Instant Pot Millet (Pilaf and Porridge)

Instant Pot millet can be cooked like pilaf or like porridge, turning this mild-flavored gluten-free grain into a variety of sweet and savory millet recipes.

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Millet is a whole grain that's less well-known in the U.S, although gaining in popularity because it's gluten-free. It has a mild flavor that's sometimes described as nutty, although I think it's very similar to cornmeal.

Millet is hearty and filling. The tiny grains plump up into small pearls with a texture that is similar to, but slightly more coarse than rice and couscous.

Two Instant Pot Cooking Methods for Millet

There are two ways to make millet in a pressure cooker - like pilaf or like porridge. The recipe card at the bottom of this post includes instructions for both.

Pilaf Method: This means adding just enough water so that the cooked millet has a fluffy texture, similar to the texture you'd want for rice. Although regular pilafs use aromatics and broth to add flavor, both are optional here. You can make Instant Pot millet with just water, millet and salt. Or, you can saute onion, garlic and spices in the pot and use broth instead of water.

When cooked like a pilaf, millet can be served as a replacement for rice or other grains. It can also be turned into cold salads or added to soup for texture, and it can be baked into squares that are cut and served like firm polenta.

• Mediterranean Millet Salad - From Veggies Save the Day
• Minty Millet & Pomegranate Salad - From Love & Lemons
• Spicy Curried Millet Soup - From Shape Magazine
• Millet Scallion Pancakes - From Bon Appetit
• Baked Millet and Greens Gratin - From the New York Times

Pilaf Method Cooking Instructions

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Porridge Method: This method adds more water and a longer cooking time so that the millet is softer. Millet porridge still has some texture (similar to steel cut oats) but when milk is added after the cooking time, the porridge becomes looser and creamier.

Millet porridge can be served sweet or savory. I love adding cream or oat milk to my porridge with maple syrup and peaches. Yum!

For sweet porridge, add milk, cream, nut milk, oat milk or coconut milk. Add toppings like cinnamon, maple syrup or jam, dried fruit, or fresh fruit like berries, mango, papaya, peaches or figs.

For savory porridge, add cream or broth to the cooked millet plus toppings like grated cheese, sour cream, chives, bacon, mushrooms or soy sauce. You can also make a soupy millet porridge called millet congee, by cooking the millet for almost twice as long with twice as much liquid.

• Savory Pumpkin Millet Porridge (congee) - From Healthy Nibbles and Bits
• Savory Multigrain Porridge, incorporating millet with other whole grains - From Snixy Kitchen.

Why This Recipe Works

This recipe makes millet that is less dry than other recipes, but still has a fluffy texture. By adding slightly more water, the texture becomes softer and less coarse. It's a matter of personal preference, but I like this grain with a slightly softer texture.

Most recipes for Instant Pot millet use 1 ¾ cups water for every 1 cup millet. This recipe is different, and uses a 2:1 ratio of water and millet, adding 2 cups water for every 1 cup of millet.

To make millet porridge - which has a softer, looser texture - the amount of water increases to a 4:1 ratio of water to millet.

Millet FAQ

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