Over the last decade or more, I have had quite a lot of fun scouring through supermarkets and aisles of grocery stores looking for healthy wheat-free alternatives. I have to mention here that I have never been much of a quinoa person. There! I said it. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I wanted to share a little bit about one of my favourite nutrient dense, gluten-free grains, i.e millets:) I love cooking with millets and incorporating them into cereals, rotis and desserts for my family and friends.

What is it?

Millet is an ancient cereal grain that is widely consumed in India, Nepal and parts of Africa. It is nutritionally dense, easy to source and a great wheat-free substitute for those who are coeliac and following a gluten-free diet.  There are several varieties ranging from Kodo, Amaranth, pearl, Kangni (foxtail), jowar (bajra), finger (Ragi) and white millet. Nutritionally, millets are a rich source of calcium, protein and fibre. 

Some of the benefits of regular millet consumption include:

• A good choice for those on a gluten free dietary regimen
• The soluble fibre in millets could help improve cholesterol levels
• Because of its low-glycemic index, those who eat millets report feeling fuller for longer and it could also help keep blood sugar levels more stable.

I was introduced to Slurrp Farm a little while ago and after just one try, their packages became a pantry staple in my house and for a lot of my friends too.

Shauravi and Meghana co-founded Slurrp farm in October 2016 because they were looking to provide healthy, wholesome and nutritious food for children. Several months of research, recipe testing and formulations later, they realised that Millets were a great source of carbohydrates, calcium, protein and fibre, making it perfect for kids.

I have been cooking with their pancake mixes and even prepping puddings with their chia seeds. What I love about Slurrp Farm is their focus on locally-sourced ingredients, the simplicity of their recipes that are easy to tweak for those on a vegan or egg-free diet. Lastly, the pancake, cake and waffle recipes use jaggery instead of refined sugar.

These pancakes are ridiculously easy to make and are a huge hit at home. You can have them as is or dress them with bananas or strawberries ???? and a little maple syrup, if you like:)

We’ve tried a few variants, the Banana Choco Chip, Blueberry and the Chocolate and while the Banana one is my favourite, they are all really good!!

We had a lovely time baking and prepping and eating their pancakes the other day. Sharing some photographs from the afternoon for you to have a look. Bon Appetit!

If you would like to check them out, you could have a look at their website here. Im sure you will find a couple of things that the whole family will enjoy and the best part, their products are no-fuss and require only a few minutes of prep time. They have waffles, dosa mixes, pancakes, chia seeds, cake mixes and more.

Remember, food can be fun. It is nourishment. It should be savoured and enjoyed. Think of cooking as a fun family activity and get into the kitchen to prep together. Scroll through your favourite blogs for inspiration. Look at your pantry ingredients and try to eat local and seasonal, wherever possible. Experiment with different recipes and approach it intuitively. Don’t forget to have fun while you are at it.

Stay Well! Stay Healthy!

Photo credits: Swati Singh Chauhan