How To Prepare Millet

name You're about to learn how to prepare millet, which is a gluten-free, little round yellow nutritious grain with a tiny dot on one side (this is where it was attached to the grain it was growing on).

While millet may be unfamiliar to many Americans, it's a grain that's used widely throughout the hot and dry parts of the world. It has a slightly nutty flavor, and it lends an interesting texture to your meals.

Once many years ago, when feeling adventurous, I decided to give millet a try. But I overcooked it, and it turned out extremely dry. From then on, I never gave millet a second thought, preferring instead to keep it far away from me and my delectable vegan meals.

Then, one fateful day, I tried one more time to learn how to prepare millet. This time I attempted a millet loaf (sort of like meatloaf but made with millet). It turned out tender and delicious, and I've been enjoying millet ever since.

It's a tasty and fun little grain, and one that you should really learn how to cook properly so it can be a part of your regular diet.

So let's begin with how to select your millet, then you'll learn various millet cooking techniques. Next, discover Millet's "Vegan Flavor Matches", the foods and flavors that match perfectly with millet, which makes cooking a breeze. And we'll round it up with millet nutrition.

How To Select Millet

When selecting millet, and if you have the option, always choose organic millet. Organics tend to contain more nutrients and less pesticides, and will help your millet recipes just taste better!

Millet has a naturally hard, indigestible covering which is removed (or "hulled") before being made available for human consumption. So when you select your millet it will already be hulled and ready to go!

Always take a little sniff of millet before purchasing, as you should with any grain. If it smells stale or musty, pass on it.

Store millet in a cool, dry place. I like to use the freezer to store all my grains.

How To Clean and Prep Millet

Some people swear by toasting their millet before cooking as this brings out a deeper flavor. If you'd like to toast your millet first, there's no need to rinse. Simply add the millet to a dry pot or pan and stir constantly for 3-4 minutes until you catch the aroma of the delectable nutty fragrance.

You should be warned that if you choose not to toaste your millet, it's quite possible the outside of the grain will turn to mush before the insides cook enough to lose their crunch.

But if you'd like a lighter flavor, then no need to toast first -- simply rinse well and drain.

Follow a link below to discover the ease of cooking with millet.

How To Cook Millet

Boiled Millet
Pressure Cooked Millet
Sprout it!

Try These Vegan Millet Dishes...

Vegan Millet and Potatoes w/Vegan Mushroom Miso Gravy

Vegan Millet and Potato Patties (Yummy Brunch!)

Vegan Sticky Millet Stacks

Millet Vegan Flavor Matches

Learn how to prepare millet you love by using your favorite ingredients from this list of foods that match perfectly with millet.

Need Organic Herbs & Spices?

Basil
Black Beans
Celery
Chili Powder
Cinnamon
Coconut
Coriander
Currants
Dill
Dried Fruits, especially cherries and apricots
Garlic
Lemon (and lemon juice)
Lentils
Mint
Mushrooms
Nutritional Yeast
Nuts, especially almonds
Onions
Orange (and orange juice)
Oregano
Parsley
Potatoes
Raisins
Rice, especially brown rice
Rosemary
Seeds, especially sesame and sunflower seeds
Squash
Tamari (or Bragg's Liquid Aminos)
Tarragon
Thyme
Tomatoes
Vanilla
Vegetables, all
Veggie Stock

Millet Helpful Hints

Due to millet's strong flavor, it is the perfect grain to round out a meal with other strong, assertive flavors.
How to prepare millet for an interesting presentation: After cooking millet, pack into a loaf pan and cover with waxed paper. Refrigerate overnight. Slice and fry in a little extra-virgin olive oil over low heat until browned, and warmed through. Serve with your favorite sweet or savory sauce.