United Nations has declared 2023 to be the International Year of Millets. And Lalit Suri Hospitality Group is celebrating through Healthy Millet, a month-long festival, at outlets of The Lalit across India. On July 19, The Lalit Great Eastern, Calcutta, organised an event featuring a number of millet-based dishes, curated by executive chef Madhumita Mohanta. Millet is known for its nutritional value and versatility. The festival aims to raise awareness about millets, its benefits and importance in supporting livelihoods of farmers.
Guests from all walks of life participated in the event and savoured delicious millet-based dishes. Following the launch, the Healthy Millet menu will be available for a month at all The Lalit outlets across India, including Alfresco, 24/7, Oko and Baluchi. The menu includes millet-based dishes like crunchy edamame and amaranth salad, Thai-infused foxtail and pomelo salad, crunchy quinoa bites, ragi idlis and many more made from a variety of millets, like foxtail millet, barnyard millet and kodo millet. Experience the healthy menu at The Lalit Great Eastern till August 20. The Telegraph sampled some of the dishes.
Millet Risotto with Chicken is a creamy risotto
(L-R) Samak Chawal Aur Koraisutir Dhoka is the barnyard millet and green peas cake cooked in a curd-based gravy; Chicken Kuttu Dalcha is a mildly-spiced chicken curry preparation.
(L-R) Ragi and Bharwan Mirchi ka Kadhi is ragi and stuffed Bhavnagar chillies cooked in a curd-based gravy; Grilled Fish served with herbed millet and steamed vegetables.
(L-R) Desserts on the Healthy Millet menu will include Millet Frangipane Tart, which is an almond frangipani-filled tart topped with black pepper and thyme crumble; The millet laddu section is called Laddu Ki Tokri, comprising Ragi and Mawa Laddu, Bajra aur Makhana ka Laddu, Jowar aur Copra ka Laddu and many more
Madhumita Mohanta, executive chef of The Lalit Great Eastern, curated the Healthy Millet menu for the event and the festival. She said: “Bengalis don’t know much about millet and its versatility, so with this promotion, we are inculcating the grain in the menu and diet, making various dishes out of it. The Healthy Millet menu will run in our restaurant for the next month and if it becomes popular among our patrons, we will add it to our regular menu.”
(L-R) Vanita Bajor, Sayantani Guhathakurta and Richa Sharma
(L-R) Shanhansha Mirza with wife Fatima, Gunnu Ahluwalia; Rahul Roy and Pawan Patodia
(L-R) “Besides promoting culinary delights involving millets, The Lalit Group is committed to supporting local farmers and promoting sustainable farming practises. By incorporating millets into the menu, The Lalit Group is creating demand for this traditional crop and contributing to the well-being of both consumers and farmers,” said Kamal Raza (left), resident manager of The Lalit Great Eastern, Calcutta. “Millet acts as a positive input in our meals for its versatility and health benefits. Millets are popular in the south of India and now it’s time that the whole country inculcates this healthy crop in their daily diet,” said Imran Zaki (right), host of the event.
Chef Madhumita with Chef Shaun Kenworthy
Priti Agarwal
(L-R) Navonil Das, Sonika Dey and Acharapan Yavaprapas, consulgeneral of Thailand in Calcutta