1 0

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

    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 billiousness; helps with cholesterol and heart conditions.

    • Cooking Method: Made into flour, 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

    • Tribal Recipe: 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.