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Benefits of Eating Millet

In this busy world with hectic life schedules, it is no wonder that people are behind diet fads. After all, health is important to all. But, is good and wholesome eating only limited to greens and veggies? There are more to nutritive foods and millet is an excellent choice for you. Do you know that millets were originally produced and consumed in Asia and Africa, and only became popular in the West quite recently? Ever since then, millet has gained global attention and is a part of a healthy diet.

Millet is good for you because:

  • They are gluten free and is suitable for people following all kinds of diets.
  • They contain high protein and is a good source of fiber.
  • They are rich in antioxidants and improves immunity.
  • Satiates your hunger while not increasing calorie count.
  • Aids in dealing with heart problems.

11 Quick and Easy Millet Breakfast Recipes

Nowadays, people are obsessed with street food, ordering from restaurants and other quick fixes. If you have made up your mind to stick to healthy eating, then it's natural that you feel overwhelmed already about the fact that you have to cook at home. Let us tell you that it isn’t so! In fact, millet is amazingly easy to cook. Here are some simple millet recipes for breakfast.

Millet Dosa

This vegan and gluten free savory dish makes for a perfect healthy, nutritious and delicious breakfast treat, no doubt! Made from three different types of millets, this dosa is a powerhouse of nutrition, proteins and goodness.

Ingredients:

  • Foxtail millet- 1 cup
  • Little millet- 1 cup
  • Kodo millet- 1 cup
  • Urad dal- 1 cup
  • Flattened rice flakes- ½ cup
  • Fenugreek seeds- ¼ tsp
  • Water- 1/3 cup
  • Salt- as required

Recipe:

  • Place all the millets in a bowl, wash and soak them in water for 8 hours.
  • Wash and soak the urad dal and fenugreek seeds in a separate bowl for 8 hours.
  • Soak the flattened rice flakes for 20 minutes.
  • Grind the millets, urad dal, fenugreek and soaked rice flakes by adding required amount of water. It should turn to a smooth paste.
  • Allow the batter to ferment.
  • Add salt and make dosas out of the batter.

Chocolate Millet Pancake

Source slurrpfarm.com

Who doesn’t like chocolate for breakfast?! This amazing combination of ragi millet and chocolate in a pancake makes for a perfect dessert-like breakfast. It is nutritious too!

Ingredients:

  • Ragi flour- 1 ½ cup
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder- ½ cup
  • Jaggery- 3 tbsp
  • Dark chocolate – 50 gm
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 3 tbsp. butter
  • Vanilla extract- 1 tsp
  • Milk- 1 ½ cup

Recipe:

  • Combine all the dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. Combine well with a whisk.
  • Add the vanilla extract, milk and butter. Mix well.
  • Add the pounded dark chocolate.
  • Heat a nonstick pan and pour a ladle of the batter.
  • Flip over when one side is done.

Fox Millet Upma

Source www.archanaskitchen.com

Now, this is a wholesome Indian millet recipe for breakfast, that can be prepared with few ingredients and within a very short time. Foxtail millet is used as an alternative for semolina here and is a good source of fiber and nutrition.

Ingredients:

  • Foxtail millet- 1 cup
  • Mustard seeds- ¼ tsp
  • Urad dal- 1 tsp
  • Green chili- 1
  • Dry red chili- 2
  • Finely chopped onion- ½ cup
  • Ginger finely chopped- 1 tsp
  • Carrots, beans- 1 cup (optional)
  • Lemon juice, as required
  • Salt and oil - as required
  • Water

Recipe:

  • Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add mustard seeds and urad dal.
  • When dal is golden brown, add the green chili and dry chili.
  • Add onion and ginger and sauté till done well.
  • Add the veggies, water and the salt.
  • Cover and cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Squeeze in the lemon juice and garnish with coriander leaves.

Finger Millet Upma

Source www.thebetterindia.com

Have you heard about upma made from flour? Yes, this healthy upma is made from nutritious and tasty ragi/ finger millet flour. This upma is sure to fill your tummy but doesn’t make you feel stuffed either.

Ingredients:

  • Ragi flour/ finger millet flour- 1 cup
  • Salt, water- as required
  • Onions- 1 (chopped finely)
  • Green chili- 2
  • Carrot- ½ cup
  • Beans- ½ cup

For seasoning:

  • Mustard seeds
  • Curry leaves
  • Hing/asafetida- a pinch

Recipe:

  • Take ragi and salt in a bowl. Combine well.
  • Add water in very little amounts and mix well till the flour crumbles.
  • In a pan, heat oil and add seasoning. Let this sizzle.
  • Add onions, chilies and the vegetables. Mix well.
  • Next, add the crumbled ragi flour and combine well.
  • Check if more water is required. Add a little if needed.
  • Cover and cook for 5 minutes.

Millet Porridge for Breakfast

Source food.ndtv.com

This is a porridge that can be made ahead the night before taking it. The millet porridge can be refrigerated and gently reheated the next morning. A simple yet nutritious dish that serves a refreshing and filling breakfast on a busy morning.

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup millets (any of your choice)
  • ½ cup milk/ almond milk
  • ¾ cup water
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon powder
  • Salt, as required
  • Raisins – 1 tbsp
  • Toppings (optional)- maple syrup, honey, bananas, berries, nuts, any fruits of your choice

Recipe:

  • In a saucepan, add the millets, salt and required amount of water.
  • Cover and cook till done.
  • Add raisins and mix well.
  • Remove from heat and place your favorite toppings on top.

Jowar Millet Pops

Source recipestofightms.blogspot.com

Well, this recipe is more of a snack than a breakfast recipe. However, the puffs when made can be used in recipes like healthy laddus and such. Nevertheless, these jowar millet pops are just as healthy and nutritious as any other millet recipes for breakfast!

Ingredients:

  • Jowar millet- 1 cup
  • Oil- as required
  • Salt- as required
  • Chili powder- ½ tbsp
  • Turmeric powder- ½ tsp
  • Peanuts- ¼ cup
  • Curry leaves

Recipe:

  • Wash the jowar millets in water and allow to drain. Make sure to not soak the millets for long.
  • Lay the millets in a cotton cloth and let dry well.
  • In a large cooker, add a small batch of the washed and dried jowar millets.
  • Cover with a loose fitted lid and cook at medium heat.
  • Wait till the millets pop and turn into puffs.
  • Repeat with next batch of jowar millets.
  • In another pan, heat oil.
  • Add the peanuts, curry leaves, turmeric and chili powder.
  • Turn off the flame and add the puffed jowar into this spice mix.
  • Combine well and let cool completely.

Millet in a Skillet

Source organicgrains.com

This vegan millet recipes for breakfast is perfect for a quick and hearty meal. The crunchy crust and the soft middle with the blend of yummy flavors is an amazing combination in all!

Ingredients:

  • cup- millets (any of your choice)
  • 2 eggs- lightly beaten
  • Milk- 6 tbsp
  • Corn flour- 3 tbsp
  • Diced ham or cooked chicken- ½ cup
  • Shredded cheese- 1 ½ cups
  • Olive oil and salt; as per taste

Recipe:

  • In a saucepan, add the millets, water and salt.
  • Cook till done well.
  • Drain the water completely.
  • In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk and corn flour.
  • Next, add the ham/ chicken, cheese and the cooked millet.
  • Stir to combine well.
  • Preheat the oven to 425 F.
  • Grease a baking pan/ skillet with olive oil.
  • Transfer the millet mix into the pan and spread evenly.
  • Sprinkle some more cheese on the top.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges turn brown and crispy.

Ragi Idli

Source tastedeindia.com

An interesting twist to the south Indian breakfast classic! Not only does the ragi idli look different and interesting but also, it tastes unique and is equally nutritious! It is gluten free, vegan and absolutely gut friendly.

Ingredients:

  • Idly rice- 1 cup
  • Poha (flattened rice flakes)- ¼ cup
  • Urad dal- ½ cup
  • Fenugreek seeds- ¼ tsp
  • Ragi flour- 1 cup
  • Salt- as per taste
  • Water- as required

Recipe:

  • Wash and soak the idli rice in water for at least 4 hours.
  • Wash, soak and drain the poha (flattened rice flakes). Keep this aside.
  • Wash and soak the urad dal and fenugreek seeds separately.
  • Later, drain the urad dal and grind well into a smooth batter.
  • Similarly grind the idly rice and the poha by adding a little amount of water.
  • Now, mix both the batter well.
  • Take the ragi flour in a separate bowl. Add a little water and make a smooth paste out of it.
  • Add this to the ground rice and urad dal batter. Mix well without any lumps.
  • Keep to ferment overnight.
  • Next day, add required salt and make ildis out if it.

Four Millet Dosa

If you thought that one type of millet in a breakfast dish is nutrition supreme, then you got to correct yourself! Here is a dosa variety made from four different types of millet flour. Talk about an ultimate power packed nutritive dish for breakfast!

Ingredients:

  • Urad dal- ½ cup
  • Bajra flour (black millet flour) - ½ cup
  • Jowar flour (white millet flour)- ½ cup
  • Ragi flour (red millet flour)- ½ cup
  • Whole wheat flour (1/2 cup)
  • Salt to taste
  • Oil for cooking
  • Water- as required

Recipe:

  • Combine the urad dal and fenugreek seeds in a bowl. Wash and soak in water for at least 2 hours.
  • Drain well and blend into a smooth paste with required amount of water.
  • Transfer this mixture into a deep bowl.
  • Next, add the four flours one by one in small quantities.
  • Add salt and mix well until combined.
  • Leave this batter to ferment overnight.
  • Next day, you can make yummy and healthy dosas with this batter.

Mixed Millet Khichdi

Source www.kaulige.com

Looking for an energetic meal to spruce up the mornings? Want something to keep you full for a long time on a busy day? This hearty meal comprises of multiple kinds of millets in one and is definitely power packed with all the nutrition and goodness that you need in a day!

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup of mixed millets (foxtail and kodo millets)
  • 1 onion- finely chopped
  • 1 tomato- finely chopped
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera seeds)
  • ½ tsp fenugreek seeds (methi seeds)
  • 1 tbsp kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
  • ¼ tsp asafetida (hing)
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • 1 tsp ghee
  • Salt; as per taste

Recipe:

  • Wash the millets thoroughly, drain and keep aside.
  • In a pressure cooker, add the ghee.
  • Next, add the cumin seeds and hing.
  • Once it crackles, you can add the chopped tomatoes and onions. Cook till soft.
  • Next, add the spices and salt and stir well.
  • Finally add in the washed and drained mixed millets.
  • Sauté for a while and then, add 4 cups of water.
  • Cook until well done.

Sweet Millet Pongal

Here is a traditional south Indian breakfast delicacy that is sure to satisfy your taste buds. It is a delicious and super healthy breakfast that will be a favorite for you, particularly if you have a sweet tooth!

Ingredients:

  • Hulled millets and moong dal combined – ¾ cup
  • Jaggery or palm sugar- ½ cup
  • 2 cups of water
  • Cardamom powder- ¼ tsp
  • Cashew nuts and raisins – as desired
  • Coconut pieces (chopped)- optional
  • Ghee- 1 tbsp

Recipe:

  • Wash the millets thoroughly and keep soaked in water for at least 2 hours.
  • In a saucepan, melt the jaggery by adding a few drops of water.
  • In another pan, add the ghee and fry the cashew nuts, raisins and coconuts and keep aside.
  • To this pan, add water and the soaked millets.
  • Combine until well done.
  • Filter the jaggery mixture and combine with the cooked millet.
  • Garnish with the nuts, raisins and coconut.

Millets- The Perfect Alternative

Consuming millets in your daily diet is a wonderful way to incorporate the necessary nutrients without the fuss. They are good alternatives to the usuals like rice and wheat in both nutrition as well as calories. So, if you are looking to shed some of that weight, or are looking forward to living a sustainable lifestyle, then consuming millets is an excellent decision indeed. After all, healthy eating doesn’t mean that you have to cut down on your favorite breakfast items and starve! Millets let you enjoy your staple recipes but with a much lesser snag!

Writer
Rubina Cheruvalath
Rubina is a free thinker and a dreamer. She believes that there is something to be learnt from everything. In spite of securing a technical education, Rubina chose to think beyond it and work in the management field. A proud mum of two boys, she aspires to explore the world with her family and create cherishable memories.

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