk, cleaning the house, relaxing till they come back and after that hearing about their day at school, teaching them, walking again in the evening while they play outside, finally preparing for their next day at school and putting them to sleep.

Days are super busy but I would not want it any other way. I have realized being busy is actually great than sitting idle and overthinking. So it’s a blessing in disguise for me. ❤️

In midst of this, is cooking which I love and which brings me happiness. I listen to bhajans and songs while cooking which makes it so peaceful. Music is truly therapeutic. ❤️

Apart from breakfast, lunch and dinner, there is one meal of the day which is most difficult for me – Snack time. Finding a quick, healthy and tasty snack which the kids also love is very hard. So when I tried this Ragi ada inspired by my Kochi memories of the regular ada and it came out so well that we all loved it, I knew I had to share it with all of you too. ❤️

I don’t know why some people think Ragi is bitter. Ragi is such a tasty millet and I use it regularly in my cooking. It is tasty and very healthy too. Have shared all the recipes that I make using Ragi in the notes section towards the end. Do try and I think if you follow the recipe well, adapt it in your cooking, in few days, you will love Ragi too, just like we do. ❤️

Happy and healthy cooking ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients: { to make about 5 adas }

1 Cup = 240 ml

Banana leaves to make the ada

To make outer covering:

1 Cup Ragi flour ( finger millet powder)

Salt to taste

Approx 1 Cup hot water

To make inner filling:

3/4 Cup Jaggery

3/4 Cup freshly grated Coconut

1/4 tsp Cardamom powder

Step by step recipe:

1. Dry roast Ragi flour ( do NOT add oil while roasting) on medium flame till you get an aroma of the flour and it changes colour to a darker tone.

Note: Even if you have roasted ragi flour with you, dry roast for few minutes as it enhances the flavour a lot.

2. Transfer it to a bowl. Add salt.

3. Now add hot water, little by little. Mix as you add water.

4. As you add hot water, little by little, after mixing, the dough will look like this. Do NOT add water after this.

5. Now the dough will be warm. Using hands, mix together to form a smooth and soft dough.

6. Now make the inner filling. Take coconut and jaggery in a pan. Heat it together on medium flame till the jaggery melts and coconut will stick to jaggery. Remove from flame. Add Cardamom powder. Mix well.

7. Now cut the banana leaf into rectangle pieces as shown. Clean it with water and wipe it dry.

Also divide the ragi dough into equal sized balls. If you have taken 1 Cup (240 ml) of Ragi flour, you will get 5 balls.

8. Take a ball of ragi dough and spread it using slightly wet fingers as thin as possible.

9. Take a spoonful of the filling and place it on one half side. Spread it on the half side using spoon as shown in the image below.

10. Fold the banana leaf while closing both the halves as shown.

11. Seal the edges of the dough using fingers so that the filling does not come out.

12. Repeat the same with the rest of the dough balls. Place it on a idli steamer.

13. Steam for 20 to 25 mins on high flame till the ada cooks thoroughly. Remove from flame. Allow it to cool for 5 mins.

14. Now peel off the banana leaf, discard it and enjoy the warm Ragi ela adas. 😍

Just look at the inside of the ada. Sweet, juicy and so delicious 😍

Notes:

* As you can see from the above picture, the ada is of the right thickness and also steamed fully. This is due to spreading the dough thin over the banana leaf and also steaming for atleast 20 mins.

* Even if you have roasted ragi flour with you, dry roast for few minutes to get perfect aromatic ragi adas.

* Do use only hot water while preparing the dough. It took me around 1 Cup hot water for 1 Cup Ragi flour. Add only 1/4 Cup at a time and mix well till you get the dough as in step number 4. Then mix using hands to form a smooth dough.

* Don’t add a lot of water while making dough. It will be difficult to spread if dough is too soft.

* For 1 Cup Ragi flour, 3/4 Cup coconut and 3/4 Cup jaggery made the right filling for me. If you add a lot of filling, it will be difficult to seal the edges. So add only a spoonful to cover half of the ada.

* I have not made this without banana leaves. So can’t say the alternative to it. Spreading the dough on the leaf is easy and the ada turns aromatic too. So try to get the leaves if you can.

* These adas are best eaten soon after they are steamed but tastes yummy even after few hours too. So you can carry it in tiffin box and during travel too.

* A similar recipe with coconut jaggery filling is this Kerala style Nendrapazham nirachathu or stuffed Nendran Bananas..

Nendrapazham nirachathu

* I make many dishes using Ragi flour. You can check the recipes here:

Instant Ragi Rava dosa

Ragi Set Dosas

Instant Ragi Idlis

Ragi Urad Idlis

Ragi Malpuas/ Ragi Pancakes

Ragi Jaggery Ladoos

Ragi Butter cookies

Eggless Ragi Chocolate Cake

Dosa corner, Millet recipes

Instant Ragi Rava Dosa | Quick finger millet dosa

April 16, 2023 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 6 Comments

Of all the millets, Ragi has been my favorite and I make so many dishes with it like dosas, idlis, ladoos, cookies and even a cake. But I had not tried a Rava dosa with it, partially because I am scared of such thin dosas which is tricky to get right.

But few months back, I had this sudden mood in the morning to try it for breakfast and imagine my happiness when it came out so perfectly. Hardly took me about 10 mins to make the batter and within 20 mins, our breakfast was ready. 😍

So now, whenever I have not soaked for regular dosas, ragi rava dosas are our breakfast. It has truly become a favorite ❤️ Not only is it filling but very tasty too specially due to the addition of onions, green chillies and coriander leaves in it.

Hope you all try and love it too. I have added all the tips and tricks to get it perfectly. If you still have doubts, you can comment below or message me on my Facebook or Instagram handle – ” Healthy cooking with Mitha ” and I will help. ❤️

Happy and healthy cooking ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients: { Makes about 10 dosas }

1 Cup = 240 ml

1 Cup Ragi powder / finger millet powder

1/2 Cup Rava/ Sooji

1/4 Cup Rice powder

2.5 to 3 Cups Water ( to make thin batter )

1 medium sized Onion

3 Green chillies

3 Tbsp Coriander leaves

1 tsp Jeera or Cumin seeds

Salt to taste

Ghee or oil to cook the dosa

Step by step recipe:

1. Take 1 Cup Ragi powder, 1/2 Cup Rava and 1/4 Cup Rice powder in a mixing bowl.

2. Now add salt and 2.5 cups water, mixing well with a whisk to form a lump free batter.

3. When the above batter is ready, start chopping onions, green chillies and coriander leaves. Thus the batter gets few minutes of rest too.

Now, add finely chopped onions, green chillies, coriander leaves and cumin seeds/ jeera to the batter. Mix well. Batter ready!

You can make dosas instantly with this batter. No need to ferment the batter.

4. Heat a flat dosa pan till it becomes really hot. Pour a ladle full of dosa batter over it such that it fills the pan.

Just as an example, I have taken two pictures to show how the batter should look in the pan for perfect Ragi Rava Dosa.

If batter is thick and needs more water : The dosa will be thick with less holes and will seem uncooked on the surface.

Not a perfect dosa.. needs more water in the batter.

If your dosa looks like the above one, add about 1/4 to 1/2 Cup water each time till the batter turns perfect.

Once the batter is of perfect consistency, the dosas will turn thin with full of holes like this.

5. Cover and cook on medium to high flame. Add ghee or oil on the sides of the dosa. After a while, the dosa will cook and the thin portions of the dosa will turn brown and crisp.

6. Remove it slowly using the spatula over the edges and then folding it. Repeat the same with the rest of the batter. Serve hot with a chutney of your choice.

Notes:

* I usually serve this dosa with either Amma’s tomato chutney as I have served in the above picture or Hing chutney. Both taste amazing with these dosas.

* For Hing chutney, grind together 1 Cup of Coconut with 3 to 4 Red chillies, 1 tsp Tamarind, 1/4 tsp Hing, salt to taste and little water to a smooth paste. I don’t season it. You can season it with mustard seeds and curry leaves fried in coconut oil.

* Please take care of the ratio of Ragi powder to sooji to rice powder for perfect dosas.

* Also, the batter should not be thick and should be thin to get perfect dosas with holes in it. I have explained it with pictures above. You can read it.

* It took me close to 3 Cups of water to get the right texture of the dosas. It might take you few attempts to perfect these dosas.

* This dosa batter does not need fermentation. You can make dosas instantly.

* They come out well in non stick pans. If using cast iron pans, see that it’s seasoned well..else the dosa can stick to the pan.

* You can also add peppercorns and curry leaves to the batter.

* I refrigerate the batter if leftover and it does not change the texture of the dosas. Just adjust the water quantity in case the batter gets thicker on refrigeration.

* One more similar kind of thin dosa that I make is our own Konkani style Panpolos or Neeru dose. It is with rice and tastes so delicious.

* Other recipes with Ragi that I make always:

* Ragi Set dosas

* Ragi Urad idlis

* Instant Ragi Idlis

* Ragi butter cookies

* Ragi Chocolate Cake

* Ragi Malpuas

* Ragi Jaggery ladoos

* You can check all my ‘No rice dosa recipes’ including dosas with millets here –

No Rice dosa recipes Compilation

Dosa corner, Millet recipes

Kodo Millet Dosa | Soft and tasty Millet Dosa recipe

December 28, 2022 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 2 Comments

Dosa is our favorite breakfast and when we are spoilt for choices, how can one resist making it almost everyday. 😅 We Konkanis are famous for our unique yet delicious dosas and it makes me so happy to add yet another dosa, 34th variety on the blog. You can check all the recipes here – Dosa Corner.

I started making Millet dosas few years back and we loved the flavour very much. Combine it with your favorite chutney and you have a healthy, filling breakfast ready. ❤️

However, I have noted that Millet dosas are best had hot and can’t be packed in tiffin boxes as the texture changes. Also, it tastes the best when cooked in ghee instead of oil.

Kodo Millet is a lesser known millet variety but dosas made it with tastes really delicious, trust me on this. Once you start making it, you are sure to make it again and again..

Hope you all try and like it. Happy and healthy cooking ❤️

RECIPE: { Makes about 15 dosas }

Kodo millet is also known as Kodra (Hindi), Varagu (Tamil), Arikelu (Telugu), Harka (Kannada), Koovaragu (Malayalam)

Ingredients: { 1 Cup = 240 ml }

1/2 Cup Urad dal

2 Cups Kodo Millet

2 tsp Methi/ Fenugreek seeds

Salt to taste

Ghee to cook the dosa

Step by step recipe:

1. Wash well and soak Urad dal, Kodo millet and methi seeds in separate bowls in atleast double the water for 4 hours.

2. Now discard the soaked water from Urad dal and grind it with methi (along with soaked water) till it turns into a smooth batter adding water little by little as required. Pour into a large vessel. Add drained Kodo millet into the mixer.

3. Grind the millet with little water to a smooth paste. Pour into the same bowl. Add salt and mix well with hands.

4. Keep in a warm place for 8 to 10 hours for the batter to ferment.

5. Make dosas either thick or thin. My kids like it thick while we like it thin. For making it thick , just pour a ladle of dosa batter and don’t spread much. For making thin, spread the batter over the pan. Add ghee and cook till the surface cooks. Flip and cook for thick dosas.

6. Repeat the same with the rest of the batter. Serve with a chutney of your choice.

Notes:

* You can refrigerate the leftover batter to make dosas later.

* I used Kodo Millet from Manna brand.

* Don’t discard the soaked methi water while grinding the batter. It is important to get a soft porous texture of the dosas.

* These dosas are best cooked in ghee and eaten hot.

* We love the dosas when made thin but kids like it thick. So make and see how your family prefers it.

* I served it with Hing Chutney. Grind coconut with red chillies, hing, tamarind paste, salt and little water to a smooth paste.

* You can check all my Millet recipes here –

Millet Recipes Collection

* You can all my “No rice” Dosa recipes here –

No Rice Dosa recipes Compilation

* You can check all my dosa recipes here –

Dosa Corner

Idli Stand, Millet recipes

Jowar Idlis | Idlis with Urad dal and Jowar flour

September 21, 2021 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 7 Comments

Had been wanting to add this recipe on the blog since long and so glad I am finally writing this today. As mentioned in my last couple of blogs, my daughter’s school has started. So after sending her in the morning and finishing breakfast for the rest of us, I get some free time to do what I love to do. ❤️

So I have been making some fun reels on Instagram combining my kids’ videos and pictures with my favorite songs in the background. Love how they come out. ❤️ You can check them in my Insta handle @healthycookingwithmitha if you want. Some cute memories from my life. 😍

After my daughter comes in the afternoon, I get busy with feeding her, helping her with her homework and also taking tuitions for a boy who comes for an hour every evening. Love teaching the boy and I am learning so much new from the current syllabus too. Post that follows my outdoor walks and playtime with the kids which refreshes me a lot. Early dinner and a good 8 hours sleep too which gives the required rest to my body. This is how my day passes nowadays and enjoying it a lot. ❤️

Coming back from my life to these idlis 😀, after Ragi flour, Jowar flour has been accepted well by my kids and these idlis are what I make regularly for them. They turn out super soft, really tasty and are very nutritious as well. Hope you all try and love it. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients: { Makes about 20 idlis }

1 Cup Urad dal ( I use split ones )

2 Cups Jowar flour/ Sorghum flour

About 1 Cup water to make the batter

Salt to taste

Step by step recipe:

1. Soak 1 Cup Urad dal in enough water for about 4 hours. Drain the soaked water and grind using fresh water to a smooth paste. Add as little water as possible while grinding. Pour into a large preferably steel vessel.

2. Now add 2 Cups Jowar flour into the batter.

3. Now add about 1 Cup water and make a thick batter free from lumps. The amount of water to add depends on the consistency of the Urad dal batter. I make a very thick Urad batter. So it takes me 1 Cup water to bring the batter to thick consistency. Add salt, mix well with hands and keep aside covered for fermentation for atleast 8 hours.

4. After fermentation, pour the batter into greased idli moulds.

5. Steam for 20 mins or till a knife inserted in the center of the idli comes clear.

6. Serve hot with a chutney of your choice.

Notes:

* I make a simple ginger chutney with these idlis. Grind about 1 Cup Coconut with 3 green chillies, a small piece of ginger, a tsp of tamarind paste, salt and water to a smooth paste. Season mustard seeds and curry leaves in coconut oil and pour over the chutney. Mix well.

* The ratio of Urad to Jowar flour is perfect for me as I grind in mixie. For those of who grind in grinder, you may need a little bit more of the Jowar flour as in grinder, the Urad batter is more.

* An important tip while making these idlis is to NOT add much water both while grinding the Urad dal and also while mixing the Jowar flour. Add water to make a thick batter, thicker than dosa batter. If made a thin batter, the idlis don’t come out as fluffy but you can still make dosas from it.

* This batter can also be used to make dosas.

* I also make Jowar flour dosas. You can check the recipe here – Jowar flour dosas.

* These bhakris from Jowar flour also come out very tasty – Jowar Vegetable Bhakri

* For all Millet recipes – MILLET RECIPES

* For all Idli recipes – VARIETY IDLI RECIPES

Dosa corner, Millet recipes

Ragi Set Dosas | “No rice” soft dosas

April 10, 2021 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 7 Comments

When I had posted the Ragi Urad idli recipe, I had got many queries about if it can be made as dosas too. Though I do make dosas with that batter, there is a way I make my Ragi dosas which come out as soft as restaurant style set dosas and I thought it was high time I share it too.

If not for my readers who continually keep asking me queries and request for recipes, I will not be inspired to post them. Most of my day passes in household chores while juggling between two kids, one seeking my attention to draw for her ( my daughter 😬) while the other clinging to me like fevicol ( my son 😄). The only thing that keeps my sanity are these daily shlokas, bhajans and songs which I have made as playlists on youtube and keep them in the background whole day. They give me strength in my motherhood battles and otherwise too. Music is really my life. ❤️

So here is the most requested dosa by my readers. They come out very soft and my kids are huge fans of it. My daughter used to call it chocolate dosa as a toddler and even now, in spite of knowing it’s ragi, still calls it the same. 😃 Ragi is a very healthy millet and this is one of the best ways to include it in your diet. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients: { Makes about 20 dosas }

3 Cups Ragi flour / Finger millet powder/ Nachni ka atta

1 Cup Urad dal (I use split ones)

1/2 Cup Poha/ flattened rice (thick or thin, white or brown)

Salt to taste

Ghee or oil to cook the dosa

Step by step recipe:

1. Wash well and soak Urad dal for about 4 hours. Drain water completely. Add about 1 Cup water and 1/2 Cup poha (washed) and grind to a smooth paste. Add to a large preferably steel vessel.

2. Now take ragi flour in another bowl. Add water, 1 cup at a time and whisk well to remove lumps. It takes me 3 Cups water to 3 Cups Ragi flour for it to come to a thick batter.

3. Add this to the Urad dal batter. Add salt and mix well using hands. Cover and keep at room temperature for fermentation for 8 to 12 hours. Might take longer during winters.

4. Heat a dosa pan and pour a ladle of the batter on the center of the pan. No need to spread this dosa. Cover and cook one side first adding ghee or oil.

**Sorry for the dull picture. Kitchen lights** 😬

5. Flip and cook the other side too. Remove and repeat the same with the rest of the batter too.

Notes:

* You can store the rest of the batter in the refrigerator and use it the next day. The texture of the dosas are soft even the next day.

* You can use thick or thin Poha, brown or white poha, does not make any difference. It gives it the softness in the dosas.

* If due to any reason you can’t eat poha, just skip it and add 1 tsp Methi instead along with Urad dal. Grind it to smooth paste. It will give soft dosas too.

* For making idlis, you can check this Ragi Urad Idli recipe. Comes out very well.

* I served these dosas with Hing Chutney. Just grind 1 Cup Coconut with a pinch of Hing powder, 4 long red chillies, 1 tsp Tamarind paste, salt and water to a smooth paste. You can season the chutney using mustard seeds and curry leaves if needed.

Other Ragi dishes that I make regularly:

Instant Ragi Rava dosa

Instant Ragi Idlis

Ragi Urad Idli

Ragi Ela Ada – Steamed Ragi sweet snack

Ragi Butter cookies

Eggless Ragi Chocolate Cake

Ragi Malpuas

Ragi Jaggery ladoos

Idli Stand, Millet recipes

Barnyard Millet idli | No rice Idli recipe

April 5, 2021 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 3 Comments

What does breakfast mean to you? I am sure we have our own choices when it comes to breakfast dishes. For some, it may mean just to have a cup of tea or coffee with toast or a bowl of cornflakes with milk or even just fruits to start the day while for some it may be a typical Indian style breakfast (guess for who? 😬😆). I realized the importance of breakfast during our trip to Singapore and Thailand few years back.

The hotels we were staying had an amazing in-house restaurant serving “free” buffet breakfast (make my trip deals 😄) every morning of our stay. The first couple of days, I was super excited looking at the magnificent spread of assorted breads, freshly baked aromatic cinnamon buns and raisin rolls (fav fav ❤️❤️), croissants lathered with butter, tasty mashed potatoes with kidney beans, variety of fresh fruits and juices along with a live counter of the most delicious waffles. These were among the vegetarian options and I remember, I was more excited than my daughter to see the goodies. 😍😬

But that excitement lasted exactly for two days and after that, I started craving for my idli – dosa – chutney – poori – bhaji – upma – poha and that made me realize where my food roots belong too. For me, breakfast meant this and I could never survive on continental style of breakfast for long (unless it was the only option to stay alive of course 😂😂). We were lucky that both Singapore and Thailand had many Indian options available and we would have a second “proper breakfast” there daily. Some fun memories those are! 😄

Coming to today’s post, this is what my kind of breakfast looks like. Idlis made with Barnyard millet and Urad dal with coriander leaves chutney. Filling, healthy and so so delicious. Once we eat it, we get fueled up for the day and there are no snack pangs in between which is very necessary not only for weight loss but also to avoid junk food binge.

Click on the image to Pin the recipe on Pinterest.

I learned this combination from my dearest Vinaya Prabhu Akka who is an inspiration for me. Her site is a treasure trove of amazing vegetarian recipes and I am so happy to have tried this idli and chutney from her recipe collection. She is not only very talented but also encourages all of us so well that we are indebted to her for her love and support. ❤️❤️

The food group that we belong to, whose admin Vinayakka is, turns 1 and we are dedicating a day to her recipes. So this is my contribution, a tribute to her for being such a wonderful person and managing the group so well. We are one big family now and it’s all due to her. Hope you like my post, Akka. ❤️

These idlis come out so soft that you cannot say it does not have rice at all. My kids loved them so much that on their request, I made them on 2 consecutive days last week. Such is the flavour combo of this idli- chutney.

Do try them and you will surely love it. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

Thank you so much Vinaya Prabhu Akka for the recipe. 🙏

RECIPE:

Adapted from: Vinaya’s Culinary Delights

Ingredients: { Makes about 26 idlis }

1 Cup Urad dal (I used split ones)

1 1/2 Cups Barnyard Millet

Salt to taste

{ Barnyard Millet is called Varai in Konkani, Kuthiraivali in Tamil, Sanwa in Hindi and Kavadupullu in Malayalam }

Step by step recipe:

1. Soak Urad dal and Barnyard millet separately after washing them well for about 3 hours.

2. Now drain water from the Urad dal completely and grind with about 1 cup water to a smooth paste. Add drained Barnyard millet to it.

3. Grind to a slightly coarse paste. Add to a bowl along with salt. Keep for fermentation at room temperature for about 8 hours or overnight.

4. While making idlis, pour into greased idli moulds. Please note that the batter does not rise much like regular idli batter but idlis do come out soft. So don’t worry if the batter has not risen after fermentation.

5. Steam in idli steamer for 15 to 20 mins or till done. A knife inserted in the center of the idli should come out clear and free from wet batter.

6. Allow it to cool slightly and then remove from the moulds using a knife or back of a spoon. Serve with a chutney of your choice.

Notes:

* I served them with Roasted gram dal and coriander leaves chutney. Tastes amazing with this chutney.

* Do not grind the Barnyard millet smoothly. Just keep it slightly coarse to get perfect texture of the idlis.

* The fermented batter does not rise much. But don’t worry about it. The idlis will still be soft.

* The original recipe of idlis were made in grinder while I made in mixer. But still the ratio of Urad to Barnyard millet gave me very soft texture of idlis.

* I used Manna brand of Barnyard millet as it is readily available here in Qatar. For readers living here, I buy them from Lulu hypermarket or Grand hypermarket in Wakra.

Here is my Compilation of all my no rice dosa recipes.