Ragi Dosa to Bajra Raab: G20 guests to be treated to millet-based delicacies

Srinagar: G20 delegates will be treated to a carefully curated spread of millet-based delicacies.

As the world collectively celebrates the ‘International Year of Millet’ in 2023, a group of entrepreneurs from the Jammu & Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission, working alongside skilled chefs from the Institute of Hotel Management in Srinagar, has ingeniously prepared an array of millet delicacies utilizing ingredients such as wheat grains, buckwheat, puffed rice, and corn maize.

The menu includes a range of delicious dishes such as cheesy chicken browntop millet bake, foxtail millet Kashmiri pulao, Ragi Dosa with coriander chutney, millet tortilla, missi roti, corn with lotus stem salad, millet and dates chutney, Bajra Raab, Kashmiri millet toosha with ice-cream and caramel.

A senior official at IHM, Srinagar told The Kashmir Monitor that the IHM has trained a group of female entrepreneurs from Jammu & Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission to prepare millet-based recipes.

“During the two-day G20 event, the delegates will be served a thoughtfully crafted millet-based breakfast and lunch. This will showcase that our region not only offers traditional Kashmiri cuisine but also explores various other types of recipes. The incorporation of millets in these dishes brings numerous benefits and is particularly suitable for health-conscious individuals,” he said.

Chef and Faculty IHM, Srinagar Mohammad Yaseen Reshi wrote on his Facebook timeline that they have meticulously prepared a collection of extraordinary recipes using millets exclusively for the G20 Summit. “You can witness my hard work on 23rd and 24th May 2023 at SKICC Srinagar. Very special recipes made out of millet for the G20 summit. #ihmsrinagar #jandkrlm #gian #chefyaseen #millets #internationalyearosmillets’,” he said.

Speaking to The Kashmir Monitor, Nutritionist at Modern Hospital, Shazia Lone explained that millets are versatile ingredients that can be utilized in their whole-grain form for porridges or as rice substitutes. “They can also be ground into flour for making flatbreads and other baked goods,” she said. 

Lone emphasized that millets are not only naturally gluten-free but also possess significantly higher levels of iron and calcium compared to processed wheat and rice. “Furthermore, they are rich in fiber, making them an excellent choice for individuals seeking to manage blood sugar levels or insulin resistance. For instance, 100 grams of ragi grain contains 344mg of calcium, whereas rice and wheat contain only 33mg and 30mg, respectively,” she said.

Lone stressed that millets are beneficial not only for consumers but also for farmers and the environment. “By embracing millets, conscious consumers can actively contribute to combating climate change,” she said.  

It’s worth noting that the G20 meeting will take place at the Sheri Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) situated on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar.