Horsetail (Kuthiraivali ) Pongal

Sumptuous Horsetail(kuthiraivali) Pongal

Times are changing, people are so very diet conscious, esp youngsters, that they divert their attention to millets a lot. Millets are really good substitutes for rice and even wheat as they have less of carb and more of fibers and minerals.Kuthiraivali, called Horsetail is one such nutritious millet.

Barnyard millet known as kuthiravali in Tamil,Oodalu in Kannada,odalu in Telugu,Jhangora in Hindi and Kavadapullu in Malayalam which has 6 times high fiber content when compared with wheat.Its a gluten free millet with high calcium,phosporous & fiber.It is high in carbohydates & fat too.It helps to maintain the body temperature.It acts as a good anti oxidant too.

Nutrition Information Per 100gms

Serving Size	The serving size, in terms of the number of volume or mass
Calories	342
Iron(grams)	15.2
Fat (grams)	4
Calcium(Milli grams)	11
Carbohydrate (grams)	108
Protein (grams)	11.2
Fiber (grams)	10.1
Minerals(grams)	4.4

Kuthiraivali Pongal

Kuthiraivali Millet       --  1 cup
Moong Dhal              --  1/2 cup
Water                        -- 4 cups
Jeera -Pepper granules-- 1tsp
Asafoetida                  -- 1/2 tsp
Ginger ground             --  1/2 tsp
Ghee                          --  4 tsp
Oil                              -- 3 tsp
Curry leaves               -- 1 tbsn
Cashew broken          -- 1tbsn
Salt to taste

1. Take a suitable vessel, pour 2 tsp of ghee and roast millet and moong dhal a little.
2. Add 4 cups of water to it and pressure cook it till 4 or 5 whistles.
3. Season Jeera-pepper granules, cashew, asafoetida, ginger ground and curry leaves in 2 tsp of ghee and add it to the pongal.
4 Add salt to taste.
5. Finally add the oil, raw to the pongal and mix well.
6. Vattal Kuzhambu or kotsu is an ideal combination.
There is not even a grain of rice in it and unless you tell people that it is made of millet, no body can find the difference. Try it. and enjoy.The same can be prepared with Thinai or Samai millets.