Most people not familiar with Indian cuisine may be thrown by the term “thinai idiyappam”. Thinai is more commonly known as foxtail millet, and it is not an ingredient that is used much outside of Indian cuisine and some other East Asian cuisine cultures. That is a shame, because foxtail millet has its own unique set of health benefits that people absolutely should want to include in their diets. Even if you’re not interested in the health benefits, you should at least appreciate that it makes for a pretty great vegetarian option.
Health Benefits
Thinai, more commonly known as foxtail millet, is actually a very powerful grain that can be considered a superfood due to its health benefits. Eating foxtail millet can help to improve the proper functionality of the heart and its associated systems. This is primarily due to its vitamin B1 content, which not only protects the heart by preventing heart ailments from forming. The vitamin B1 content also protects the mind against the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Ingredients
1 cup thinai flour
½ cup idiyappam flour
1 ½ cup water
salt to taste
oil for greasing
How To Make Thinai Idiyappam
- Dry roast the flour until an aroma begins to permeate the air.
- Set aside and allow to cool.
- Add roasted thinai flour, rice flour and salt in a small bowl.
- Mix well.
- Boil 1½ cup of water.
- Remove from the flame.
- Slowly add water to the flour mixture.
- Mix using a wooden spatula so that it forms a soft dough.
- Add small portion of dough in the idiyappam press.
- Press the dough into the greased idli plate using circular motions.
- Steam for 5 - 10 minutes.
- Remove from the plate and serve hot.
Packing this for office? Make sure you carry it in an insulated tiffin box.
Trivia
Millet is one of the most important crops in Africa and Asia because of its ability to survive tough conditions.