Bhagar / Varai | भगर / वरई Proso Millet Panicum miliaceum L.

Bhagar / Varai | भगर / वरई Proso Millet Panicum miliaceum L.

Other Names

  • Local Name: Bhagar / Varai / भगर / वरई
  • Common Name: Proso Millet
  • Botanical Name: Panicum miliaceum L.

Status & Habitat

  • Habitat: Herb
  • Occurrence: Normal to dry soils
  • Season of Availability: Warmer parts of the year
  • Geography: Asia
  • Method of Propagation: Seed propagation
  • Part used for Propagation: Seeds

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Seeds
  • Can be Eaten Raw: No

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: No
  • Ripe: No
  • Both Raw & Ripe: No
  • Dangerous Form to Consume: Raw plant
  • As Food: Made into flour, porridge (used as a grain); used in fermentation.
  • As Medicine: Made into porridge to treat acidity and biliousness; helps with cholesterol and heart conditions.
  • Cooking Method: Made into flour and porridge; used in fermentation.
  • Preservation / Curing Technique: N/A
  • Does Require Another Plants to be cooked together: N/A
  • Souring Agents Required: N/A

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: High protein and carbohydrate content.
  • Medicinal Benefit: Helps treat acidity, billiousness, cholesterol, and heart conditions.

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Made into porridge to treat acidity and billiousness; helps with cholesterol and heart conditions.

Recipes / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: Idli:
    Soak urad dal for 4-6 hours, then grind. Add 1 cup proso millet idli rawa and salt to the batter, ferment overnight. Pour into idli moulds and cook in an idli cooker for 7-10 minutes. Serve with coconut chutney and sambar.