How to Cook Fluffy Millet in an Instant Pot

Curious about how to cook fluffy millet in Instant Pot? I'll guide you through the easy and hands-off process. Incorporating these ancient grains is a delightful way to introduce whole grains into your daily meals. These tiny grains have a mild nutty flavor that I just love!

If you love this ancient grain and want to incorporate it more into your diet, how about these other recipes I have to share? Creamy millet porridge is a great way to start the day.  Cooking millet in a rice cooker is another really easy way to cook millet. Or if you want information on what hulled millet is, you can find all the information you need. 

What is millet?

Millet is a group of small-seeded grasses that are cultivated for their edible seeds. These grains have been a staple food in many parts of the world for thousands of years. Millet comes in various types, and some of the most common ones include:

1. Pearl Millet: Widely grown in Africa and the Indian subcontinent, pearl millet has larger, round grains and is known for its drought-resistant qualities.
2. Foxtail Millet: Consumed in parts of East Asia, India, and Africa, foxtail millet has slender, cylindrical grains and is rich in nutrients.
3. Proso Millet: Grown in many parts of the world, proso millet has small, round grains and is often used in birdseed, but it is also suitable for human consumption.
4. Finger Millet): Also known as ragi, finger millet is common in parts of Africa and Asia. It has small, reddish-brown seeds and is valued for its nutritional content.
5. Barnyard Millet: Widely cultivated in India, barnyard millet has small, white, round grains and is known for its short growing season.

Ingredients

**The full measurements will be at the bottom of the page in the recipe card. This is a printable card that you can double and triple the recipe. **

Millet- As noted above, there are so many kinds of millet you can use. I used barnyard millet in this recipe, and it is the easiest to find in my area. 

Salt- It will only take a little, but is essential!

Liquid- you can use either water or broth

How to make

Start by rinsing your millet well. 

Top Tip- While most millet available for purchase in the United States is well-rinsed, I still like to rinse it again. This will remove any debris or dirt that is leftover from processing.

Add the rinsed millet, liquid, and salt to the pressure cooker. 

Set the pressure cooker to high pressure for 8 minutes. 

Once it has gone off, let it natural release for 10 minutes. Quick release the remaining pressure and remove the lid. 

Remove the lid and fluff with a fork. This will result in the perfect millet.

Tips and tricks

While this Instant Pot millet recipe is so easy to do, let me share a few thoughts on how to get fluffy millet the first time and every time. 

• Do not add too much liquid- this is a lower water-to-millet ratio than when you cook it on the cooktop. That is because the liquid is not boiled off with the pressure cooking. It holds it in. For this, you don't need more liquid. So, trust me when I say not to add more liquid than is called for. 
• Do not overcook- this will cause the millet to become very mushy! You do not want that!
• Fluff with a fork- when the millet is done cooking, it will be stuck together, be sure to fluff it with a fork to get it light and fluffy. 

Ways to use cooked millet

This gluten-free grain can be used in so many ways! let me share a few ideas with you on this. 

• Grain Bowl Base:
  • Use cooked millet as a base for grain bowls. Top it with roasted vegetables, greens, protein (such as grilled chicken or tofu), and your favorite sauces or dressings. You can sub this in wherever you have used white rice before. 
• Salads:
  • Toss cooked millet into salads to add a hearty and nutritious element. It works well in both cold and warm salads.
• Side Dish:
  • Serve cooked millet as a side dish, similar to rice or couscous. Season it with herbs, spices, or a drizzle of olive oil for extra flavor.
• Stuffed Vegetables:
  • Use cooked millet as a filling for stuffed vegetables, such as bell peppers, tomatoes, or zucchini. Combine it with herbs, vegetables, and cheese for a tasty stuffing.
• Porridge or Breakfast Bowl:
  • Sweeten cooked millet with honey or maple syrup and add your favorite fresh fruits, nuts, or seeds for a wholesome breakfast porridge.
• Millet Patties or Burgers:
  • Mix cooked millet with vegetables, herbs, and binding ingredients like egg or flaxseed to create millet patties or burgers. Pan-fry or bake them until golden brown.
• Soups and Stews:
  • Stir cooked millet into soups and stews for a heartier consistency. It absorbs flavors well and adds substance to the dish.
• Millet Pilaf:
  • Make a millet pilaf by sautéing cooked millet with aromatics like onions and garlic, then simmering it in broth. Customize with vegetables, herbs, or spices.

• Whole Grain Resources
• Pressure Cooker
• Millet