By Garima Johar
October 12, 2026
Samak ke chawal, aka barnyard millet, isn’t really rice, but a gluten-free option for your fast. Here are some samak chawal recipes you can try and make your everyday meals vrat-friendly for Navratri.
Use samak ke chawal with chopped vegetables and sendha namak to make Navratri-special pulao.
Mix the soaked barnyard millet and cook it with assorted veggies to make a bowl of upma.
Instead of rice, you can use samak ke chawal to make the South Indian staple - idli.
To make a comforting one-pot meal, you can make barnyard millet khichdi, perfect for Navratri.
Make the thin and crispy crepe with a batter made with samak rice and enjoy a vrat-friendly dosa.