Want to include a wholesome grain in your breakfast? Then start your day with this comforting millet breakfast porridge recipe. My family enjoys the delicious combination of dates, cinnamon, and proso millet, and this is my favorite gluten-free breakfast recipe with millet.
Millet is a versatile gluten-free cereal grain, and I regularly use different millet types in my kitchen. If you want to include millet in your everyday cooking, check out my millet recipes post, which will give you practical tips and recipes for this wholesome grain.
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Ingredients & Substitutions
These simple yet flavorful ingredients create a warm and satisfying porridge.
For exact ingredient quantities, see the recipe card below.
- Millet: I used Proso millet, the most common available millet. But this recipe will also work for any small millet, like browntop millet, little millet, foxtail millet, or barnyard millet.
- Water: I used water and milk to cook this breakfast porridge, but you can also cook entirely with milk.
- Milk: I used cow's milk for this recipe. It adds richness and enhances the flavor and texture of the porridge. For a vegan version, you can substitute dairy milk with plant-based milk. Coconut milk makes the porridge creamy and rich. You can also use almond milk or oat milk.
- Cinnamon: This fragrant spice can enhance the taste of porridge, making it more comforting and delicious. Sometimes, I like adding nutmeg, cardamom, or a bit of vanilla extract to my millet porridge other than cinnamon.
- Dates: Dates will naturally sweeten and add a chewy texture to your porridge without extra sugar. Other than dates, you can use various sweeteners like agave syrup, honey, jaggery, brown sugar, and coconut sugar for different flavors. I sometimes use other dried fruits like raisins, apricots, or figs chopped into small pieces to give the porridge a naturally sweet taste and chewy texture.
How to make Millet Porridge
Prep the Millet
- Begin by thoroughly rinsing the millet under cold water to remove debris or impurities.
- You can soak the millet for a few hours or overnight, shortening the cooking time. Soaking will yield a creamy porridge.
Cook the Porridge
- Add the soaked or rinsed millet, water, milk, and cinnamon to a cooking pot.
- Place the pot over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Now add the pitted dates.
- Now reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes or until the millet becomes tender and the porridge reaches your desired consistency.
Seasoning and Serving the Porridge
- Check the porridge consistency and adjust by adding more milk if you prefer a thinner consistency.
- You can sweeten the porridge further by adding honey, maple syrup, or your favorite sweetener.
- Before serving, remove the cinnamon stick from the porridge.
- Ladle the warm and creamy millet porridge into bowls.
- Top it with your favorite toppings and enjoy the porridge.
Loved this dish?
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Frequently Asked Questions
A: Soaking is optional, but it can help reduce cooking time. Soaking also softens the grains, resulting in a creamier porridge texture.
A: For a savory option, skip the sweeteners and add a pinch of salt and your choice of herbs. I also like savory oats porridge, and I replace cooked oats with cooked millet in my savory oatmeal recipe. You can add red chili flakes or pepper powder to make it spicy.
A: You can double or triple the recipe to make a larger batch. Store any leftover porridge in the refrigerator and reheat it with a splash of milk before serving.
You can adjust the sweetness by adding or reducing the number of dates or incorporating your preferred sweeteners, such as honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar.
Millet Porridge Toppings
Enjoy warm, freshly prepared breakfast millet porridge for the best taste and texture. Here are some of my favorite toppings that will enhance the taste and texture of the porridge.
- Fruit Toppings: I enjoy adding fresh fruits like strawberries, blueberries, mangoes, or sliced bananas to my morning porridge. They add a burst of color and natural sweetness.
- Nuts: Sprinkle chopped nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pistachios, or pecans over the porridge to add a satisfying crunch.
- Seeds: Seeds like chia seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or flaxseeds also provide a delightful texture.
As you are here, you might like these millet recipes as well.
Recipe
Creamy Proso Millet Porridge Recipe
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Ingredients
- ½ cup proso millet Other small millet types also work
- 1.5 cups water
- 1.5 cups milk
- 1 inch cinnamon
- 6 dates
Instructions
Prep the Millet
- Rinse the millet thoroughly under cold water to remove any impurities.
- Optionally, soak the millet for reduced cooking time.
Cook the Porridge
- Combine soaked or rinsed millet, water, milk, and cinnamon in a pot.½ cup proso millet, 1.5 cups water, 1.5 cups milk, 1 inch cinnamon
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Now add chopped dates and reduce heat. Cover and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes until the millet is tender.6 dates
Seasoning and Serving
- Adjust the porridge consistency by adding more milk if desired.
- Optionally sweeten with honey, maple syrup, or your preferred sweetener.
- Remove the cinnamon stick before serving.
- Ladle the warm porridge into bowls and add toppings like fruits, nuts, or seeds as desired.
Notes
- The porridge tends to thicken upon cooling. To adjust the consistency, reheat it with a splash of milk or water before serving.
- To make this breakfast porridge using an Instant Pot, add all ingredients to the inner pot and cook for 5 minutes on high pressure.
- This porridge keeps well in the refrigerator for about two days. You can also freeze it for about three months.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and freeze them in portion-sized containers in the freezer.
- Thaw the frozen porridge and reheat with a splash of milk when serving leftovers.
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