Pearl Millet and Almond Cookies (Bajra Cookies)

Include Millet In Your Diet

Theme: Cookies For Your Sweet Tooth

BM#81 Week 2 Day 3

What is Pearl Millet?

Even as a kid, I used to love pearl millet flour. Most kids don’t like it, but I used to love the bajri na debra, raab, rotla that my mum would make using this healthy or should I say super healthy grain. Pearl Millet, bajro, bajra, kambu, cattail millet, is a type of millet, which has been grown since prehistoric times in Africa and the Indian SubContinent.

Health Benefits of Pearl Millet

• high in fibre
• helps to control blood sugar levels
• reduces cholesterol. Pearl Millet contains phytic acid which is believed to increase cholesterol metabolism
• It also reduces secretion of bile acids and is linked to a lowered risk of gallstone formation.
• Bajra has cancer preventing properties

Pearl Millet and Almond Cookies /Bajra Cookies

With so many healthy benefits how can I not include this super grain in cookies? For a healthy and earthy taste I used jaggery. Dried cranberries were used to add a bit of a tangy taste to the cookies. Incidentally, I’ve baked my Jamaican Toto Coconut Bread replacing the brown sugar with jaggery. The almond powder or meal is for added health benefits and who doesn’t love cookies with nuts in them.

There are two ways you can make these cookies. Either just roll the dough into balls and bake or put the dough in the freezer in a log shape, wrapped in foil or cling film. Cut slices and bake. I used the first method.

Other Gluten Free Cookies:

• Fig and Amaranth Cookies
• Rice Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies

My Horrible Day

Today has been such a horrible day for me. I wait till 9 a.m. for the maid to turn up. I had planned so many Diwali cooking and baking items but didn’t get even one done. She turns up after 9 and goes and sits down. I was a bit annoyed so didn’t say anything. After a few minutes I hear long sighs… what a brilliant way to attract attention. I go to her and she tells me she is sick. So I tell her to go back home and rest and come back when she is well. She continues to sit there. The softie me asks her if she needs a cup of tea. She says yes. So I make some tea for her. She sips on the tea and then asks for money as she needs to go to the doctor. I really was mood spoilt by now… its not the end of the month and already she owes me quite a bit of money. She leaves.

Start the Housework

I start tackling the housework. By mid morning I am so annoyed and literally want to curse her! Why? No, I’m not heartless, I know she is sick. What annoyed me is all the dust and cobwebs I find behind the furniture. Constant reminders of cleaning behind the furniture and she kept on telling me its all done and the house is spic and span for Diwali. The silly me doesn’t check! So here I’m tackling the whole apartment with a broom, mop, duster, cleaners etc. I fear that if my home is dirty, Goddess Lakshmi may miss my house!  I’m nearly done with the cleaning, and am about to tackle the utensils when I hear a loud thud noise. Look into the dhoti area to find my washing machine on the side!

 For a few seconds I just look in utter astonishment. Where do I begin to tackle this? Hubby dear had thought that putting the machine (that sometimes wobbles during the spinning cycle) on a wooden stool like contraption is the best idea! I had complained about this several times but it fell on deaf ears. So first had to switch it off. Then I’m alone at home, the water is seeping out and may spoil the electronics. So immediately disconnect the water outlet pipe so the water drains out from the outlet and not the door(mine is a top load).   The whole dhoti is flooded with water. Remove the clothes and then call my neighbor to help me make it stand. The leg of the wooden stool broke and thus the heavy machine toppled!

Time to prepare lunch

By the time I cleaned up the mess, the machine and put the clothes back to wash, I was in tears! Still the utensils are waiting and I haven’t made lunch! I was annoyed with hubby for raising the machine on that stupid stool. Full of pride I refused to call him to get some take away. Instead, in my anger prepared some mixed vegetable khichdi in the pressure cooker!

What a day! By the time all the work was tackled it was nearly 3 p.m. Took a nap and was about to sit to type out today’s recipe when the power went off! By now I just couldn’t stop uttering nonsense and cursing the power company. Its now 11.30 p.m. and am blogging! Hope tomorrow is a much better day. I now have to cut off some of the Diwali items I was going to prepare… running out of time!

PEARL MILLET AND ALMOND COOKIES (BAJRA COOKIES)

Makes 20

1½ cup pearl millet flour (bajra flour)

¼ cup almond powder (coarse)

¼ cup desiccated coconut

½ cup jaggery powder

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

¼ cup dried cranberries (or any dried fruit)

100g butter

½ tsp cardamom powder

¼ tsp salt

1. Sieve flour, baking powder, baking soda, cardamom powder and salt together in a bowl.
2. Add cranberries, desiccated coconut and coarse almond powder. Mix well.
3. Add butter and jaggery powder in another bowl. Mix it till it becomes soft and creamy.
4. Add the flour mixture and mix. The dough will be very soft. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
5. In the meantime preheat the oven to 180°C.
6. Line a baking tray with parchment paper or lightly grease it with some butter.
7. Take about a tablespoon of the dough and roll it into a ball.
8. Gently press it between your palms.
9. Place it on the prepared tray.
10. Repeat steps 7-9 with the remaining dough.
11. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes till the edges become light brown.
12. Remove the tray from the oven.
13. Remove the cookies from the tray and let them cool on a wire rack.

Tips:

• You can leave the dough in the fridge for 20-30 minutes and then roll the balls.
• These cookies can be made using brown sugar.
• Add dried fruits of your choice.

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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