Choco Puffed Millet Chikki

Making puffed millet was an exciting idea. I had previously tried and was successful in popping Jowar( jonna) and Amaranthus seeds. I would say I am 50% successful. Still the overall dish turned out to be good.And for adding Choco kids were the inspiration. They will eat anything with choco flavour. But I have used honey instead of sugar in this recipe. And I want them to eat my healthy recipes ;)

Ingredients : 

Little millet      - 1/4 cup

Pearl millet       - 1/4 cup

Amaranthus seeds - 1/4 cup

Honey                - 1/2 cup

Butter                 - 1/2 cup 

Cocoa powder    - 3- 4 spoons

Peanuts ( slightly pound) - 2- 3 spoons

 Method : 

For Puffing millet : Clean the millet in water and dry. Take a thick bottomed vessel and heat it. When the heat almost reaches maximum, put one spoonful of dried millet at a time. Use a spatula to stir the millet to prevent from burning. with in few seconds they will start popping. This is little tricky until u get the hang of it.

For puffing Amaranthus seeds : On the heated thick vessel, put one teaspoonful of the seeds and cover it. They will pop completely in few seconds. Now repeat the procedure.

Making Chikki : 

Now heat a tava, add butter, cocoa powder and honey, Keep stirring while the butter melts. Once the mix thickens a bit ( not more than 2 minutes), take off from heat, pour over the puffed millets and mix well. Spread it in a plate evenly, pressing from the top with a spatula. Now keep it in refrigerator for two hours with out covering. On taking out cut it in to pieces. 

Variation : My kids wanted a more chocolaty twist to the dish. So they melted some chocolate and poured over the pieces. Needless to say, it was yummier. But with out extra chocolate also it was yummy :)