How to cook perfect fluffy millet all the time (the lazy way)

Do you want to learn how to cook perfect fluffy millet all the time (the lazy way)? Then this article is for you.

Adopting a plant-based lifestyle opened up the door for me to a whole new universe of grains, fruits and vegetables of which I knew so little or had no clue these even exists. One versatile and nutritious grain that I have included in my plant-based repertoire was millet.

Often overlooked, millet is a gluten-free, ancient grain packed with essential nutrients that you should definitely consider at least experimenting with. In this article I am going to share with you my lazy way of cooking millet that is fluffy, flavorful and just perfect all the time with minimum effort from your side. 😁

What is millet or millets?

Millets are a family of seed-producing grasses that hail from sub-Saharan Africa and have been cultivated as food for over 10,000 years. Round, yellow-hulled millet has become increasingly popular in Western cuisines and is the type you’ll most likely find at the supermarket. Millet grows in just about any climate and it’s classified as a “nutri-cereal,” a food grain that’s especially high in essential nutrients.

Why you should try to add millet to your meal plan

• It´s a nutritional powerhouse. It has 6 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber per cup of cooked millet and it’s also a good source of essential vitamins and minerals including magnesium and folate.
• Millet is delicious and versatile. Millet has a mild, grassy, corn-like flavor that pairs well with both sweet and savory ingredients. It’s delicious served on its own and can be used anywhere a recipe calls for couscous, bulgur, quinoa, or even brown rice.
• It cooks in a short amount of time.
• It´s reasonable priced. Millet costs under half the price of quinoa.

The secret to cooking perfect millet all the time

The secret ingredient is that there is no secret ingredient 😂 but there is an important millet-to-water ratio that you should have in mind which is: 1 Cup Millet to 2 Cups Water (or one part Millet to two parts water if you are cooking different quantity). In addition I like to toast millet in a dry pan for 3 to 4 minutes before cooking it in water for the nutty element it adds to its flavor profile.

How to cook perfect millet all the time (the lazy way) step by step instructions

• Start by measuring one cup of millet (this step is important as we need to have the ratio of 2 cups of water or liquid to 1 cup of millet so we need to know how much water to add).
• In a medium-sized, dry saucepan, toast the raw millet over medium heat stirring continuously for 4-5 minutes or until the grains become fragrant and slightly golden (be careful not to let them burn).
• Once toasted, transfer the millet from the pan to the rice cooker.
• Add the 2 cups of water, a teaspoon of olive oil, and ¼ salt.
• Start the rice cooker and let it do its magic.
• Once the rice cooker signals that cooking is complete, let the millet sit for about 5 to 10 minutes with the lid closed. This helps it finish steaming.
• Open the lid and use a fork to fluff the millet gently.
• Serve the millet hot as a side dish or use it in recipes as desired.

Isn't this just too easy to be true? 😀

Note

I love the nutty flavor the millet has from toasting which combined with the olive oil and salt creates a fluffy, perfectly cooked deliciousness that I sometimes just like to eat as it is without pairing it with other dishes. 

Millet is best served warm just after cooking.

Leftovers tend to get dry and don't have the same flavor so I usually cook just as we need for the respective meal. 

Enjoy!

Looking for some pairing ideas?

Try this easy high-protein vegan chili con carne sin Carne recipe.

Questions you might have about cooking millet

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