Millet Snacks: Healthy Bites For On-The-Go

Small grains called millet are nutrient-rich. They also offer several health advantages as they are gluten-free, fibre-rich, and loaded with minerals, such as iron, magnesium, and phosphorus. Millets help manage diabetes since they have a low glycemic index.

Additionally, millet can maintain a healthy digestive tract and help with weight management. These tiny grains can be used in multiple recipes to give a healthy touch.

Let us look at some of the healthy dishes that can be made using millet.

1. Fried Barnyard Millet Rice

Ingredients

1. Barnyard Millet - 1 cup
2. Water - 2 cups
3. Oil - 1 tbsp
4. Ginger - 1 tsp (chopped)
5. Garlic - 1 tsp (chopped)
6. Red chillies (fresh) - 1-2 (chopped)
7. Onion - 1/2 cup (chopped)
8. Veggies (carrot, bell pepper, beans) - 1 cup
9. Soy Sauce - 2 tsp
10. Vinegar - 1 tsp
11. Salt - to taste 

Method

1. Put barnyard millet in a pan and dry roast it for a minute.
2. Add water and salt to it. Mix well.
3. Cover and let it cook till the millet soak all the water. Keep it aside.
4. Take another pan and put 1 tsp of oil into it; add chopped ginger, garlic and red chilli into it. 
5. Saute till aromatic, then add onions.
6. Add veggies, mix well, and cook for 4-5 minutes.
7. Now, add soy sauce and vinegar. Mix well for a minute. 
8. Add salt according to your taste and thoroughly combine.
9. Now add cooked barnyard millet and mix well.
10. Let it cook for a minute.
11. Serve hot.

2. Upma - Browntop Millet

Ingredients

1. Browntop millet - 1 cup
2. Water - 2.5 cups
3. Onion - 1 (chopped)
4. Tomato - 1 (chopped)
5. Carrot - 1/4 cup (chopped)
6. Matar (Peas) - 1/4 cup 
7. French Beans - 1/4 cup (chopped)
8. Green Chillies - 3 (chopped)
9. Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp (chopped)
10. Lemon juice & Salt - to taste
11. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
12. Urad dal - 1 tsp
13. Chana dal - 1/2 tsp
14. Haldi - a pinch
15. Curry leaves - 4-5 leaves

Method

1. Wash the browntop millet and soak it in water for 15-20 minutes. 
2. Drain the water.
3. Oil should be heated in a pan. Add some mustard seeds once the oil has reached the right temperature.
4. Let the seeds splutter, then add chana dal as well as urad dal and fry till they turn golden. 
5. Add curry leaves, hari mirch, and chopped onion in it. 
6. Saute it for a minute till it turns slightly brown. 
7. Now, add tomatoes and mix well.
8. Once finished, simmer it for 4 more minutes while adding all the vegetables, salt, and haldi.
9. Pour in 2.5 cups of water. Cook until a boil forms over a medium flame.
10. Add the soaked millet, lemon juice, and salt after boiling the water. Mix thoroughly.
11. Allow it to cook for 10 minutes. Coriander leaves should be added after it has finished cooking. 
12. Serve hot with your favourite chutney.

3. Foxtail Millet Dhokla 

Ingredients

1. Foxtail Millet - 1 cup
2. Urad dal (split) - 1/3 cup
3. Salt - acc. to taste 
4. Curd - 2 tbsp
5. Sugar - 1 tsp
6. Haldi powder - 1/2 tsp
7. Green chillies - 1-2 chopped
8. Eno - 1 tsp
9. For Tempering
10. Oil - 1 tbsp
11. Til/ Sesame seeds - 1 tsp
12. Rai/ Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
13. Hing - a pinch
14. Curry Leaves - 7-8 

Method

1. Carefully clean and wash the foxtail millet and urad dal. 
2. Now let them soak for at least 4-6 hours. 
3. Wash it after draining the water. Make a thick batter by grinding it. 
4. Add curd, salt, and all other ingredients together and mix well. 
5. Now take a streamer, add about 2 cups of water, and let it boil. Grease at least 2 8-inch plates and put them on in the streamer. 
6. Once the water starts boiling, put Eno into the batter and pour it on the plate. Now cover the streamer for 10-15 minutes. 
7. After 15 minutes, check the batter with a knife or toothpick. If it comes out clean, it means dhokla is ready to serve. 
8. Take it out from the streamer and cut it into pieces.

For The Tempering

1. Add some oil to the pan.
2. Once hot, put hing, rai, til, and curry leaves in it. Let it splutter.
3. Now, spread this mix over the dhokla.
4. Server with your favourite chutney or sauce. 

4. Little Millet Idli

Ingredients

1. Little Millet - 1.5 cup
2. Urad Dal - 1/3 cup
3. Meethi Seeds - 0.25 tsp
4. Salt - to taste
5. Oil - for greasing

Method

1. Soak little millet, urad dal and meethi seeds in water for about 4-3 hours.
2. Now grind it into a smooth batter and transfer it into a bowl. 
3. Add salt according to your taste.
4. Let it ferment overnight, or you can also use Eno or baking powder for instant cooking.
5. Grease the idli plates properly with oil and pour the batter.
6.  Add these idli plates into a steamer and let it steam for 10 minutes.
7. Transfer the cooked idli to a serving plate/bowl.
8. Serve hot with your favourite chutney.

Summing Up 

Millets have gained popularity for their incredible health benefits and versatility in cooking. You can conveniently buy millets online if you want to incorporate them into your diet.

You can easily access these nutritious grains without hassle while prioritising your health and well-being. So, why not explore the world of millet recipes and embrace the goodness of these traditional grains? Discover the delightful flavours and health benefits they offer by incorporating millets into your daily meals.