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How to Cook Toasted Millet

Often overlooked for more fashionable grains millet is a nutritious and delicious whole grain, this is how to cook it!

Portrait image of toasted millet served on a white plate with chicken thighs

What is Millet?

Despite being relatively unheard of in “popular” foodie circles and mainly considered bird food, millet is an exceptionally important grain in the human food chain.

It is used to create everything from beer (rah) to bread this stuff is versatile if it is anything!

Like quinoa, it is considered to be a whole grain and it is packed full of nutrition.

I love the stuff because it has a more pronounced flavour than quinoa, it is also a third of the price of quinoa in our local stores.

Now if you eat quinoa to get some protein then you are better off sticking with it. This is because quinoa has a different amino acid profile meaning that it offers a complete protein.

But for all other nutrition values they are pretty much neck and neck.

I’m less bothered about all that stuff, I eat it because I like it!

Portrait overhead image of a poached salmon fillet served with cucumber and millet on a white plate with a wedge of lemon
Poached Salmon with Toasted Millet and Cucumber

What Does Millet Taste Like?

In the main it is pretty neutral, although it has a mild nutty flavour.

A flavour that is accentuated when you toast it as I do in my recipe at the bottom of the page.

I think that it has a great affinity with citrus flavours and I will often add a big whack of lemon juice to the cooking water.

This works particularly well when served with fish!

I usually use it as a side but it is equally delicious tossed through a salad.

Portrait close up image of lemon and garlic chicken thighs served with roasted onions and a millet side dish served on a white plate
Lemon Garlic Chicken with Toasted Millet

How to Cook Millet.

As I mention above millet is an ingredient with great diversity but I concentrate on cooking it in one way.

And that is “poached” in a water and butter mix.

There is a simple formula you want three times the volume of liquid to grain or two times the weight.

It is then a simple matter of simmering over a low heat until it has a slight bite but is no longer “grainy”.

Be warned Millet is a strange old beast though, cooking times vary considerably. That is true even within the same brand!

So you should test from 15 minutes to check it but be prepared for it to take as long as 30!

Letting it rest at the end of the cooking process is really important and you should not skip this step.

Square close up image of toasted millet served on a white plate with chopped parsley
Yield: 2 Servings

Toasted Millet Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Millet is a wonderful grain that is often overlooked in favour of more fashionable ingredients, it is delicious and packed with nutrition.

Ingredients

  • 150 g Millet
  • 300 ml Water
  • 5 g Butter
  • Salt to Taste
  • Fresh Herbs (Optional)

Instructions

  1. Place a dry pan over a medium heat.
  2. When hot add the millet and toast for 3 or 4 minutes swirling occasionally.
  3. Add the water and butter and bring to a boil.
  4. Season generously with salt.
  5. Reduce the heat, add a lid and allow to gently simmer for 15-20 minutes.
  6. The millet is cooked when it has a very slight bite but is not chalky.
  7. Remove the millet from the heat and allow sit covered with a tight lid for 5 minutes.
  8. Throw in a load of fresh herbs to serve.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 107Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 314mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 3g

Calorific details are provided by a third-party application and are to be used as indicative figures only.

Did you make this recipe?

If you made this recipe, I'd love to see what you did and what I can do better, share a picture with me on Instagram and tag me @krumplibrian and tell me how it went!

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