{"product_id":"kodo-millet-varagu","title":"Kodo Millet – Varagu (Unpolished)","description":"\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eA grain with body\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eVaragu cooks up firm and slightly chewy, with a mild earthy flavour that stands up to spice rather than disappearing under it. That's why it works so well in biryani, pulao and anything with a strong masala — the grain still tastes of something at the end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eIt's also more filling than the other small millets, glass for glass. Cook a cup of varagu expecting a rice-sized appetite and you'll usually have some left over.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWhat unpolished means\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePolishing strips the bran layer off the grain to make it whiter, faster-cooking and longer-lasting on a shelf. Most of the fibre goes with it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eOurs isn't polished, which is why the grain is an uneven grey-beige rather than a uniform white, and why it needs a proper soak and more water than rice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWhy customers choose ALAI\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUnpolished, bran intact.\u003c\/strong\u003e No polishing to whiten the grain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCleaned and hand-sorted.\u003c\/strong\u003e Destoned and sieved carefully before packing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSourced from Tamil Nadu growers.\u003c\/strong\u003e Varagu grown where it's always been grown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePacked in small lots.\u003c\/strong\u003e Unpolished grain is best fresh.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo additives, no polish, no colour.\u003c\/strong\u003e Just the grain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eHow to cook it\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eVaragu needs more soaking and more water than the other millets. This is the single thing that decides whether you like it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRinse and soak.\u003c\/strong\u003e Rinse three times, then soak for at least 45 minutes — an hour is better. Undersoaked varagu is hard in the middle and that's what puts people off it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePressure cooker\u003c\/strong\u003e — 1 cup varagu to 3 cups water, 3 whistles, natural release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOpen pot\u003c\/strong\u003e — 1 cup to 3.5 cups water, simmer 20–25 minutes, rest covered 10 minutes, then fluff.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFor biryani or pulao\u003c\/strong\u003e — 1 cup to 2.5 cups liquid, since the masala and vegetables add moisture. Soak the full hour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFor curd rice\u003c\/strong\u003e — cook it soft with 1 cup to 4 cups water. Varagu curd rice is one of the best things you can do with this grain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFor idli or dosai\u003c\/strong\u003e — swap varagu for the rice in your usual batter at the same ratio to urad dal. Ferment as normal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWhat to make with it\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eVaragu biryani · Varagu pulao · Curd varagu · Varagu upma · Lemon varagu · Puliyodarai · Varagu idli and dosai · Varagu adai · Varagu payasam\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eProduct details\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrand\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eALAI\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrain\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso known as\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVaragu, varagu arisi, kodra, kodon, arikelu, harka\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProcessing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDehusked, unpolished, machine-cleaned and destoned\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIngredients\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100% kodo millet. Nothing added.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e500 g \/ 1 kg \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePackaging\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFood-grade sealed pouch\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShelf life\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12 months from packing\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStorage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAirtight container in a cool, dry place\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFSSAI Lic. No.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22426306000092\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eA note on colour and shelf life\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eUnpolished varagu is grey-beige and varies batch to batch — that's the bran. Because the bran carries natural oils, unpolished grain keeps for less time than polished. Six months in an airtight jar is realistic. Decant a 5 kg pack into smaller jars rather than opening one repeatedly.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alai","offers":[{"title":"500 g","offer_id":52882257609016,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":false},{"title":"1 kg","offer_id":52882257641784,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1013\/0381\/2408\/files\/KodoMillet_Varagu500g.png?v=1788177867","url":"https:\/\/alaistore.in\/products\/kodo-millet-varagu","provider":"Alai","version":"1.0","type":"link"}