India's lead in promoting millet is on a constant roll. Adding to its recent impetus, now the Indian Parliament will soon have a menu enriched with different types of millets and an array of dishes made using them. The classic favourites biryani and cutlets will be joined by new culinary fares, including jowar vegetable upma, bajra khichdi, ragi laddoo, and bajre ka choorma on the menu of Parliament House canteens in the nearish future.
2023 has been marked as the International Year of Millets. And a significant share of credit goes to India for proposing it a few years back. As the world's largest producer of millet, India is on a mission to popularise these crop grains. An elaborate millet menu in the Indian Parliament will further boost their importance.
What led to this move?
Parliamentarians will now choose from the new and the old dishes menus after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla suggested a special millet menu for them. He urged the menu planning body to look into the options because he intended to do more than just raise awareness about millets. In his Mann Ki Baat address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged that millet meals would be served at every G20 summit event held in India. The government is encouraging the production and consumption of millet.
What's on Parliament's new millet menu?
Ragi matar ka shorba, bajra onion ka muthiya, shahi bajre ki tikki, ragi dosa with peanut chutney, amaranth salad, and korra millet salad are all included in the country's diverse à la carte menu. Bajre ki raab (soup), ragi dosa, ragi ghee roast, ragi thatte idli, and jowar vegetable upma are among the starters on the new millet menu of the Indian Parliament.
Bajre ki raab, Image Source: storyofspices.in@Instagram
Likewise, the entree will feature ragi poori with aloo ki sabzi, mix millet khichdi, and bajra khichdi with garlic chutney. Sarson ka saag with makka, bajra or jowar ki roti will also be served. Desserts include ragi walnut laddoo, kesari kheer, and bajre ka choorma.
Who planned the Parliament's new millet menu?
A few millet-based dishes have always been featured at the Parliament Canteen, but in 2023, consumption has increased. All Parliament canteens will serve millet meals, and MPs will receive them in the Central Hall. At least one millet dish will be included in the thali at the complex's other eateries.
PM Narendra Modi relishing a millet lunch with co-politicians during winter session, Image Source: Narendra Modi@Twitter
The menu was created by ITDC, which has been in charge of the Parliament's canteens since 2020. This spread was designed by Montu Saini of the ITDC. According to him, the millet menu was inspired by the feedback at lunch prepared for MPs in Parliament House's inner courtyard during the Winter Session. The ragi walnut laddoo and bajre ke raab were the most popular foods.
By taking inspiration from such an elaborate millets menu of Indian Parliament, what are you going to add to your daily meals?