Bajri Tilachi Bhakri#BreadBakers

Its Makar Sankranti, to celebrate this Festival try this traditional Maharashtrian flatbread, Bajri Tilachi Bhakri. Bhakris are made primarily with hot water and millet flour. It needs to add hot water to make the dough which helps in rolling out easily.

The Bajra bhakri is mainly prepared in winter especially for the festival of Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra and is served with Bhogichi Bhaji. Pearl Millet commonly known as Bajra in India. Bajra Bhakri is naturally gluten-free. A great ancient nutritious grain which is a great energy source and hence is used as a part of the meal during winters to keep the body warm.
Ingredients
2 Cups Bajra Flour / Pearl Millet Flour
¼ Cup Sesame seeds /Til Seeds
Salt to taste
1 Cup +- Hot Water
1 Teaspoon Oil

Method
In a pot add a cup of water, with salt and oil, bring this to a boil, switch off the flame, add the flour and mix in well till no dry spots of flour is seen. Cover and let it cool a little when still warm knead to a soft smooth dough. Cover and let is rest for 5 minutes. Divide the dough into equal size balls.

Meanwhile heat tawa/griddle over medium heat. Dust your rolling surface with little flour. Take one portion of dough ball and with a rolling pin, roll it into a thin flat circle, the edges with start to crack, pinch them with your fingers or take a 6" or 7" cut it into a circle.

Place the roti over the pre-heated skillet and spread a little water on the surface of the bhakri. Now sprinkle some sesame seeds on the surface and press lightly with a flat spatula, so that the seeds stick to the upper part of the roti.
Turn over the roti and cook the other side for a few more seconds. Take a cloth and press the roti on all sides it will start to puff. When cooked remove it on to wire rack, smear it with ghee.

Similarly, prepare the remaining Bajri-til Bhakri and serve it with a dollop of ghee and Bhogichi Bhaji.

Labels: Bread Bakers, Flatbread, Millets, Bajra, Indian Breads, Maharashtra, Diabetic Friendly

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all our of lovely bread by following our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated after each event on the #BreadBakers home page. We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com.
We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. This month’s theme is "Ancient Grains" .  

• Bajri Tilachi Bhakri from Sneha's Recipe
• Banana Millet Bread from The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Banana Oat Pancakes from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Khapli Wheat Roti from Cook with Renu
• Milled Ancient Multigrain Bread from A Messy Kitchen
• Peanut Butter Ancient Grain Corn Muffins from Palatable Pastime
• Spelt and Poppyseed Sourdough Bread from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Spelt Coconut Sourdough Bread from Zesty South Indian Kitchen
• Sprouted Spelt Banana Walnut Muffins from Food Lust People Love

Dhapate - Multigrain Flatbread#BreadBakers

Dhapate is a multigrain flatbread from Maharashtra and is mostly had for breakfast or an evening snack. This is made by mixing the flours along with spices. Dhapate is a like a sister of thalipeeth, since the method and spices used is more or less the same. It taste more delicious when had with freshly churned homemade white butter. What I love about making these that is takes just no pre preparation to make it and all ingredients are always there in your kitchen pantry.

Ingredients
1 Cup Jowar Flour/Sorghum flour
½ Cup Whole Wheat Flour
¼ Cup Besan/Chickpea flour
1 Small Onion - finely chopped
1 Green Chilly - minced
2 Cloves Garlic - crushed
2 Tablespoons Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves
½ Teaspoon Coriander powder
1 Teaspoon Ajwain/Carom seeds - coarsely crushed
1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds - coarsely crushed
1 Tablespoon Sesame seeds
½ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
½ Teaspoon Salt to taste
½ Teaspoon Red Chili Powder
Water - as required to make a soft dough
Oil as required

Method 

In a mortar and pastel, lightly pound the ajwain and cumin seeds.  

In a wide bowl add the flours, salt and dry spices and mix well. Then add the onions, green chilly, garlic and coriander leaves and mix well.

Now add water slowly to knead a soft dough. Cover and keep aside.
Heat a tawa or pan.

Make equal balls about 5 to 6.

Using a plastic sheet or a clean wet cloth, take one ball and press to form a circle using your fingers. You can even pat the rotis directly on the pan using wet hands. 

Make four or five holes in it( this allow the oil to seep in evenly). 

Place this on to hot tawa and peel off the cloth/plastic sheet. Add little oil in each hole. Cover with a lid, let it cook for 2 minutes. Take off the lid. 

Flip and cook on the other side till golden.

Serve with freshly churned homemade white butter or with a chutney or any sauce.

Enjoy these healthy and wholesome Dhapate's for breakfast. These are so filling that they will keep you energetic past lunch time.

Labels: Flatbread, Multigrain Flour, Maharastrian Cuisine, Maharashtra, Breakfast, Snack, Healthy, Vegan, Breads, Jowar, Millets, Bread Bakers

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.

• Aromatic Multigrain Bread with Coriander and Fennel from A Messy Kitchen
• Dhapate - Multigrain Flatbread from Sneha’s Recipe
• Easiest Multigrain sourdough Bread from Zesty South Indian kitchen
• Fluffy Multigrain Pancakes from Food Lust People Love
• Multi-Grain Dinner Rolls from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Roasted Potato Multigrain Bread from What Smells So Good?
• Spelt, Barley, and White Wheat Rustic Loaf from Karen’s Kitchen Stories 

Carrot Whole Wheat & Bajra Flour Flatbread#BreadBakers

This unique recipe combines the goodness of home stone ground bajra (pearl millet) and whole wheat flour with bran, carrots resulting in a flavorful and healthy high in fiber, antioxidants and B vitamins. This is a filling and and will keep full of energy to carry out your chores.

Ingredients 
1 Teaspoon Coriander Powder
1 Teaspoon Cumin Powder
1 Tablespoon Kasuri Methi
½ Teaspoon Teaspoon Salt or to taste
¼ Teaspoon Ajwain Carom Seeds
¼ Teaspoon Amchur Powder
1 Tablespoon Grated Fresh Turmeric
1 Teaspoon Grated Ginger
2 Green Green Chillies - finely chopped
¼ Cup Chopped Coriander Leaves
½ Cup Heaped Grated Carrot
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
¾ Cup Whole Wheat Flour
¾ Cup Bajra Flour
Water as required

Method 

In large bowl mix all the given ingredients well. Then add water a little at a time to to make a soft dough. Cover the dough and let it rest for 20 minutes. 

After that divide the dough into equal size balls.

Dust the work surface with whole wheat flour and roll each ball into a round circle.

Heat a tawa or girdle on medium low flame 

and bake each flatbread turning the sides till brown spots appear on both sides.

Brush them with oil or desi ghee and likewise bake the rest of the flatbreads.

Enjoy with a yogurt & pickle!!

Labels: Carrot, Bajra, Whole Wheat Flour, Millets, Flatbreads, Healthy, Vegan, Bread Bakers 

Passion Kneaded: Italian Easter Bread
A Day in the Life on the Farm: Hot Cross Buns Muffins
Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Casatiello Napolitano
What Smells Do Good?: Bunny Bread
A Messy Kitchen: Carrot Milk Bread
Ambrosia: Rosemary Dinner Rolls
Palatable Pastime: Carrot Bread
Zesty South Indian Kitchen: Sourdough Osterbrot
Magical Ingredients: Carrot Stuffed Carrot Buns
Sneha’s Recipe : Carrot Whole Wheat & Bajra Flour Flatbread 

Varicha Tandalacha Sheera/ Bhagar Sheera#SundayFunday

Sharvan has began in Maharashtra, in this season many fast. There are many who do not eat onion and garlic too during this period. This is a pefect recipe to make it's tasty & easy upvas sheera also know as Varicha Sheera.
Sheera is mainly made with rava/semolina but this is made for fasting, hence used samo/varicha tandul. This sweet dish is made from Samo rice, which is a gluten free millet known by different names like, Moraiyo in Gujarati, Kuthiraivali in South, Bhagar/ Vari Che Tandul in Maharashtra and Barnyard millet in English. This millet mostly consumed during fasts. I have made gluten free puris , pulao, dosa with this.

Ingredients
1½ Cups Milk
¼ Cup Desi Ghee
½ Cup Samo Rice - washed and drained
¼ Teaspoon Kesar/Saffron Strands
7 - 8 Almonds - chopped

7 - 8 Cashewnuts
2 Teaspoon Raisins -
¼ to 1/3 Cup Sugar - according to the sweetness you want
¼ tsp Cardamom Powder 

Method
In a sauce pan heat milk on medium flame. 
In another pan heat ghee on medium low flame, fry all the cashewnuts,  almonds, raisins, remove and keep aside.

In the same pan add the samo rice/variche tandul  and fry till it releases an aroma, do not change the color of the rice. 

Add the hot milk, stir well, bring it to a boil, add kesar and cover and cook till rice is nearly done and all the milk is nearly absorbed.

Then add the dry fruits and sugar, cook till sugar melts and all the milk is absorbed. Stir at regular intervals. 

When done add cardamoms powder and the fried raisins and almonds, mix well, sheera is ready.

Serve & Enjoy!! 

Labels: Sweets & Desserts, Vrat, Indian, Millets, Gluten free,
Kuthiraivali, Barnyard Millet, Festival Sweets, Sunday Funday, Breakfast

• Herby Garlic Rice from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Mexican Rice from Mayuri's Jikoni
• Pineapple Rice Salad from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Quick Mushroom and Onion Rice from Palatable Pastime
• Stir-Fried Brown Rice with Vegetables and Ginger from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Varicha Tandalacha Sheera/ Bhagar Sheera from Sneha's Recipe 

Ragi Idli With Drumstick Sambar/Murungakkai Sambar#SundayFunday

Ragi idli are steamed cakes made with Ragi/Finger millets & urad dal. Traditionally idli recipe is made with urad dal and idli rice. Ragi Idli are so soft and spongy, nutritious millet it's also vegan, gluten free and a gut friendly breakfast , meal or snack.

Ragi is also know as Finger Millet which along with other millet varieties are a fine choice for people living with diabetes, as it's higher in fiber, minerals, and amino acids than white rice. Ragi has also the highest plant-based calcium, minerals, protein and dietary fibers.

Ingredients
1 Cup Ragi
1 Cup Idli Rice
¾ Cup Urad dal
¼ Teaspoon Methi/ Fenugreek seeds
1 Teaspoon Oil
Salt as required

Method
Soak Idli rice for 4-5 hours in a bowl.

Soak Urad dal & methi seeds in another bowl for 4-5 hours.
Drain the water.

Grind all the ingredients to very smooth batter by adding as little as water as possible to a paste.

Pour the batter in the large pot/vessel & mix it thoroughly with your hands for about 3 - 4 minutes so that it get fluffy and this also helps in good fermentation of the batter.
Keep this batter overnight for fermentation.
Next day add salt as per taste & mix batter gently. Grease the idli mold & pour a ladle full of batter into each slot. 

Steam the idlis for 12 to 15 minutes. Serve hot.

Drumstick Sambar Recipe / Murungakkai Sambar

A delicious Sambar plays a important roll in South Indian lunch menu. No festival or marriage function meal is complete without it. Each region in South India has its own way of making it. I have posted quite a lot of sambar variation on blog, you can check them out.

This is a different sambar recipe which is made with drumstick and three different dals. So it is really healthy one. The drumstick added in this gives a very unique taste to the sambar and flavors the sambar a lot. I used my homemade sambar powder for this, that too enhanced the taste a lot. So try this out and let me know how it turned out for you.

Serves 5 to 6
Ingredients
¼ Cup Tur Dal
¼ Cup Masoor Dal
¼ Cup Moong Dal
6 to 7 Shallots / Sambar Onion - peeled
3 -4 Drumsticks - cut into pieces
2 Tablespoon Tamarind Pulp
Salt to taste
1 Teaspoon Jaggery
3 to 4 Tablespoons Homemade Sambar Powder
For Tadka / Tempering
1 Tablespoon Oil
1 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
¼ Teaspoon Asafoetida

Method 

Wash all the dals well. Add it to a pot along with shallots. Cover with water. Bring it to boil, cover and simmer until the dal is 80% cooked. Now add in drumstick, salt, jaggery, tamarind pulp, sambar powder and mix well. Bring this to boil and simmer again for 20 mins till everything is cooked.

Now make make the tadka by heating oil and crackling mustard and cumin. Add in asafoetida and mix well.

Pour this over the sambar and mix well.

Enjoy these Ragi Idli's with Drumstick Sambar Recipe / Murungakkai Sambar and Thakkali Chammanthi / Tomato Chutney,

Labels: Sambar, Drumsticks, South Indian, Ragi, Idli, Main course, Breakfast, Snack, Millets, Sunday Funday, Vegan, Gluten free, Healthy

For Sunday Funday we are sharing Millet recipes.

• Buttery Herb Millet by Food Lust People Love
• Puffed Millet Granola by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Ragi Idli With Drumstick Sambar/Murungakkai Sambar by Sneha's Recipes
• Ragi Rotti by Mayuri’s Jikoni
• Porso Millet Idli by Cook with Renu

Sabudana Vada - Vrat

Sabudana Vada is a vrat ka khana.  In major towns like Mumbai, Pune, Indore, Bhopal and Nagpur, it is available as street food and is widely eaten throughout the year. 

It is the dish of choice when an individual observes a "fast" during Shivratri, Navratri, or a similar Hindu religious occasion.  These crunchy vadas simply melt in the mouth… leaving the stomach full while the tongue craves for more.
Makes: 6  Vadas
Ingredients 
1 Cup Sabudana
2 Large Potatoes
3 Tablespoon Roasted Peanut - coarsely powdered
2 Tablespoon Lemon juice
1 Tablespoon Cumin seeds
1 Tablespoon Roasted Cumin powder
2 Tablespoon Coriander leaves - finely chopped
2 Green Chilies - finely chopped
1/2 Tablespoon Sugar powder
1 Teaspoon Salt /Sendhav Namak or as per taste
Ghee or Oil for frying
For the Green Coconut Chutney
A handful Each Coriander and Mint leaves
2-3 Green chillies (or as required)
1 ½ Teaspoon Lemon juice

Salt to taste/Sendhav Namak
1/2 Cup Packed Fresh Coconut - grated
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin seeds
1/2 Teaspoon Sugar
Salt to taste
Method 
For The Green Coconut Chutney

Grind the coconut, coriander leaves, the mint leaves, green chilies, lemon juice and a little salt, sugar to a fine paste.  Remove in a bowl and refrigerate till needed.
For the VadasWash sabudana 3-4 times and soaked overnight in the water or for 4 -5 hours . Keep water level same as level of sabudana.

Boil and mash the potatoes. Add sabudana and rest of the ingredients. 

Combine everything with your hand.

Divide the mixture into equal portions. Shape each portion into a round and flatten slightly.

Deep-fry the vadas in hot oil until they are golden brown in colour and drain on absorbent paper.

Serve hot with green chutney or any sauce. Have these hot, when cold they are chewy.  

My Notes

Quantity of potatoes should be just sufficient to hold sabudana. 
Do not soak sabudana in too much of water. If its there, drain out excess water from sabudana before mixing with potatoes.

You can even add 2 teaspoons of rice flour while mixing for more crispiness.

Labels : Sabudana, Millets, Vrat, Snacks, Peanuts, Deep Fried, Mashed Potatoes, Vegan, Gluten free,  Street food