Ghoogri, also known as Ghooghri is a delicious stir fry, nutritious and tasty and most importantly Gluten-Free.
You can make Ghooghri from either bajra (pearl millet) or Jowar (sorghum). Both Bajra and Jowar are great for people suffering from celiac disease and need to follow a gluten-free diet.
When I searched for a dish to be made for Gujarat I came across garlic chutney and ghooghri. I was transfixed by the simplicity and the healthy food that ancient Indians followed. Without all the new terms and research we did have healthy and delicious food.
Ghooghri means bells and is called so as the cooked bajra and jowar look like small bells.
Ghoohri is consumed in remote Kathiyawar by the farmers. Apparently, they eat Ghooghri with rotla and a pat of homemade butter. Healthy and keeps you full for the whole day especially useful for the hard work this farming community does.
The flavour of the cooked bajra was similar to hurda a dish made from tender green grains. Traditional hurda is roasted in a bonfire but check out this adaption for stovetop in a kadhai/wok. Yes, my tried and trusted Kadhai/wok it is my lambe race ka Ghoda.
I had made Ghoogri a long time ago but I lost the pictures now again I have tried making it. Here I have not added any veggies other than onion but you can use peas, carrots, cauliflower and capsicum/green peppers.
The millet I have used is bajra, I have soaked the bajra overnight and then pressure cooked it till the bajra was well cooked not mushy. Sauté with veggies and serve hot for best taste. But you can also pack it up in tiffin boxes for school or office. Since is healthy and tasty enough to be eaten by itself.
In case you are using jowar, it will be the same method.
The reason I am now publishing this post is that for the first time I have come across a lady who has acknowledged she is Gluten Allergic. Sorry, dear for the long delay.
Bajri ni Ghooghri
Equipment
- Pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 1 cup pearl millet or bajra
- 2 teaspoon oil
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- 2 teaspoon garlic paste
- 2-3 teaspoon green chilli minced fine
- ½ teaspoon Mustard seeds
- ¼ teaspoon Asafoetida Powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 5-6 curry leaves
- 1 onion chopped fine
- Lemon juice to taste
- Sugar to taste, optional
- Salt to taste
To Garnish:
- 1 tablespoon coriander leaves
- 1 lemon cut in wedges
Instructions
- Check the bajra for any stones and impurities.
- Rinse the bajra in running water and then soak overnight.
- In the morning check the level of water in the container, if the water does not reach your knuckles add more water.
- Pressure cook the bajra for at least 6 whistles.
- Let the pressure drop naturally.
- Check if the bajra is cooked. If mushy well then bad luck try making bajra ki khichdi. The bajra should be cooked but not mushy for our Ghooghri.
- Drain the liquid in the bajra, set it aside you can use it in making a vegetable or even add to daal.
- Let the cooked bajra cool down a bit.
- Heat a kadhai/wok then add oil.
- Once the oil is hot splutter the mustard.
- In quick succession add the curry leaves, hing, garlic, ginger and green chilli paste. Stir and cook for about ½ a minute.
- Add the onion and haldi/turmeric, cook till the onion is translucent.
- Add the bajra and mix well with salt and sugar, if using.
- Cover and cook for about 10 minutes.
- If the bajra sticks to the bottom of the Kadhai sprinkle some water.
- Switch off the gas, and add the lemon juice as needed.
- Cover and let the flavours mix well.
- Let it sit for about 5 minutes before serving sprinkled with coriander.
- You can serve Bajri ni Ghooghri with roti, in fact, I served it with parwal ki sabzi and roti. I noticed that everyone including me finished the roti sabji then ate the Bajrri ni Ghooghri like a snack.
Do you like this recipe? Have you tried it? In case you do and whenever you do please tag me on Facebook. My Instagram handle is #themadscientistskitchen. You can also use my Twitter handle, Then you are always welcome at my Pinterest page too. I will love to see you there.
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Fatima Kumar says
Thanks a lot Archana
It’s a fabulous gluten free recipe
Looks good
Will try it soon and keep you posted ????
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Fatima. I will love to hear your feedback.
Chef Mireille says
a great way to use millets what a healthy and wholesome bowl!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Mir.
Mina Joshi says
I have not heard of ghooghri made from whole bajra but am now very interested and intrigued as my dad was from Kathiawad. I am looking forward to trying your recipe as soon as I manage to get some whole bajra.
ArchanaPotdar says
Will love to hear from you asa you make it.
Renu says
I recently made quite pulao's with jowar and bajra and loved it. Love the way you have cooked tghis ghooghri, looks tempting and delicious.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Renu
Sophie says
This is a surprisingly new dish for me, but loved the recipe a lot. I will give it a try real soon. Thanks for sharing.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Sophie. I hope you enjoy it too.
Malini says
I am always up for millet-based recipes. This looks very nutritious, I will try this recipe with some veggies.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, will love to see your version Malini.
Lata Lala says
This sounds so different and I have never heard of ghughri made out of this. Sounds good and it's gluten free too.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Lata.
Jayashree T.Rao says
Such a healthy meal, I have recently been using a few millets in my cooking. Looks delicious.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Jayashree.
Jagruti Dhanecha says
Ghooghri reminds me of my childhood in India, mum used to make on Makar Sankranti day. healthy and delicious.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 Thanks, Jagruti.
Priya Vj says
A great way to use bajra or jowar ..liked the name ghoogri and the meaning behind it . The recipe seems to be easy nd ofcourse healthy and filling
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Priya.
Meera Girdhar says
such a nice way to use millet in our diet. Its really healthy and tasty. Thanks for sharing
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.
Azlin Bloor says
Wow, what a delicious looking stir fry! I can just imagine how good this would be with some fresh roti, like the farmers and their rotla. Simple, rustic, but so filling and satisfying! Thank you for introducing me to it!
ArchanaPotdar says
Aww! so sweet Azlin. What I like about you is that you are open to new food experiences. Thanks.
Maria says
This sounds amazing - something very rustic, wholesome and satisfying, the kind of food my grandmother would make. Bajra is one grain I really like for roti besides whole wheat that's why I'm truly intrigued to try this recipe.
ArchanaPotdar says
Do try Maria and this is perfect weather too for Bajra.
Kalyani says
this is being bookmarked for a future date. the ghoogri looks fantastic
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.