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Millets are not just a fad but a return to ancient grains that sustained the older generations. Thanks to their immense nutritional benefits, they are gaining much-deserved popularity amongst millennials. Whether you are allergic to gluten or simply want to shift towards a cleaner lifestyle, the best way to do so is by adding millet to your diet.
South Indian cuisine, known for its healthy ingredients and rich flavours, can be given a much more nutritious twist by replacing gluten with millet. From bajra dosa to thinai upma, here are the best South Indian dishes that can be made with different types of millets.
Bajra Dosa
Whenever someone talks about South Indian cuisine, people, even from outside the country, make a mental image of dosa. While the traditional dosa is made with dal and rice, you can make it gluten-free with bajra, also known as pearl millet. Instead of making a batter with rice and urad dal, you can use the lentils and bajra and enjoy it with sambar and coconut chutney.
Ragi Mudde
Ragi Mudde is a staple in southern states of India, such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The dish is known to be so healthy that even people with diabetes can enjoy a hearty serving guilt-free. To make Ragi Mudde at home, you can cook the finger millet with water till you get a smooth dough. Then, shape it into balls and serve them dipped in sambar or rasam.
Thinai Upma
Upma is a traditional South Indian dish that is popularly served as a healthy breakfast or a quick snack. To make it even more nutritious, you can make upma with thinai, aka foxtail millet. Just dry roast thinai and then add some water, tempered mustard seeds, curry leaves, and your favourite vegetables. Once tender and well-cooked, you can serve this millet-based South Indian upma.
Varagu Samai Idli
Just like dosa, idli is another renowned South Indian delicacy that is usually made with rice or semolina. The healthiest version of this is Varagu Samai Idli, which is made by mixing Kodo millet with Little millet. Swapping out the rice with millet, you get a gluten-free version that can be enjoyed with sambar, even if you have allergies or are simply shifting towards a millet-based diet.
Ragi Puttu
To give Puttu a healthier twist, you can make the South Indian dessert with ragi. If you want to enjoy something sweet without the guilt, you can take ragi flour and mix it with water. Once you get a crumbly texture, layer it with grated coconut and steam till soft. Finally, garnish with banana slices and jaggery syrup, and you’ll be ready to dunk.
