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Avocado Pearl Millet (Bajra) Salad

About 60% of Indian production of millets constitutes pearl millet and for a good reason. Bajra is a well-known staple in Indian households. The majority of individuals have consumed the millet at least once, in the form of khichdi, dosa or even cheela. It is overtly chosen because the grains are easily digestible, gluten-free and a superfood, providing a plethora of health benefits. However, if you are looking to give your Bajra recipes a spin then you should try this pearl millet avocado salad recipe. Here’s how to make this interesting yet delightful bajra salad in minutes.

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • For the Salad
    1. Steamed baby beetroot and carrot: 2-3 each
    2. Ripe avocado: 1 No
    3. Orange: 1 No
    4. Arugula or rocket leaves: 1/2 Cup
    5. Pearl Millet (Bajra), boiled: 1/4 Cup
    6. Local soft cheese: 2 tbsp

  • For the Dressing
    1. Cold-pressed peanut oil: 2 tbsp
    2. Lemon juice: 3
    3. Lemon rind: 2
    4. Garlic cloves: 2
    5. Sea salt to taste
Methods

Methods

Here’s an easy-to-follow recipe to make your avocado pearl millet salad:

    Step 1: Thoroughly clean and quarter the beets. Wrap them in silver foil and roast for about 30 to 40 minutes.

    Step 2: Once the beets are cooked, peel them and cut into wedges. Similarly, roast some baby carrots and cut them into halves.

    Step 3: Now whip up the salad dressing by blending lemon juice, lemon rind, peanut oil, sea salt and garlic cloves in a mixer. Keep aside once done.

    Step 4: On the side, soak the pearl millet for 90 minutes. Give it a boil. Place the millet aside to cool once done.

    Step 5: Peel and cut ripe avocado into wedges, add beets, carrot, arugula and Pearl millet to a bowl. Now add dressing to the salad and give it a good toss. Once done, transfer the tossed salad to a bowl.

    Step 6: Garnish the salad with some avocado wedges, crumbled soft cheese and segments of orange. You can even add any seasonal root vegetables of your choice to make the salad richer.

With this, you’re done! Enjoy the healthy salad with your family.


Health Benefits of Pearl Millet (Bajra)

Largely cultivated in India and Africa, the pearl millet is also known by its scientific name Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Around the country, pearl millet is commonly consumed during the winter season. This is due to its warming abilities, which stem from the abundance of protein and soluble dietary fibre. These produce body mass and are slowly absorbed by the body, keeping you full and satiated for longer. This, in turn, helps with weight loss.

Pearl millet has the lowest glycemic index among the millets. This lends a hand in avoiding erratic spikes in blood sugar levels while providing energy. The kernels of the millet contain healthy omega fatty acids and phospholipids. These protect the cells in your brain, boost brain function and uplift your mood.

The phenolic compounds in the millet are antioxidants and provide anti-inflammatory benefits to the body. Due to these, pearl millet is often recommended to cardiovascular and diabetic patients to lower the risk of the disorders.

Pearl millet is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. These micronutrients include vitamin B complexes, manganese, phosphorous, magnesium, iron and zinc. These encourage the metabolism of several different processes. For example, producing hormones, building bone structure, disease prevention and many others across the body to encourage optimal development. Regular intake of millet in one’s diet can help combat cholesterol, blood pressure, cancer and many other issues.

Serving Suggestions and Variations

While this pearl millet avocado salad recipe is a fresh and tangy way to add the millet to your meal, there are a variety of ways you can recreate this recipe to suit your taste buds.

Create a vibrant Mediterranean avocado millet salad to spruce up your lunches when having friends over. To do so incorporate ingredients like cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, olives and roasted chickpea (optional) to the lemon-herb dressing.

The protein-packed variation of the salad will be helpful for days when you need a protein boost in your meal. Simply add your preferred source of protein, such as chicken, tofu, chickpea or cottage cheese, to make the avocado pearl millet salad an all-rounded balanced meal.

If you are craving a sweet yet healthy breakfast option, you might need to try this fruit salad. All you need to do is mix in more sliced fruits like strawberries, oranges and mango in the salad. This, with the creamy avocado and nutty pearl millet, will wake you up and give you the boost of energy you need.

It doesn’t matter if you enjoy the salad as your breakfast, side dish or even as dinner; the combination of nutrients in the pearl millet avocado salad recipe satisfies your palate while nourishing your body. The sky is the limit. Let your creative juices flow in creating the most delicious salad that suits your taste buds perfectly.