By Lisa Esile,
With a mild, sweet, corn-like flavor and a nutrient-dense profile, millet is a hot ingredient among folks interested in healthy home cooking. It’s also naturally gluten-free! Millet cooks quickly and is an excellent alternative to rice in everything from sushi to stews and even vegan meatloaf. You can use the uncooked grains to add a crunchy texture to salads and sweet dishes or grind them into flour using your high-speed blender. Try one of these vegan millet recipes today!
Tips
The gluten factor: While naturally gluten-free, millet, like oats, is sometimes processed in facilities that produce wheat products, so if you’re especially gluten-sensitive, be sure to look for certified gluten-free millet.
Which type of millet? Millets are a family of seed-producing grasses. A round, yellow-hulled variety called proso millet is the kind you’re most likely to find in stores in the U.S.—it’s usually just labeled “millet.”
For more information, check out Mighty Millet: How to Cook the Super-Sustainable Whole Grain (and 8 Reasons You Should).
Hearty Szechwan Coleslaw with White Beans
With a trio of cabbages, black rice, navy beans, and a dreamy ginger-infused Asian-style peanut dressing, this gutsy slaw is a meal in itself. Toasted, uncooked millet adds crunch and a subtle nutty flavor. A commenter shares, "I made it with uncooked millet, which does give it a good crunch. I brought it to a … party, and the [guests] loved it. They sought me out to thank me for making the salad."
Hearty Vegan Red Bean Chili
Ready in under an hour, this crowd-pleasing vegan chili is a great recipe to keep around. And it's so simple! First, the millet is cooked with aromatics in a dry pan, with just enough water to stop things from sticking. Then, after about 10 minutes, add fire-roasted tomatoes, beans, and chili seasoning and simmer for half an hour while you do the crossword. A fan writes, “[millet] gives the chili a meat-like texture and fooled my husband. I was going to cook up a separate batch of beef for him, but he ate it without knowing it was meatless."
Vegan Blueberry Muffins
Naturally sweetened with dates, featuring oats and millet ground into flour, these wholesome lemon-scented muffins have a delicate flavor and are healthy enough to eat for breakfast! Applesauce adds moisture and additional sweetness, and fresh ground cardamom adds floral notes. This recipe is gluten-free if you use certified gluten-free oats and millet. A commenter writes, “My favorite blueberry muffin recipe! Amazing texture for being gluten-free and naturally sweetened.”
Millet Loaf
Reminiscent of grandma’s meatloaf but without all the saturated fat, this thyme-scented vegan loaf is one of our most popular millet recipes and tastes amazing with mashed potatoes and a green salad. Millet works well as the binder, soaking up the intense flavors of miso paste, tomato sauce, and nutritional yeast (optional). A reviewer writes, “This was the best plant-based loaf by far. I love garlic and thought 12 cloves would be too much, but it was fantastic!”
Almond Poppy Seed Cake
With a moist, dense crumb, this sensational millet cake is perfect for a snack or dessert. The batter features millet and oats, which are ground into flour and then combined with plant-based milk and a date slurry. Almond essence gives this toothsome cake a rich almond flavor. Can’t find millet? No problem. Feel free to use millet flour instead. A fan writes, “It is unbelievably delicious! Made this a bunch of times, and it always comes out great. Nice and moist.”
Pumpkin Seed Granola with Millet and Oats
Sick of combing the cereal aisle, trying to find granola without added fat or sugar? This homemade granola features rolled oats, sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds, coated in a blended mixture of dates and flaxseed and then toasted in the oven. The date-flaxseed mix delivers a surprisingly sweet and crispy coating, and uncooked millet adds even more crunch. Raisins don't need cooking, so add them at the end to make sure they don't burn. This crispy granola keeps well in an airtight container, so make plenty and set yourself up for breakfast for the next month!
Curried Millet Cakes with Creamy Red Pepper Coriander Sauce
In this special occasion meal from Chef Del Sroufe, millet cakes take on the flavors of India and hold together well. Serve with a spoonful of cilantro chutney and a drizzle of creamy silken tofu-based Roasted Red Pepper Sauce for a meal set to impress. A reviewer shares, “This was delicious! I topped the millet cake with some Swiss chard I had.”
Golden Milk Millet Porridge
Millet’s mild flavor and subtle nuttiness make it a great alternative to regular oatmeal. This modern twist is served with ginger and turmeric-spiced golden milk to create a creamy chai-like flavor. Top with sliced almonds and fresh or dried fruit—the possibilities are endless! A satisfied fan raves, “This is delicious! A new winter staple.”
Curried Millet Sushi
Light, flavorful, and fun to eat, sushi is always a favorite and doesn’t have to always be made with rice. In this recipe, millet, cooked with curry powder, onion, powder, and garlic powder, takes on a warm and earthy flavor. Once cooked, sweet maple syrup and tangy brown rice vinegar pep things up even more. Place the millet on a sheet of nori, then add matchstick-cut veggies and avocado, and roll. This tasty sushi is simple to make once you get the hang of it. A commenter writes, “Very tasty, and I will definitely make it again.”
Millet and Kabocha Squash Breakfast Parfaits
These primo parfaits offer warming autumnal flavors year-round and are perfect for a special brunch. You could also make a big batch on the weekend to eat through the week. Citrusy, sweet, orange-infused millet pairs beautifully with creamy roasted kabocha squash, which is seasoned with vanilla and pumpkin pie spice. A reviewer writes, “A very tasty breakfast that is like eating a pumpkin dessert but so good for you!” Another writes, “These are delicious hot or cold! Making them made my kitchen smell wonderful.”
Millet-Stuffed Chard Rolls
These millet-stuffed chard leaves are so good that family members will be hanging around the kitchen, looking for more. Minced basil and thyme add fragrant herbal notes, and pine nuts add richness but are used sparingly and don’t make the meal too heavy. Nutritional yeast gives these finger-licking good rolls a savory, almost cheesy flavor. Top with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.
Quinoa with Kale and Roasted Butternut Squash
The mild flavors of quinoa and millet combine in this warm gluten-free salad, allowing the sweet, almost caramelized taste of roasted butternut squash to shine through. Finely chopped raw kale is a good balancer for this dish, adding body and green color. Lemon juice adds brightness, fresh parsley ties everything together, and almonds and raisins offer an unexpected sweetness and crunch. A commenter shares, "The millet quinoa combination is fantastic, and the flavors and textures work really well together."
Baked Peaches with Granola Topping
Baked peach halves get soft and oh-so-juicy and are an excellent breakfast or dessert when peaches are in season. An oaty granola topping—featuring crispy uncooked millet, tangy dried cherries, and nutty walnuts—adds a contrasting earthy crunch, perfectly pairing with the fruits’ tender flesh. Look for freestone peach varieties, where the peaches separate easily from the pit. A fan writes, “I made it this morning, and my whole family loves it. They were asking for more.”
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