• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sava's Kitchen
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • By Category
    • Ukrainian
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Main dishes
    • Sides
    • Soup
    • Sweet treats
  • About
  • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Sides

    Instant Pot Millet

    Published: Sep 14, 2022 · Modified: Jan 10, 2023 by Sava's Kitchen

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Instant pot millet comes out perfect in under 30 minutes and can be used in so many ways. Enjoy this rich in protein gluten-free grain as a side dish, a breakfast porridge, or add it to soups, stews, and salads.

    Cooked millet grain in a bowl with two side handles. There are two slices of butter on top.

    What is millet

    Millet is a cereal grain that comes from a grass plant. This small, round grain is naturally gluten-free and has a mild sweet flavor similar to corn. It is popular in Asian, African, and European countries.

    There are a lot of varieties of millets. Pearl millet and foxtail millet are the most common types that can be found at the grocery store Millet is known for its amazing health benefits.

    This ancient grain is a good source of dietary fiber, plant-based protein, and micro-nutrients and it is heart healthy. It is high in magnesium and phosphorus. These tiny grains will diversify the meals of those who follow a gluten-free diet.

    Cooked millet is super versatile. Growing up in Ukraine, my mom cooked us millet as a breakfast porridge or a side dish.

    Cooked yellow grain, three meatballs and red cherries tomatoes on a vine served on a white plate.

    Ingredients

    • Millet - I used organic whole grain millet. You can purchase it online or find it at your local store. Bob's red mill and Eden are the most popular brands in the US.
    • Water - filtered water to cook the grain. You can use coconut milk (or other) if making a sweet porridge or vegetable broth for a savory side dish.
    • Salt - I add just a little bit of salt for taste. You can add more salt to already cooked grain.
    • Butter (optional) - I like to add a little bit of butter for serving.

    See the recipe card for ingredient quantities.

    Labeled recipe ingredients on a white background.

    Instructions

    • Rinse: in a fine mesh strainer, rinse the millet under cold running water for about 40 seconds. Drain off the access water.
    • Add: add water, millet and salt to the instant pot. You can use broth (savor side) or milk (sweet porridge) instead of water.
    Yellow small rinsed grain in a mesh strainer. Insatnt pot filled with water and millet.
    • Pressure cook: cover the Instant Pot with the lid and move the pressure valve into the "sealing" position. Set the cooking time for 10 minutes on high pressure. It will take 5-15 minutes to reach the pressure. Once it does, the cooking time will begin the countdown.
    • Pressure release: when cooking time ends, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release by turning the valve to the "venting" position to remove any remaining pressure. Open the lid carefully. Fluff it with the fork, add some butter and serve!
    Instant Pot with yellow cooked millet and a stainless steel spoon.

    Note: you can also use a porridge setting to cook the grain. Keep in mind, that the grain will have porridge constancy when using this automatic setting. Add one part of millet and two parts of liquid and pressure cook for 15 minutes on the porridge setting.

    How to store and reheat

    • Refrigerate: store cooked millet in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
    • Freeze: once the millet cools down to room temperature, transfer it to freezer-safe bags. Label with the date and freeze for up to 2 months.
    • Reheat: add the needed amount to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave covered for 30-40 seconds or until steamy hot. Or add cold millet with a few tablespoons of water to the pan and heat it on low covered.

    How to serve

    Millet is a great alternative to white rice and can be served in a variety of ways.

    • Savory: side dish, stir-fries, stews, soups, salads, stuffed peppers, or cabbage.
    • Sweet: as healthy breakfast porridge (add milk, honey, and fresh fruit); add some cold millet and favorite toppings to a bowl of yogurt (in place of granola).

    If you are a fan of a cozy breakfast porridge, you may like my Barley Breakfast Porridge.

    Yellow grain porridge with milk topped with slices bananas and fresh blackberries in a white bowl.

    Recipe tips

    • Rinse the millet before cooking under cold water.
    • Although Instant Pot is my preferred method, you can also cook millet on the stove top by following the package instructions.
    • Pilaf millet (best for savory dishes) - use 2 parts of water for 1 cup of grain, and pressure cook for 10 minutes.
    • Porridge millet (best for sweet dishes) - one 3 parts of grain for every cup of grain, pressure cook for 15 minutes.

    Common questions

    Do I need to soak millet?

    No, millet does not require soaking. You will only need to rinse it under old water.

    Is millet better than rice?

    Yes, but moderation is the key. Millet has fewer crabs and a low glycemic index. Rice is low in protein and fiber while millet is rich in both. Millet grains are more environmentally sustainable compared to rice. 

    Can I use millet in baking?

    Yes. For gluten-free baking use millet flour. You can add cooked millet to your muffin batter or even to a pie filling for extra nutrition.

    Other instant pot recipes

    • Instant pot buckwheat
    • Instant pot beets
    • Instant pot boiled potatoes
    • Instant Pot Barley
    Cooked millet grain in a bowl with two side handles. There are two slices of butter on top.

    Instant Pot Millet

    Nataliia
    Instant pot millet comes out perfect in under 30 minutes and can be used in so many ways. Enjoy this rich in protein gluten-free grain as a side dish, a breakfast porridge, or add it to soups, stews, and salads.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Breakfast, Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Ukrainian
    Servings 4
    Calories 189 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 instant pot
    • 1 Measuring Cup

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup millet (whole grain)
    • 2 cups water
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 Tablespoons butter (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • In a mesh strainer, add measured millet and rinse it under running cold water. Drain the access water.
    • In your Instant Pot, add millet, salt and water. Close the lid and place the pressure valve in the "sealing" position.
    • Set the cooking time for 10 minutes on high pressure. Once the cooking time is over, let it naturally release for 10 minutes followed by a quick release for the remaining steam.
    • Carefully open the lid, and fluff it with the fork. You can add butter or ghee if serving as a side dish.

    Notes

    • rinse millet under cold water before cooking.
    • in place of water, use milk for sweet porridge or broth for savory dishes.
    • one cup of uncooked millet makes about 3 ½ cups of cooked.
    • nutritional facts are for information purposes only, and not to be considered medical advice.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 189kcalCarbohydrates: 28.6gProtein: 5.5gFat: 2.1gSodium: 143.5mgFiber: 4.2g
    Keyword instant pot millet, millet porridge
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Sides

    • Mediterranean Rice
    • 5 Best Methods to Cook Sweet Potatoes: Pros and Cons
    • Instant Pot Cubed Sweet Potatoes
    • Roasted Sweet Potato Slices

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A young woman image from heat to the waist. She has long brown hair and wearing a leather jacket over a dark blue t-shirt. She is smiling and looking at the lens of camera.

    Hi there, I'm Nataliia. I am a content creator behind Sava's Kitchen. Here, you will find a lot of healthy family-friendly recipes. My focus is to create versatile nutritious recipes that taste great and are easy to make. Learn more about me by clicking below!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • How to Make Oat Flour in a Blender
    • Dairy Free Waffles: How to Make Waffles Without Milk
    • Air Fryer Whole Sweet Potato
    • Barley Breakfast Porridge

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Sava's Kitchen

    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • About

    Copyright © 2023 SAVA'S KITCHEN ON FOODIE PRO THEME

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT