Barnyard Millet - Kuthiraivaali

#BarnyardMillet : Barnyard millet is known as #Kuthiraivaali in Tamil and #Bhagar in Hindi.
The botanical name is Echinochloa frumentacea - Indian Barnyard millet and Echinochloa esculanta - Japanese millet.
This millet belongs to the genus called Echinochloa in the grass family and tribe Paniceae.

#Millet are grouped into two categories as #Majormillet and #Minormillet. Ragi, Sorghum & Pearl millet grouped under major millet as the name suggests grown in major part of India. All other millet such as Little millet [ Samai ], Barnyard millet [ Kuthiraivali ], Foxtail Millet [ Thinai ], Kodo millet [ Varagu ], Proso millet [ Pani varagu ] & Brown top millet [ Kula samai or Pala pul ] come under minor millet. These are cultivated in only some parts of India mostly in hilly region and consumed by very small population.

#Kuthiraivali is known by different names in various languages as given below.

English                               : #BarnyardMillet Or Japanese Barnyard Millet
Common Name                  : Sawan Or sanwa Or Samo Or Morio
Marathi & Chhattisgarh       : Bhagar Or Varai
Kannada                             : Oodalu
Oriya                                  : Kira
Punjabi                               : Swank
Telugu                                : Udalu Or Kodi Sama
Scientific Name                   : Echinochloa Frumentacea or                Echinocloa esculanta

Source : Echinochloa , Barnyard Millet 
To know on Millets

Generally millets are non acidic food and non glutenous also.

#BarnyardMillet is low in calorie compared to other cereals.

The glycemic index of barnyard millet is low. So it is suitable for cardiovascular & Type 2 diabetes patients

A fairly significant amount of grain protein is present in minor millets compared to rice. Especially the amount of digestible protein present in kuthiraivaali is the highest among minor millet.

The essential amino acids such as lysine and tryptophane are present in millets. Barnyard millet has higher amount of lysine than Little and Finger millet and more or less comparable amount like that of Foxtail millet and kodo millet.

Iron is the most essential mineral to combat malnutrition of human being. Barnyard millet shows highest amount of iron followed by  Little millet.

The dietary fiber, both soluble and insoluble present in barnyard millet is high and thus it helps in preventing constipation, bloating and excess gas formation.

100 g of kuthiraivaali contains 11.2 g of Protein, 10.1 g of Fiber, 4.4 g of minerals, 15.2 mg of Iron and 11 mg of Calcium.

So this wonder millet should always find a place in our daily menu.

Millet has to be soaked for a minimum of two hours before cooking to get its full health benefit and also to cook soft.

Find links to recipes of Barnyard millet - Kuthiraivaali here.

Breakfast/Dinner
Kuthiraivaali Idli [ Barnyard millet Idli ]	Kuthiraivaali Sundal [ Barnyard millet Sundal ]
Kuthiraivaali Upma [ Barnyard millet Upma ]	Kuthiraivaali Venthaya Kanji [ Barnyard millet Fenugreek Gruel ]
Kuthiraivaali Pongal [ Barnyard millet Pongal ]	Kuthiraivaali Upma Kozhukattai
Kuthiraivaali spinach pancake	Kuthiraivaali neer dosai
Kuthiraivaali Buckwheat Upma	Kuthiraivaali Spicy bread [ Barnyard millet spicy bread ]

Mixed Rice
Kuthiraivaali Coriander Rice [ Barnyard Millet Coriander rice ]	Kuthiraivaali Puliyodharai [ Barnyard Millet Tamarind rice ]
Kuthiraivaali Fried Rice [ Barnyard Millet Fried rice ]	Kuthiraivaali Thakkali Rice [ Barnyard Millet Tomato rice ]

Dessert/Payasam/Sweet
Kuthiraivaali Paal Payasam [ Barnyard millet Milk Payasam ]	Kuthiraivaali sakkarai Pongal [ Barnyard millet sweet pongal ]
Kuthiraivaali vella sweet bread [ Barnyard millet sweet bread ]	Kuthiraivaali [ Barnyard millet ] sweet Kuzhipaniyaram

For other millet recipes click the link below

Millet Special