How to Cook Millet

Millet is a nutritious seed that can be used in a delicious pilaf or as a breakfast porridge. Find out how to cook it for both uses here and get recipe ideas.

Millet is a seed that is often found in birdseed. But don’t worry, we’re going to cook it before eating it. And, when it’s cooked up, it’s delicate and soft.

When I make it into a porridge, it reminds me of smooth and creamy corn grits. Served as a mounded side dish, it’s like fluffy mashed potatoes. After cooking it, you can also toast it to make it crispy.

What Is Millet?

Millet is naturally gluten-free, small-seeded grass. And yes, it is often found in birdseed mixtures. It is grown as a cereal or grain crop. We cook millet the way that we cook other grains, and then eat it in a variety of ways. I think of it the same way that I think about quinoa. Here is what millet looks like before it’s cooked:

What To Make With Millet

Millet can be cooked into a pilaf-style side dish or into a porridge. I also love it in a salad, like in the above picture. My favorites though are this millet breakfast recipe and these millet pancakes. Both of those get a bit crispy at the edges and taste really amazing.

If making a side dish, be mindful that millet can be a bit dry-tasting. I always seem to need to add some butter, olive oil, a bit of cream cheese, or shredded cheese, or something to get moisture into the dish.

I think that’s probably why it works well as a porridge, the extra moisture. I find it similar in taste and texture to corn grits. The millet porridge is smooth with a tiny grainy texture.

Millet also doesn’t have a lot of its own flavor and so it takes on the flavors of any milk, butter or other ingredients you add.

The big difference between millet porridge and corn grits is that millet porridge is way healthier with more fiber and protein than most brands. So if you like corn grits but want a healthier version, this is definitely something to try.

Do You Need To Soak Millet Before Cooking?

Some people like to soak millet before cooking it. It is said to help with the absorption of nutrients. But soaking it doesn’t seem to affect the cooking time, unlike with farro, where soaking will reduce the cooking time.

Do You Need To Rinse Millet Before Cooking It?

Yes, it is best to rinse millet before cooking it. The seeds often have a dusty coating on them and you want to remove that. Put the millet in a fine mesh sieve and run tap water all over it so that the dust runs away down the sink.

Steps For Cooking Millet

The cooking instructions are slightly different for pilaf-style millet than for millet porridge. The difference is mostly how much water you add.

I usually toast the uncooked, rinsed millet in a dry saucepan over medium-low heat for 4-5 minutes. This extracts a nice little nutty flavor from the seeds.

Then you add water and salt. Bring it to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes.

When making a pilaf or salad, remove from heat, keep it covered and let it steam in there for another 10 minutes. Fluff gently and add some butter, oil, or dressing.

When making the porridge, give it a stir and a taste and see if it has the texture you’d like. If not, cook it a little longer. You may want to add more hot water or some warm milk if it gets too thick.