WHY SAMAK RICE SHOULD BE A PART OF YOUR DIET WHILE FASTING? & HOW TO MAKE SAMAK RICE PULAO?

When it comes to diet plans, the consumption of rice and wheat is a hotly debated subject. It is frequently mentioned that there are excellent millets that are far healthier and richer in nutrients than these two. Samak rice, also known as miraculous millet, is known by many different names throughout the world. Indians particularly enjoy it during the holiday season. It has a lot of health advantages and aids in weight loss. The output of barnyard millet (Echinochloa species), one of the most significant minor millet crops in Asia, has significantly increased. Less biotic and abiotic stress can affect them.

Echinochloa frumentacea, also known as barnyard millet, is a self-pollinating plant in the Poaceae family. The first domesticated tiny millet is barnyard millet. It is a great source of dietary fibre, contains a good amount of protein (10.5%), and is easily digestible. About 8.7 to 9.63% of barnyard millet is moisture. Barnyard millet has a small amount of slowly absorbed carbohydrates. It is the perfect diet for diabetic mellitus patients. Despite the fact that pigeon millet has the ability to offer food and nutrients and is nutritionally superior to cereals, its use is currently insufficient. Sama, or Samvat rice, is a type of millet and is a tiny, white, spherical grain. It’s also referred to as “vrat ke chawal.” It is a grain that is free of gluten and a healthy choice on days when you fast. In contrast to long-grained rice, it does not cook into distinct grains. Samak rice is a seed, not a grain. Except for lysine, it contains a lot of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and amino acids. The hull, which contains the majority of its nutrients, is typically eaten with it. To create kheer, khichdi, idli, or dhokla, use this rice. Barnyard millet has a small amount of slowly absorbed carbohydrates.

The first little millet cultivar is barnyard millet. Echinochloa esculenta, also known as Japanese barnyard millet or Japanese millet, is one of the two main species of barnyard millet. Echinochloa frumentacea, often known as Indian barnyard millet, is the other. Billion Dollar Grass and Barnyard Millet are both names for the Indian variety.

The toughest millet, Echinochloa frumentacea, is also known as

The principal growth areas in India are Orissa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Punjab, Gujarat, and the hills of Uttarakhand. Barnyard millet is a minor kharif crop that does well in rainy conditions in Uttarakhand. The moisture content of barnyard millet ranges from 8.7 to 9.63%. In hilly, remote, or tribal areas with undulating fields, where there are few other prospects for agricultural advancement, it is most frequently grown.

There are numerous ways that samak rice differs from normal rice. Compared to conventional rice, it has higher levels of protein, iron, zinc, resistant starch, and different polyphenols and antioxidants. The previous is actually millet, which is grown in warm climates all over the world, not rice. While samak rice is planted as a supplemental or little millet, regular rice is farmed as a primary grain. However, the latter helps impoverished people have access to food security because it can tolerate all environmental conditions and endure climatic fluctuations like severe rain, which the former cannot. In comparison to other types of rice and cereal, Samak rice is also inexpensive. Samak rice is a wonderful alternative to ordinary rice for people with celiac disease because it is gluten-free and also has numerous health benefits, some of which are higher than those of regular rice. Ordinary rice is primarily used as a staple food and provides a wealth of health benefits. Samak rice, which is not a “true grain,” is also extensively consumed by people during festivals in order to prepare foods for vrat.

Step 1: Barnyard millet should be washed and given at least 15 minutes of soaking. As you wait, peel and cut the potato. Finely cut coriander leaves and green chilies are required.

Step 2: Pour ghee into a frying pan. Add cumin seeds and heat it over a medium flame. Garnish with cumin seeds that have begun to sputter. Green chiles, cashews, peanuts, and ginger are then added. Till cashews turn a light brown, sauté.

Step 3: The potato dice are now added. The potatoes should be mixed and cooked for 1 to 2 minutes over medium heat. Barnyard millet is added, stirred, and cooked for one minute. It will start to pop.

Step 4: Barnyard millet should be added along with 2 1/2 cups of water. After mixing, the pan should be covered and cooked on medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Use a fork to continue checking.

Step 5: Lemon juice and coriander leaves can be added. Turn off the flame after thoroughly combining everything. Ten minutes should pass after covering the pan before serving. The millet cooks faster and better thanks to the steam, which also helps the flavors meld. With a side dish, serve hot or warm.

Barnyard millet has gotten very little attention from academics and farmers worldwide, despite being a crop with both nutritional and agronomic advantages. Programs to breed barnyard millet have stalled because of a lack of funds from numerous research organisations and funding sources. Therefore, significant effort is required to generate varieties or hybrids with features that are preferred by farmers and consumers. In the future, more breeding programs will need to be developed to make use of genetic variety for increased nutritional quality, notably micronutrient content, high yield potential, yield stability, greater salinity tolerance, and pest and disease resistance.