Indian Millet - Pearl millet/Kambu/Bajra - (Glossary) - what is pearl millet/kambu/bajra?, culinary uses of pearl millet in Indian cooking, how to purchase and store pearl millet?
HI PASSIONATE COOK!
I'm Zohara. Glad to welcome you here. I know you are searching for this article. Your interest in learning about this topic made you come to my website. Thank you for coming. I hope this article provides the valuable information you are looking for.
Keep reading!
Inside The Post -
What is Pearl Millet?/Pearl Millet Uses/Kambu/Bajra/Sajjalu Uses/Kambu millet Uses/Bajra seeds/Bajri Uses
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT - "PEARL MILLET/BAJRA/KAMBU/SAJJALU"
Pennisetum glaucum, commonly known as pearl millet in English, bajra in Hindi, and kambu in Tamil. It is believed to be originated from India or Africa and has been grown since prehistoric times. In India, pearl millet is the third most widely cultivated cereal crop, after rice and wheat. It belongs to the family of Poaceae. It is one of the oldest cultivated crops and ranks the sixth most important edible grain in the world.
Pearl millet is an edible cereal crop and is considered to be the poor man’s staple food. It is one of the major millets which is widely used for its nutritional health benefits around the world.
The pearl millet seeds are typically cooked as a cereal grain or finely ground and used as flour. The various types of sweets and savoury dishes are also prepared from pearl millet.
APPEARANCE OF PEARL MILLET/KAMBU/BAJRA/SAJJALU
Pearl millet/Kambu/Bajra are small, tear-drop-shaped, and thick seeds. Pearl millet grows in various shades of white, yellow, grey, brown, ivory, purple, and purplish black. The most common and generally available colour is white-grey seeds.
FEW INDIAN REGIONAL OR VERNACULAR NAMES OF PEARL MILLET
Tamil name – Kambu.
Hindi name – Bajra.
Kannada name – Sajje.
Bengali name – Bajra.
Marathi name – Bajri.
Punjabi name – Bajra.
Urdu name – Bajra.
Odia name – Bajra.
Gujarati name – Bajri.
Telugu name – Sajjalu.
Malayalam name – Kambam.
FLAVOUR OF PEARL MILLET/KAMBU/BAJRA/SAJJALU
Pearl millet/Kambu/Bajra has a SWEET taste and a very mild BITTER aftertaste. It also has a grassy aroma and a nutty texture. If it completely tastes bitter it’s a sign of rancid or expired seeds.
INDIAN CULINARY USES OF PEARL MILLET/KAMBU/BAJRA/SAJJALU
Pearl millet/kambu/bajra is a well-known and traditional ingredient in Indian cooking and has been in use since ancient times. It’s a staple ingredient in almost every farmer's house and also in rural India. One or other form of pearl millet is always present in the pantry. Whole pearl millet is mostly used in South Indian cooking and pearl millet flour or bajra flour is commonly used in North Indian cooking.
Pearl millet is a versatile ingredient that can be used to make both sweet and savoury dishes.
SOUTH INDIAN CUISINES
In the Southern part of India particularly in Tamilnadu, pearl millet or kambu is most commonly consumed just like WHITE RICE. KAMBU SADHAM (white rice) is a popular main course recipe in South India. It is one of the oldest recipes consumed by our ancestors. It is a staple food of farmers.
It can be used as a replacement for rice and be used in IDLY/DOSAI batter. When using pearl millet or kambu it is to be soaked minimum of 6 hours or overnight.
In the picture - Kambu Idli Recipe/Pearl Millet Idli Recipe/Bajra Idli Recipe
For the detailed Kambu Idli Recipe/Pearl Millet Idli Recipe/Bajra Idli Recipe. Kindly, click the below link -
🔗Kambu Idli Recipe/Pearl Millet Idli Recipe/Bajra Idli Recipe
For the detailed "How to make Kambu Idli Batter?/How to make Pearl Millet Idli Batter?". Kindly, click the below link -
🔗How to make Kambu Idli Batter?/How to make Pearl Millet Idli Batter?
KAMBA KOOZH is a traditional and popular drink preferably served in the hot summer months. Kambu combined with buttermilk with an accompaniment of fried chillies (mor milagai) and shallots are served on roadside small shops. It is an excellent hydrating and coolant summer drink.
Pearl millet flour can be used to make various sweets and snack recipes.
FOR EXAMPLE
Sajjalu ladoo, Kerala style kambam puttu, Tamilnadu style kambu puttu and many more.
Coarsely grounded pearl millet can be used to make South Indian UPMA.
Fine pearl millet flour can be made into semiya (vermicelli). 🔗Kambu semiya (vermicelli) is a popular healthy breakfast.
NORTH INDIAN CUISINES
BAJRA FLOUR is the most commonly used form of pearl millet grains in North Indian cooking. Whole pearl millet is grounded up to fine flour and used to make various recipes.
FOR EXAMPLE
BAJRE KI ROTI or BAJRA ROTI is a traditional Indian flatbread. It is authentically cooked over “KANDA” (cow dung cakes) in the villages.
BHAKRI is another popular Indian unleavened flatbread commonly consumed throughout the Northern part of India. Freshly milled bajra flour is the best to make BHAKRI.
BAJRA KICHADI, BAJRA POORI, BAJRA VADA, and BAJRA LADDOO are some of the popular North Indian pearl millet dishes.
It can be used to make various baked goods like BAJRA COOKIES, BAJRA MUFFINS, CAKES, and many more. Pearl millet along with other millets are used to make popular multi-grain bread.
It is also used to make various traditional snack recipes like CHAKLI, TIKKI, LADDOO, PAKODA, and many more.
In the picture - Kambu Millet Chutney Recipe/Pearl Millet Chutney Recipe
For the detailed Kambu Millet Chutney Recipe/Pearl Millet Chutney Recipe. Kindly, click the below link -
🔗Kambu Millet Chutney Recipe/Pearl Millet Chutney Recipe
Pearl millet/Kambu/Bajra is one of the healthiest grains used by our ancestors for a very long time. we also must include pearl millet in our diet in one or another form. The above are some of the recipe ideas using PEARL MILLET/KAMBU/BAJRA. You could innovatively use pearl millet in your cooking.
TIPS TO BUY AND STORE PEARL MILLET/KAMBU/BAJRA
Pearl millet is easily available in any Indian grocery store, nattu marundhu Kadai (country drug store), and also in the online market.
When buying whole pearl millet, look for freshness and moisture-free, and always buy the recently dated product. If buying millet flour use it before the expiry date.
HOW TO STORE PEARL MILLET/BAJRA/SAJJALU/KAMBU?
Pearl millet quickly can go bad, particularly flour of pearl millet.
Always buy them in small quantities.
You can store them for not more than 3 months in a cool and dry place.
HAPPY COOKING!
with better ingredients for better food.
ALSO READ
🔗Finger Millet
🔗Kodo Millet
🔗Foxtail Millet
Comments
Post a Comment