Varagu Pulao / Kodra/Koden Pulao / Arika Pulao / Koovaragu Pulao

INGREDIENTS
•1 cup kodo millet
•2 carrots, chopped carrot
•1 potato, cut into small pieces
•10 beans, chopped
•1 big onion, thinly sliced
•½ green capsicum, chopped
•1 bunch of mint leaves
•1 inch ginger
•3 garlic cloves
•2 long green chilis
•¼ bunch coriander leaves
•2 cloves
•1 Bay leaf
•½ tsp cumin
•½ tsp garam masala
•½ tsp turmeric
•3 tsp oil
•Salt to taste

STEPS
1.Soak kodo millet for 2 hours in water, set it aside
2.In a mixer, grind mint, coriander, ginger, garlic, chilis, cloves in to a fine paste, by adding very little water
3.Take a deep bottom vessel, add oil. Sauté onion till it turns translucent. Add cumin, bay leaf, chopped vegetables, salt, garam masala, turmeric powder and give it a good stir
4.Add mint, coriander paste. Fry till it turns aromatic
5.Add water, bring it to boil. Stir in kodo millet and cook it on high flame for 5 minutes
6.Reduce the heat and let it cook for another 5 minutes. Serve hot with raita

Tip: Adding vegetables like carrots, potatoes, beans, capsicum increases the nutritional value of this dish as they offer an array of vitamins