Cooking millets is as easy as cooking rice.  The below steps can be used for Kodo millet, Little millet, Foxtail Millet and Proso Millet.

 

 

  1. Pressure Cooker Method: (1:2 – 2 whistles)
    • Wash the millet. (Use a sieve to drain the water)
    • For 1 measure of millet add 2 measures of water in a pressure cooker.
    • Close the lid and cook in Medium-Large flame.
    • After the first whistle, reduce the flame.
    • After the second whistle, take it off the flame.
    • DO NOT release the steam.
    • Leave it aside for about 10 minutes.  Let the millet cook in its own steam.
    • When the cooker has cooled and the steam is gone, remove the lid.
      • DO NOT mix using ladle/spoon when the millet is hot.  It will make it mushy/lumpy.
      • Transfer the cooked millet rice to a plate and have it hot with Dal/Sambar.
      • Transfer the cooked millet rice to a plate and cool it, if you are preparing any other dish.
    • As the cooked millet cools, it will become more firm.  It will become harder as the time passes (more than 2-3 hours).

DSCN2618

DSCN2620

DSCN1544

2.  Open vessel cooking (1:2 – 30 minutes soaking)

  • Wash Millet (Use a sieve to drain the water)
  • Soak 1 measure of millet in 2 measures of water for 30 minutes.
  • Cook in large-medium flame with a lid.
  • When the water starts to boil, reduce the flame.
  • When water evaporates (about 10 minutes), take it off the flame and firmly close the lid.
  • Leave it aside for 5 mins for it to cool.
    • DO NOT mix using ladle/spoon when the millet is hot.  It will make it mushy/lumpy.
    • Transfer the cooked millet rice to a plate and have it hot with Dal/Sambar.
    • Transfer the cooked millet rice to a plate and cool it, if you are preparing any other dish.
    • As the cooked millet cools, it will become more firm.  It will become harder as the time passes (more than 2-3 hours).

3.  Millet can also be cooked in electric rice cooker with the same ratio of millet & water as described above.

Note:  Based on the quantity of millet, size of the cooker/vessel, and flame/burner size; cooking time and water will vary slightly.  Within 3 attempts, you can master cooking millet rice.

About Foxtail Millet

Foxtail is very rich in phosphorus and thiamin (Vitamin B1) in addition to all the general millet characteristics (gluten-free, low glycemic index, high fibre, etc).

Foxtail Millet is also called Navane (in Kannada), Thenai (in Tamil), Korralu (in Telugu) and Kakum (in Hindi)


About Kodo Millet

Kodo is very rich in dietary fibre and protein in addition to all the general millet characteristics (gluten-free, low glycemic index, high fibre, etc). It has a high antioxidant content and it is highly beneficial for diabetes patients.

Kodo Millet is called as Haarka (in Kannada), Arikelu (in Telugu), Varagu (in Tamil) and Kodon (in Hindi)


About Little Millet

Little Millet is high in healthy fats in addition to all the general millet characteristics (gluten-free, low glycemic index, high fibre, etc). It also has the smallest grains, so cooks faster than the other millets.

Little Millet is also called Same (in Kannada), Samai (in Tamil), Samalu (in Telugu) and Kutki (in Hindi)


About Proso Millet

Proso Millet has the largest grain among the millet rices in addition to all the general millet characteristics (gluten-free, low glycemic index, high fibre, etc). It is golden in colour, so it’s also called the golden Millet. Proso millet is a part of the staple diet of many cultures.

Proso Millet is called as Variga (in Telugu), Baragu (in Kannada), Pani Varagu (in Tamil) or Chena (in Hindi)

Share on FacebookShare on Google+Tweet about this on TwitterShare on LinkedInBuffer this page