Millet is referred to as an ancient grain, although it is actually a seed, that is rich in vitamins, minerals, iron, calcium, and protein with phytochemicals, phenols, and antioxidants. Let’s explore how to cook millet!

Millet grain has become popular again in recent years due to its unique properties. For some reason, these grains have been forgotten here in the USA as food but is popularly used as bird feed.

Millet is a type of cereal that is grown as a staple food in countries of Asia, Europe, and Africa. It contains all nine essential amino acids required by our bodies to build protein, which makes it an excellent meat replacement for those on a gluten-free diet, vegetarians, and vegans alike.

Millet also contains high levels of potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin E, and B6. Millet does go through a lot of processing before it gets to you though, so make sure to buy organic wherever possible! It is excellent for those who have wheat allergies or celiac disease.

Types of millet include finger millet, pearl millet, foxtail millet, little millet. 

Please check out, Millet Porridge, Black Bean And Millet Salad, Millet Tabouli, and Coconut Millet.

millet grain on a white background

Health Benefits of Millet

Rich in minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, copper, and potassium. Vitamins B6, C, E, and K. Millet contains about 207 calories in a cup of cooked grain. with 2 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.

  1. Millet may reduce LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or bad cholesterol. Read More.
  2. Millet may support heart health, it contains 9 grams of fiber per 100 grams of serving. It also supports the digestive system
  3. A diet with millet may help to control blood glucose levels. 

millet in white bowl on wooden background

How to Cook Millet?

Cooking millet is easy – all you need to do is rinse the grains thoroughly under cold water to remove any excess starch on them.

Put them in your cooking vessel with twice as much water as there are millet kernels then bring this mixture up to a boil, then simmer for 20-25 minutes until all of the water has been absorbed. Fluff up with a fork before serving!

Washing millet in a colander under running water

Millet is great to cook with because it cooks so quickly – 20 minutes is more than enough time to cook vegetables, cooked beans, or whatever else you want to mix it with.

Millet can be cooked alongside other dishes without much fuss, and it goes particularly well with beans and sweetcorn.

If you’re looking for something more unusual you could try mixing millet into your cereal in the morning – its extremely light flavor means that you’ll barely notice it’s there!

What To Make With Millet:

You can cook millets in many ways, such as making a pilaf-style side dish or porridge, or you can use them in a salad. You can also make breakfast skillets or pancakes from it. That’s pretty cool, isn’t it?

Make sure to keep in mind that millet can be a bit dry-tasting when used in a side dish. If possible, you should always add vegan butter, olive oil, vegan shredded cheese, cream cheese, etc.

millet cooking in pot

Cook Millet on Stove:

However, most people prefer to prepare millet with toasted grains rather than boiling it directly with water. Toasting these grains is said to enhance their nutty flavor.

If you want to make a side dish for four people:

  1. You will need 1 1/4 cups of millet, 2 1/2 cups of water, and salt to taste.
  2. Roast the millet in a skillet over medium heat. Make sure not to burn the grains by stirring continuously. In addition to turning golden brown, the grains will emit a nutty fragrance. 
  3. Transfer the grains to a pot after they have turned golden brown. Boil the water in the pot.
  4. Lower the heat when the water begins to boil and cook until the water is absorbed around 20 minutes.

This dish can be served as a side dish and will have a slightly nutty flavor after being cooked. This dish would taste wonderful with stews or soups.

Cooked millet in the pot

Use a Rice Cooker

Take a cup of millet and rinse well. Add two cups of water and a teaspoon of salt to the rice cooker. Using broth instead of water will enhance the taste of millet because its flavor is mild.

You can add two cups of broth to this dish. Cook millet in the rice cooker, which turns off automatically as it dries. When using a rice cooker, millet cooks in about 20 minutes.

Other Related How To Cook:

  1. Brown Jasmine Rice
  2. Quinoa
  3. Red Lentils
  4.  Pumpkin
  5. Roast Butternut Squash

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