Today, I’m excited to share a delicious recipe for Instant Pot Millet. It’s a healthy and nutritious recipe. An effortless recipe that can be made quickly in minutes. If you’re looking for a quick and hassle-free way to enjoy this wholesome grain, you’re in for a treat.
Millet is a small, tiny grain that has plenty of health benefits. It is gluten free and helps in weight loss. It naturally keeps your sugar level low and boosts immunity. It is also a good antioxidant and aids in digestion.
With the magic of the Instant Pot, you can cook millet to perfection, resulting in fluffy and flavorful grains that can serve as a versatile base for a variety of dishes. I like to have millet with beef rendang as combination. You can make millet as is or combine it with veggies, dry fruits, and salads too.
For today’s recipe, I have kept the process very straightforward and simple, you barely have to do anything, and your instant pot will take care of its own.
So, let’s dive into the simple steps to create a satisfying meal that’s as easy to prepare as it is delightful to savor!
Recipe Highlights
- Gluten free.
- Soft, fluffy, and perfect millet.
- Only 2 ingredients minimalist instant pot recipe.
- Ready within 20 minutes.
- No prep and fancy work is required.
- Can be done on any day of the week.
- Colorful, filling, and simple to put together.
How To Cook Millet In Instant Pot
Millet is a gluten free grain and resembles just like cornmeal. It is a good option for light healthy breakfasts and can be cooked quickly at any time during the day.
You just need a cup of grain, an instant pot, and 1.5 cups of water, it’s that simple.
Ingredients
1 cup of grain
1.5 cups of water
Step-By-Step Cooking Guide
Step-1: Take one cup of millet in a measuring cup and add it to an instant pot.
Step-2: Add 1.5 cups of water to the instant pot. Set the instant pot onSauté mode while adding water.
Step-3: Stir for 1-2 minutes.
Step-4: Pressure cook for 10 minutes and then allow pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes.
Step-5: When all pressure has been released, carefully remove the lid, stir with a spatula, and serve hot.
Notes & Tips
1- Instead of water you can use vegetable or chicken broth for a flavorful taste.
2- You can add veggies to millet and make it a complete one dish recipe to satisfy your cravings.
3- You can use different varieties of millet for cooking millet in instant pot in the instant pot. I like to use sorghum millet, foxtail millet, brown top millet, and little millet.
4- It’s important to release pressure naturally after cooking it at high pressure for 10 minutes. This was when the pressure was released slowly, the millet continued to cook at uniform heat pressure and turned out nice and fluffy.
5- You can make your millet recipe sweet by garnishing it with blueberries, cinnamon, and granola.
Yield and serving suggestions
One cup of uncooked millet can yield 4 cups of cooked millet. It absorbs water and expands as it starts to cook. The precise yield will depend on what type of millet you are cooking but on average you can get 4-5 cups out of 1 cup of raw millet.
You can eat millet at any time of day, and it pairs well with vegetables and rice. You can even add it in salads and stews. My favorite serving suggestions are:
Millet Desserts: You can add it to puddings, cookies, or muffins.
Millet Breakfast: Combine cooked millet with nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. Drizzle with honey or maple syrup for sweetness.
Millet Salad: You can make a cold salad with cooked and cooled millet, diced vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, and fresh herbs.
Millet Pilaf: You can use millet as a base for a savory pilaf. Sauté onions, garlic, and your choice of vegetables in olive oil, then add cooked millet and season with herbs and spices.
Storage, Freezing, Reheating Guide
Storing: Allow millet to cool down and store leftovers in the fridge for 5 days.
Freezing: You can freeze leftovers for one month as well. Simply, pack them in an airtight container and place them in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Reheating: You can reheat millet on a stove top or oven. Or you can simply reheat it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. I would suggest adding a little water while reheating millet, it helps to keep the millet retain its texture while reheating.
Recipe FAQs
Should millet be soaked before cooking?
It is not compulsory to soak millet before cooking, unlike other grains like rice. However, you can opt to soak it in water before cooking, it makes millet soft and aids in easy digestion.
But keep in mind, if you have soaked millet, it will cook a little faster in the instant pot so reduce the pressure cook time from 10 minutes to 7 minutes followed by natural release.
Soaking time can be from 30 minutes to a couple of hours.
Is millet healthier than rice?
Millet is a whole grain rich in fiber, phosphorus, zinc, and multi vitamins. It has a mild flavor and is a good option for vegan and gluten free meals.
Rice on the other hand is a starchy grain that’s easily available and can be found in every next grocery store. It comes in two types: brown rice and white rice. Brown rice is a whole grain while white rice is a refined grain. Both types are good source of carbohydrates, manganese, and iron.
According to an article from Foodstruct, they declared millet as a healthier alternative to rice. Although both have their own benefits.
Can I add flavorings or seasonings to the millet in the Instant Pot?
Yes, you can surely add seasoning to millet to enhance its taste. Simply combine the millet, water (or broth), and your chosen seasonings. You can add salt, pepper, and different types of herbs such as thyme, rosemary, or basil. Or add spices like cumin, paprika, or turmeric. You can even aromatics such as minced garlic or onions.
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 cup Grain
- 1.2 cup Water
Instructions
- Measure one cup of millet and add it to the Instant Pot.
- Pour 1.5 cups of water into the instant pot and set it to Sauté mode while adding water.
- Stir the millet for 1-2 minutes.
- Pressure cook for 10 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally for another 10 minutes.
- Once all the pressure has been released, carefully remove the lid, stir with a spatula, and serve hot.