Moraiyo commonly known as Samo or Little Millet is easy to cook and quick fast special recipe Samo are seeds of a wild grass originating from Asia.  Moraiyo/Sama/samo is a seed, not a grain, the grains grow wild and free after the seeds are sowed, free of fertilizers, in drier zones, often where rice and wheat do not grow. It is one of the most digestible, low calorie, naturally gluten-free grains.

Whereas my Mum cooked Kodri the same way for my Dad on Thursdays,  my granny made the Moriyo every Thursday or on Upvas days/fasting days. Grannie would either make a dahi waru bateta nu shaak or the Mari wariu Shaak and serve it with a side of yoghurt for her one meal on fasting days.  

I was raised by my grannie for a good portion of my childhood, and my love for this grain knows no bounds, I used to look forward to our Thursday fasts of this simple yet filling and nutritious “farfai” meal.  You can add peas, bell peppers, and turmeric for color if you like.

Ingredients:

1 cup Moriyo/Samo seeds/Little Millet ( or use Kodri/ Kodo Millet)
1 medium potato peeled and cubed
3 – 4 green chilies
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
5 peppercorns
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 tablespoon ginger crushed (optional)
5 – 6 curry leaves
1 cup yoghurt ( sub with vegan yoghurt)
3 ½ cup water
1 teaspoon salt /Himalayan Rock Salt (Sindhav) or to taste
2 tablespoons peanuts (halved, crushed or whole- optional)

Instructions:

1. Wash the Moriyo/Millet until water runs clear, then soak in 2 cups of water or chaas (a mix of water and yoghurt) for about 20 mins.
2. Heat oil in a pan, add cloves, cinnamon and peppercorns and cumin seeds
3. Then add the curry leaves and chopped green chilies.
4. (if using ginger- add it now and sauté )
5. (if using peanuts- add them now and sauté)
6. Add potato cubes and sauté them.
7. Add in Moriyo/ Samo Seeds with the water/chaas (for chaas/buttermilk -mix 1 cup of yoghurt in the 3 1/2 cup of water)
8. Mix well, cook uncovered on medium flame
9. Keep stirring every few minutes then cover and let it cook on until potatoes and Samo is cooked- about 12-15 mins.
10. If you like, add more water to make it looser/porridge-like consistency.

Instant Pot:

1. Follow all the above steps, 
2. Close the lid and turn the valve to SEALING position.
3. Press MANUAL PRESSURE cook mode and adjust the time to 12 minutes.
4. Once done, wait for ten minutes/NPR before opening the lid.

What is Moriyo?

Moriyo in Gujarati, Samak Ke Chawal or Sama Ke Chawal, he barnyard millet goes by many names. As it is technically not a grain, it is commonly used in the preparation of food during fasts, particularly so in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and surrounding parts, and therefore referred to as ‘Vrat Ke Chawal‘ or “Upvas chawal”(literally ‘the rice of fasting).  Moriyo is gluten-free.