Thinai Arisi Sambar Sadham / Millet Sambar Bhat / Foxtail Millet Lentil Bhat

Fox Tail Millet / Thinai is one of my recent favorite grain and i am including it in my diet weekly twice or thrice. I replace white rice with brown rice, oats, millet, cracked wheat and completely skip white rice. Generally Millets(Kambu, Ragi, Solam, Thinai, Samai) are a natural source of protein and iron. Millet is very easy to digest, it contains a high amount of lecithin and is excellent for strengthening the nervous system. Millets are also rich in B vitamins, especially niacin, B6 and folic acid, as well as the minerals calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc. Millets contain no gluten, they are good for people who are gluten-intolerant. And the most important factor, regular consumption of Millets reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes because millets are rich in magnesium, which regulates secretion of glucose and insulin.
I am trying to include these millets in our diet in all possible forms. So experimenting few recipes and this Millet Sambar Bhat/Thinai Sambar Sadham is one such experiment turned out good. Just like the regular white rice sambar sadham tried it and the millet sambar bhat turned out good. Even my husband liked this Thinai Arisi Sambar Sadham. We had it with Vazhakkai Varuval, Plain Yogurt and pickle. More comfort, filling and satisfying meal. Now off to the recipe...

Preparation Time : 10 minutes

Cooking Time : 20 minutes

Serves  2 generously

Ingredients

1. Thinai/Fox Tail Millet    1/2 cup
2. Tuvar Dal  1/4 cup
3. Pearl Onions/Chinna Vengayam    10 no.
4. Tomato    1 no.(chopped)
5. Mixed Vegetable   1 cup or more (i used Carrot, Beans, Radish,Broad Beans)
6. Cilantro    2 tbsp(chopped)
7. Tamarind Extract   1 tsp dissolved in 1/4 cup water
8. Turmeric Powder   1/4 tsp
9. Garlic   1 no.
10. Oil   2 tsp

To Roast And Grind

1. Oil   few drops
2. Chana Dal    2 tsp
3. Dry Red Chilli   2 no.s
4. Coriander Seeds  1 and 1/2 tbsp
5. Dry Coconut     1-2 tsp(optional)

To Temper

1. Oil    1 tsp
2. Mustard seeds   1/4 tsp
3. Cumin seeds    1/4 tsp
4. Fennel seeds    few
5. Hing     a generous pinch
6. Curry leaves    few
7. Cashew nuts    5 no.s

Method

• First Wash and soak Fox Tail millet/thinai with enough water and keep aside.
• Then Pressure cook dal with 1 cup of water, garlic and 1/4 tsp turmeric powder for 4-5 whistles, wait till pressure cools down and then open the lid and mash it well and keep aside.
• Wash and chop veggies, onion and tomato and keep ready.

• Then heat a pan, add few drops oil heat it and then add chana dal, dry red chilli, coriander seeds and fry in medium heat till dal turns light golden brown.
• And roast dry coconut separately and keep aside.

• Now heat oil in a pressure cooker, when its heated add pearl onions and curry leaves and saute it for a minute.
• Then add chopped tomatoes and saute till it turns mushy.
• After that add chopped veggies and stir fry for a minute and then add mashed dal and 1 cup of water and bring it to boil.

• Once it starts boiling add tamarind extract, enough salt and stir well.
• Then add soaked and drained millet/thinai and sambar powder and 1/4 cup water, stir everything well and pressure cook for 2 whistles.
• And wait till the pressure cools down, meanwhile heat oil in a pan and then add mustard seeds wait till it pop and add cumin, fennel seeds let it fry.

• Then add hing, curry leaves and cashew nuts fry well and add this tempering to the cooked Millet Sambar Bhat.
• That's it...Tasty Millet Sambar Sadham ready. Garnish with cilantro.

Notes:
The same way instead of thinai, you can use Quinoa, white rice or brown rice. For brown rice use extra 1/2 - 3/4 cup of water.
I used freshly roasted and ground powder, you can also use Sambar Powder.