Fox tail millet/ thinai arisi pulao

Serves - 2 to 3

This is first time for me trying millet recipe. Millets are very good for health. But what to try???? There are many types like ponagal, idli, dosa, pulao etc etc... But I felt let pulao be my first millet recipe. Pulao made with rice and miller are exactly same. We are kust replacing roce with millet thats it.I searched a lot for the recipe because water measurements vary for millets and rice..The recipe which I got had quinoa ( varagu) in it. But I replaced it with fox tail millet (thinai). I took the water measurements given on the 'hoe to use' on the pack as guide.Pulao was very good.

Ingredients:

• Thinai arisi/ fox tail millet- 1 cup
• Water - 3 and half cups
• Ghee/ oil - 3 tbsp
• Ginger garlic paste- 1/2 tsp
• Cinnamon-1 inch stick
• Cloves -2
• Cardamom-1
• Fennel seeds -1/2 tsp
• Onion -1
• Green chilli - 3 to 4
• Mixed vegetables - 1cup ( I used carrot, beans, peas)
• Mint leaves- 10 to 12
• Salt - To taste

Method:

• Wash the millet twice or thrice and Soak it for 20 mins
• In a pan add ghee followed by Cinnamon, Cardamom, cloves and Fennel seeds.
• Add onion, ginger garlic paste, green chilli  and saute till onion turns transparent. 
• Now add vegetables and cook for a while.
• Add water, salt and mint leaves.
• When water starts boiling add millet. And cook in low flame.
• If you are using pressure cooker use 2&1/2 to 3 cups of water and give 1 or 2 whistle.
• Serve hot with onion Raita. 

Notes:

• I cooked in a pan with lid so also I used vegetables so I dint add any extra water for the vegetable to cook.
• My pulao was little mushy type probably I could have reduced 1/4 cup of water.
• Ifor you are using fresh vegetables and pressure cooking it use 2 and half cups of water. And give 1 or 2 whistles.( mine is just a rough calculation)
• But cooking with millets are always trial and error method.
• Mint leaves gives a nice flavour so do add it.