Thinai is a great replacement for rice and like other millets , thinai is healthy, gluten-free and vegan. Foxtail millet helps control Blood sugar levels when consumed on regular. The millet produced a “significant fall (70%) in blood glucose. We need to include these healthy millets regularly in our diet.

Thinai pongal is a easy and yummy dish. Thinai pongal is made using the same procedure as the conventional pongal. We can also make this pongal using other millets like varagu(kodo millet), saamai(little millet) or kuthiraivaali(barnyard millet).

Note: People with thyroid problems may wish to avoid eating millets on daily basis as it is believed to contain some goitrogen properties.

You can try the same recipe with other millets like kodo millet (varagu), pearl millet (kambu), little millet (saamai), barnyard millet (kuthirai vaali).

INGREDIENTS :

1 cup thinai (foxtail millet)

1 cup moong dhal

1 teaspoon whole black pepper

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

4 to 5 cashew nuts

a pinch of hing

1 teaspoon grated ginger

1 teaspoon black pepper powder

2 teaspoon ghee+2 teaspoon oil

Few curry leaves

Salt to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat a pan, add moong dal and fry it till it becomes golden brown color and then roast the thinai for 2 min. Take the roasted moong dal and thinai in a vessel and rinse the thinai and moongdal in water for 2 to 3 times. In a pressure cooker add thinai,dhal and 3.5 cups of water, salt and pressure cook it allow it for 5-6 whistles. Allow the pressure to release on its own and then mash the cooked thinai and dhal well. To this add black pepper powder.

Heat ghee and oil in a pan, add cumin seeds. When the cumin seeds starts to sputter, add whole black pepper and fry for some time. Add hing, cashews,grated ginger and curry leaves and fry till the cashews turn into golden brown color.

Add this seasoned mix to mashed thinai and mix well. Delicious and healthy thinai pongal is ready to be served.

 

Serve hot with chutney & sambar and enjoy !!!