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    Home » Recipes » Grain Dish

    How to Cook Millet & 7 Best Millet Recipes You Should Try Today

    Modified: Apr 5, 2025 Published: Aug 15, 2018 by Sravanthi Chanda. 20 Comments

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    4.56 from 9 votes
    Detailed Steps Jump to Recipe

    Learn how to cook fluffy millet perfectly every time without guessing water ratios. This simple guide shows you how to prepare millet in under 30 minutes and includes 7 millet recipes to integrate this gluten-free grain into your daily meals

    .

    With just millet and water, you can create a healthy base ready for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Use my Millet Water Ratio Calculator to achieve consistent, perfect results, regardless of the millet or cooking method you choose.

    Cooked millet served in a terracotta bowl placed on a matching decorative plate, perfect for illustrating how to cook millet.

    Featured Comments

    Learning to cook millet. Thanks for the instructions and the other recipes.

    - Terry
    Jump to:
    • What is millet?
    • Detailed Steps
    • Millet Water Ratio
    • How to Store Cooked Millet
    • Millet Recipes to Try Today
    • Common FAQs
    • Recipe

    What is millet?

    Millet is a small, round gluten-free grain from the grass family Poaceae (1). Grown widely in Asia and Africa, it’s known for being quick to cook and rich in plant-based protein and fiber. Common varieties include foxtail millet, sorghum, finger millet (ragi), and pearl millet (bajra).

    Detailed Steps

    In this section, I'll show you how to cook millet using three easy methods: a stovetop pan, a pressure cooker, and a rice cooker. Each method makes soft, fluffy millet in under 30 minutes.

    Step 1: Prep the Millet

    Most store-bought millet is fairly clean, but checking for any debris is still a good idea.

    • Rinse the millet 2–3 times with clean water.
    • If you're not soaking it, gently rub the grains with your fingers while rinsing to remove any impurities.
    • Drain the water completely and set the millet aside.

    Step 2: Soak the Millet (Optional, but recommended)

    Soaking millet helps it cook faster and turn out fluffier. I usually soak it for 4 to 8 hours. If you plan to soak longer, refrigerate it to prevent fermentation.

    • After soaking, rinse it again 2–3 times.
    • Drain the water using a fine-mesh colander since millet grains are tiny and can slip through.

    Step 3: How to Cook Millet

    Millet soaking in water in a stainless steel bowl before cooking.

    Step 1: In a thick-bottomed pot or pan, add the drained millet and water.

    Soaked millet starting to boil in water on the stovetop.

    Step 2: Partially cover with a lid and bring it to a boil over high heat (about 5 minutes).

    Millet cooking and absorbing water, with bubbles forming on the surface.

    Step 3: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and close the lid fully.

    Fully cooked millet resting in the pot with a fluffy texture.

    Step 4: Cook until all the water is absorbed.

    Soaked millet: 6–8 minutes

    Unsoaked millet: 10–13 minutes

    Cooked millet fluffed with a fork and moved aside to show the bottom of the pot.

    Step 5: Turn off the heat and let it rest covered for 10 minutes. And you can see that there is no water left in the pan.

    Close-up of perfectly cooked and fluffed millet ready to serve.

    Step 6: Fluff the millet with a fork, and it's ready to serve!

    Millet Water Ratio

    Cooking method Soaked millet Unsoaked millet
    Stovetop1 cup millet: 1.5 cups of water 1 cup millet: 2 to 2.5 cups of water
    Instant Pot 1 cup millet: 1.25 cups of water 1 cup millet: 1.75 cups of water
    Stovetop Pressure Cooker 1 cup millet: 1.5 cups of water 1 cup millet: 2 cups of water
    Rice Cooker1 cup millet: 1.5 cups of water1 cup millet: 2 cups of water

    Are you unsure how much water your millet needs? Use the calculator below to get the exact water quantity based on millet type and cooking method.

    Millet Water Ratio & Cooking Time Calculator

    Water Ratio: 1:2

    Cooking Time: 15 min simmer + 10 min rest

    Serving Tips

    Here are the ways I use millet in my kitchen every day:

    • As a rice substitute: Served with dal, curry, or stir-fried vegetables.
    • In millet bowls: Combined with beans, veggies, and sauces like cashew cheese or hummus.
    • For breakfast: As creamy millet porridge with milk, fruits, and nuts.
    • In simple millet recipes: Added to khichdi, pongal, salad, or upma.

    💡 Let cooked millet cool a bit before using it in bowls or salads—it fluffs up beautifully!

    How to Store Cooked Millet

    Store cooked millet in an airtight container:

    • At room temperature for up to 8–12 hours
    • In the fridge for 2–3 days
    • In the freezer for up to 3 months (best for porridge or soups due to texture change)

    💡 I always freeze in portion-sized containers for easy use. Avoid refreezing thawed millet, and discard it if it smells or looks off.

    Millet Recipes to Try Today

    Once you have perfectly cooked millet, you can make these recipes with cooked millet.

    millet salad in a white plate, topped with almonds.

    Millet salad recipe with broccoli & corn

    Millet fried rice with bok choy served on a terracotta plate, seasoned with spices and pepper for a light and wholesome meal.

    Millet stir fry with bok choy

    Colorful millet capsicum rice molded into a dome, with bell peppers and spices, served on a white plate.

    Italian spiced bell pepper and millet stir fry

    Creamy millet pongal served in a bowl, garnished with roasted cashews, curry leaves, and tempered spices.

    Savory millet and lentil porridge

    Creamy millet curd rice served in a traditional bowl, tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and whole peppercorns.

    Millet yogurt rice

    Wholesome millet khichdi served on a blue plate, made with vegetables and black-eyed peas, and topped with a spiced tempering.

    Savory Millet Khichdi

    Bright and tangy millet lemon rice served in a leaf bowl, garnished with mustard seeds, lentils, and dried red chilies.

    Millet Lemon Rice

    millet porridge in a bowl

    Millet Breakfast Porridge

    Common FAQs

    How much does 1 cup of dry millet yield?

    One cup of raw millet will yield around 4 to 4.5 cups of cooked millet.

    Can you eat millet every day?

    Yes, but moderation is the key. And we should try to include all types of grains (like rice, wheat, buckwheat, cassava, amaranth) in our day-to-day cooking. Along with grains, the right amount of pulses, legumes, and vegetables makes the complete meal.

    How do you eat millet?

    Eat it like rice, with curry or dal as a side dish. You can use millet to make fried rice, lemon rice, salad, porridge, and many more.

    Are millets good for dinner?

    You can have millet for any meal. Portion control and balancing it with veggies and other foods is the key.

    Have you tried any of these millet recipes? Provide your feedback by giving a star rating and/or leaving comments. And don't forget to share the recipes with others on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter.

    Recipe

    Cooked millet served in a terracotta bowl placed on a matching decorative plate, garnished with a sprig of mint.

    How to Cook Millet (Base for Easy Millet Recipes)

    By: Sravanthi Chanda
    Learn how to cook fluffy millet in under 30 minutes using a stovetop, pressure cooker, or rice cooker. This basic method gives you a perfect base to use in a variety of easy millet recipes, from porridge to pilaf and more.

    Rate this recipe by clicking the stars!

    4.56 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine Global
    Servings 4
    Calories 198 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup millet
    • 2 cups water exact quantity depends on the cooking method. Check millet water ratio section.
    • 1 teaspoon oil optional but recommended for fluffy millet

    Instructions
     

    Prep millet

    • If you are soaking the millet, do it for 6 to 8 hours.
    • Wash the millet a couple of times with clean water. If you are not soaking it, you may need to rub it with your hands to remove the dirt.
    • Drain the water from the millet entirely and keep it aside.

    How to cook millet using Stove top pan

    • Heat a thick-bottomed cooking pot or pan. Add the drained millet and the appropriate amount of water to the cooking pot, and close it partially with the lid. 
    • For soaked millet, use 1.5 cups of water for every 1 cup of millet. For every 1 cup of unsoaked millet, use 2 cups water.
    • Increase the heat to high and let the water come to a boil, which usually takes about 5 minutes.
    • Now reduce the heat to low and fully cover the pot with the lid.
    • Let the millet cook until all the water is absorbed. It will take around 6 to 8 minutes for pre-soaked millet and 10-13 minutes for unsoaked millet.
    • Your millet will be perfectly cooked when all the water is absorbed. Turn off the heat and let it sit for an additional ten minutes.
    • After 10 minutes, fluff it up with a fork, and the cooked millet is ready to be savored and enjoyed.

    Cooking millet using Instant pot

    • Add drained millet, water, and a teaspoon of oil to the inner pot. Use 1.25 cups of water for 1 cup of pre-soaked millet. And for unsoaked millet, use 1.75 cups of water.
    • Close the lid properly, and move the steam-releasing valve to the SEALING position.
    • Select manual or pressure cook mode and cook it on HIGH PRESSURE for 4 minutes if using pre-soaked millet. Cook it for 8 minutes if using unsoaked millet.
    • Switch it off once done, wait 10 minutes, and do a normal pressure release.
    • Fluff it up with a fork, and the millet is ready to use.

    How to cook millet in a Stovetop Pressure Cooker

    • Add millet, water, and teaspoon of oil to the pressure cooker.
    • Close the lid and let it cook for 1 to 2 whistles on medium-high heat for pre-soaked millet. It will take around 5 minutes. For unsoaked millet, cook it for 2-3 whistles, about 7 to 8 minutes.
    • Once done, take it out of the heat and let the pressure release naturally.
    • Once the pressure is released completely, remove the lid and fluff it up with a fork.

    Rice cooker millet

    • Add drained millet, water, and teaspoon of oil to the rice cooker's inner pot.
    • If you use soaked millet, use 1.5 cups of water for every 1 cup. For unsoaked millet, for every 1 cup of millet, use 2 cups of water.
    • Close the rice cooker with its lid and use a white rice setting if your rice cooker has options to select. Else select the cook button.
    • Once the rice cooker completes the cooking process, switch it off and let it rest for 10 minutes. Then fluff up the millet using a fork, which is ready for use.

    Notes

    Tested Tips from My Kitchen

    • For fluffy millet: Soak it for 4–8 hours, or at least 1 hour in warm water if short on time. Soaking helps soften the grain and improves texture.
    • Avoid stirring while cooking: Stirring often can break the grains and make them sticky. I always let it rest for 10 minutes after cooking, then fluff it with a fork.
    • Use oil or fat while cooking: A teaspoon of coconut oil, olive oil, or butter prevents sticking and enhances flavor.
    • Add more flavor: Cook millet in vegetable broth instead of water, or add whole spices like bay leaf, cardamom, or cinnamon to the pot.
    • For creamy millet (great for porridge): I use coconut milk instead of water.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 198kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 6gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0.4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 98mgFiber: 4gCalcium: 6mgIron: 2mg
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    Comments

    1. MARJORIE DEANGELIS says

      March 16, 2025 at 10:57 pm

      5 stars
      Looks really easy to follow, with lots of suggestions. Great! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sravanthi Chanda says

        March 17, 2025 at 5:48 pm

        Thank you for sharing the feedback 🙂

        Reply
    2. clean label grains says

      November 08, 2024 at 3:52 pm

      I just wanted to express my gratitude for this post! It was well-written and informative. Looking forward to reading more from you!

      Reply
    3. VB says

      August 26, 2022 at 3:45 am

      Hi Sravanthi! I am excited to try several of your recipes, they sound delicious. Which style and brand of Millet do you prefer to cook with and eat?

      Reply
      • Sravanthi says

        August 29, 2022 at 7:09 pm

        Thank you. As I am from India, I use locally grown foxtail millet. Always use hulled millet.

        Reply
    4. Navin says

      May 07, 2022 at 12:26 am

      5 stars
      It was Cooked perfectly after following the steps. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    5. Shanna says

      February 16, 2022 at 2:51 pm

      Hi there, I log on to your new stuff on a regular basis. Your writing style is awesome, keep it up!

      Reply
    6. Lauri says

      November 27, 2021 at 7:25 am

      5 stars
      bookmarked!!, I love your blog!

      Reply
      • Sravanthi says

        November 28, 2021 at 6:24 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    7. Clement says

      November 19, 2021 at 10:52 am

      Hello, I think your website might be having browser
      compatibility issues. When I look at your blog in Chrome, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
      I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, terrific blog!

      Reply
      • Sravanthi says

        December 17, 2021 at 9:37 am

        Thank you for the feedback. It is loading fine for me in all browsers. Maybe a temporary glitch.

        Reply
    8. Kerri Napoli says

      November 06, 2021 at 3:07 am

      4 stars
      Hmm is anyone else having problems with the pictures on this blog loading?
      I'm trying to determine if its a problem on my end or
      if it's the blog. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

      Reply
      • Sravanthi says

        November 07, 2021 at 11:11 am

        I could able to load them correctly, and no one complained about this. So it might be an intermittent issue.

        Reply
      • Nalini says

        March 31, 2023 at 7:15 am

        Pictures are perfect. check your internet. Thank you Sravanthi for the detailed method to cook millets. I am new to millets so was looking for methods to prepare them the indian style. Do all varieties of millet cook the same way?

        Reply
        • Sravanthi says

          April 15, 2023 at 10:10 pm

          Using this recipe, you can cook any small millet like foxtail, Kodo, Barnyard, and Sama millet. Large millets like Jowar, Ragi, and Bajra will not work with this recipe. I will be posting about them very soon.

          Reply
    9. Sarita Saparia says

      September 10, 2021 at 11:18 pm

      Excellent informations on how to cook Millet against in different ways.

      Reply
    10. Terry says

      June 22, 2021 at 1:37 am

      Learning to cook millet. Thanks for the instructions and the other recipes.

      Reply
    11. Yuvraj says

      July 28, 2020 at 3:17 pm

      5 stars
      Very good details on cooking millets. Thank you. Keep up the good work!

      Reply
      • Sravanthi says

        July 29, 2020 at 7:31 am

        Thank you so much, Yuvraj for your encouraging words.

        Reply
        • Sase says

          July 18, 2021 at 10:36 am

          Excellent information. Thank you. I enjoy eating millets so much, I haven't missed rice nor wheat.

          Reply
    4.56 from 9 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Sravanthi Chanda author of everydaynourishingfoods

    I'm Sravanthi Chanda and I share Indian lunch and dinner recipes on my blog. These easy-to-follow recipes are made from scratch using fresh ingredients and come with step-by-step photos, perfect for family meals.

    More about me →

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