EVENT: FOODIE’S REDOING OLD POSTS #8
RECIPE : SAMO/MORIYO KHEER
Samo/Moriyo Kheer is a milk based pudding made using samo/moriyo or what’s commonly called in English as Barnyard Millet. Samo/ Moriyo is one of the most widely used ‘grain’ for fasting days like Ekadashi, Navratri, Ram Navmi, Janmashtami, etc.
What is Kheer?
Kheer is a pudding. Its usually made using milk and rice, its like a rice pudding. However, other grains, some vegetables too are used to make kheer. Here, I’ve used barnyard millet or samo to make kheer.
You may want to check out the following kheer recipes:
Sabudana Kheer/ Tapioca Pearl Pudding
Renu’s traditional Rice Kheer
What is Samo or Moriyo?
Samo, moriyo, sama, vrat ka chawal, samvat, samak, samvat chawal, barnyard millet, bhagar, varai, sanwa, samwa, swang, jungle rice,deccan grass, awnless barnyard grass are some of the more common names for Echinochloa Colona. Its not a millet but a type of grass. The seeds of this grass are used to make a variety of dishes mostly prepared during fasting days.
Is this seed healthy?
It most certainly is:
- gluten free
- rich in protein
- low in calories
- low glycemic index
- good source iron
The Advantage of Foodies_Redoing Old Posts
Old posts just get lost in the wide wide wide web unless they are very popular. Renu who blog’s at Cook with Renu has started a Facebook Group called Foodies_ Redoing Old Posts. Every two weeks we can redo our old posts and share it on the group. What’s the advantage of doing this? Well, it gives us the opportunity to improve the write up and update photos. I’ve got so many old posts that need updating especially where the photos are concerned. This group with definitely give me the ‘push’ to prepare the dishes again for better photos.
Janmashtami Fasting:
Hubby and I both like sabudana kheer nice and cold but I had forgotten to make it the previous day. Suddenly, remembered samo kheer which I had as prasadam during our visit to ISKCON, Juhu. Hot kheer with just a touch of cardamom and lots of cashew nuts, super delicious and filling too. So I made samo or moriyo kheer and its the simplest kheer I have ever prepared. Quick, easy and delicious. A bit of the kheer was left over and in the evening I added fresh fruits to it to make it into a filling meal. Yummy…. can’t wait for Ekadashi which is just round the corner to make the kheer again with loads of fresh fruit.
Some of the dishes prepared using samo or moriyo are:
- sama pulao or khichdi
- make a delicious curry –sama kadhi
- sama dhokra
- Sujata loves to prepare this for breakfast sama idli,
Can you make a vegan version?
Most certainly you can. Replace the dairy milk with milk of your choice like almond, soya, coconut. I personally would love it with coconut milk.
When can you make this kheer?
- During Navratri Fasting Days
- For Ekadashi Fasting Days
- On Janmashtami Day
- Ram Navmi Day
- As a healthy dessert any day
- When you need to make a sweet dish/dessert in a jiffy
Serving suggestions:
- Enjoy it hot during the cold season
- Have it chilled during the hot season
- serve it with fresh fruit added to it
Where can you buy Samo/Moriyo?
- Any Indian Grocery Store
- Amazon

SAMO/MORIYO KHEER
Ingredients
- 4 - 6 cups of full fat milk
- ½ cup samo/moriyo/barnyard millet/little millet
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup chopped nuts cashew nuts, almonds, walnuts, pistachios etc
- 2 tbsp raisins or a dry fruit of your choice
- ½ tsp cardamom powder elachi
Instructions
- Wash the samo just like normal rice. Let it soak in little water for about 15-30 minutes.
- Put the milk in a non stick pan over medium heat.
- Drain out the water from the samo.
- When it begins to boil, add the samo.
- Keep stirring occasionally and let the mixture simmer for 10 -15 minutes or till the samo is cooked and the kheer becomes thick.
- Add sugar and let it simmer for a further 3-5 minutes.
- Add the chopped nuts, raisins, and cardamom powder.
- Mix well and serve. It can be served hot or chilled.
Notes
- Instead of sugar you can use a sweetener to make it diabetic friendly.
- For a healthier version replace normal sugar with jaggery powder or coconut sugar.
- Add more nuts and dry fruits if you like.
- Can be served chilled.
- Add chopped fresh fruits to the cold kheer.
- Puree dates and dry figs and add to the kheer.
- Use low fat milk if you like.
Pin for later:
A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
