SAMA PULAO | MORIYO PULAO
Sama Pulao is a simple, healthy, filling, one pot meal that is generally prepared during the Hindu Fasting Days like Navratri, Ekadashi, Ram Navmi, etc. Sama, samak chawal, moriyo, barnyard millet is widely used during fasting. Though the name has the word millet it is not a true millet. Actually it is a grass seed much like quinoa but smaller.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sama chawal
- 2 cups normal water
- 1 tbsp ghee
- 1 inch cinnamon stick
- 3-4 cloves
- 6-8 peppercorns
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- ½ cup carrot peeled and diced
- ½ cup potato peeled and diced
- 1 tsp sendha namak rock salt
- 12 cashew nuts cut into halves
- 1 tbsp raisins
- 1 tsp green chilli paste
- 1 tsp fresh ginger paste
- 2 tbsp fresh coriander finely chopped
Instructions
- Wash sama or Barnyard Millet in some water, gently rubbing the grains to remove any dirt. Repeat 3-4 times.
- Add 2 cups of water to the washed sama. Allow it to soak for 20-30 minutes.
- In the meantime, peel and dice the carrot and potato. The quantity given is a rough guidance.
- Cut the cashew nuts into halves.
- Heat ghee or oil in a wide pan over medium heat.
- Add cinnamon stick, cloves and peppercorns.
- As they begin to sizzle add the cumin seeds.
- Also add the curry leaves and cashew nuts.
- Stir fry for a minute.
- Add the diced potato and carrot. Also add the chilli and ginger pastes.
- Stir fry for one minute.
- Add the soaked sama along with the water. Also add salt.
- Mix well.
- Cover the pan with a lid. Lower the heat.
- Allow the pulao to cook for 20 minutes.
- Open the lid and stir occasionally so that the water does not over boil.
- If there is a little water left, doesn't matter. As the pulao cools, it will disappear.
- The sama grains should appear separate much like quinoa.
- Serve hot sama pulao with some plain yogurt or farali kadhi. Check the video for the recipe.
Notes
- If you are making sama pulao for a non fasting day then add vegetables of your choice - corn, peas, green beans, etc.
- Use any oil of your choice when making it on a non fasting day.
- Add peanuts instead of cashew nuts.