This millet khichdi recipe combines millets with lentil and veggies and is a powerhouse of nutrition. It is perfect for a filling breakfast or meal.
Millets are cereal crops and small seed grasses that are extremely healthy and a powerhouse of nutrients.
In India, we have been using millets in our regular diet since centuries, but it is only in the past decade that more people have started including millets in their diet.
Some millets may taste a bit flat as compared to wheat or rice or may turn out drier when prepared, but if prepared well they do taste good and keep you full for long.
You may also like: Barnyard millet upma recipe, Finger Millet Dosa, Ragi Malt sweet and savoury and Adai Dosa.
Benefits of Millets in Your Diet
1. Millets are high in fibre, minerals like magnesium, phosphorous, iron, calcium, zinc and potassium.
2. They help in preventing coronary disease and help in the management of diabetes.
3. Being high in fibre, they help in digestion and keep your gut and colon healthy.
4. They are high in protein and must be included in your diet for a well balanced diet.
Types of Millets
Millets are of many types ranging from jowar (sorghum), ragi (finger millet), bajra (pearl millet), foxtail millet, barnyard millet, proso millet and little millet among others.
This foxtail millet khichdi is prepared with loads of veggies and lentils along with spices.
Make it for a leisurely weekend breakfast or brunch. It is a nutritionally balanced one-pot meal.
This is one of my favourite millet recipes. It is also a super healthy and nutritious khichdi recipe.
Variations
You can easily substitute little millet, barnyard millet or kodo millet in place of foxtail millet in this recipe.
Use coconut oil in place of ghee for vegan foxtail millet khichdi recipe.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your foxtail millet khichdi with pickle, curd (yogurt) and papad. It makes for a fabulous meal.
You can also have it with Indian raita or if you enjoy eggs with a boiled or sunny side egg.
Step-by-step Pictures
Soak millets and lentils for an hour. Drain and keep aside.
Heat 1 tbsp. ghee or coconut oil in a pressure cooker. Add cumin seeds.
Allow to sputter. Add sliced onions, ginger-garlic paste and chillies.
Cook till browned.
Add 1 cup veggies and stir fry for some time.
You can use any veggies that you have readily available.
Add millets, lentils and spices. Add water and cilantro leaves and cook for 2 whistles.
You can also cook on stove top but it will take more time.
Garnish with ghee or coconut oil and fluff up the khichdi.
Millet khichdi is ready to serve.
I hope you liked this recipe and will try it out. It is good to include millets in your diet.
Recipe Notes
- Soaking millets is important as it helps in cooking it fast.
- Millets tend to dry out more during cooking hence adequate ghee/oil is needed.
- Add chillies as per taste.
- You can use any variety of millets in this dish.
- Use coconut oil in place of ghee for a vegan foxtail millet khichdi.
Here's the recipe card:
📖 Recipe Card
Foxtail Millet Khichdi Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup foxtail millet
- 1 cup split green gram lentils
- 1 tbsp. ginger-garlic paste
- 1 onion sliced
- 2 tbsp. ghee or clarified butter or coconut oil for vegan recipe
- 1 cup chopped vegetables carrot, peas, broccoli, beans etc.
- 2-3 green chillies sliced optional
- 1 tsp. garam masala
- ½ tsp. turmeric powder
- 1 tsp. cumin seeds
- salt to taste
- Garnish
- 1 tbsp. cilantro chopped
Do you want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get more great recipes and tips from us each week!
Instructions
- Soak millets and lentils for an hour. Drain and keep aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp. ghee or coconut oil (for vegan) in a pressure cooker. Add cumin seeds and allow them to crackle. Now add sliced onions and fry till they are golden brown. Takes upto 5-6 minutes. Add ginger-garlic paste and green chillies and cook for 2 minutes. Now all the millets, lentils and chopped vegetables and mix well.
- Add about 3 cups water, turmeric powder, garam masala powder and salt. Add cilantro.
- Cook for 2 whistles.
- Open the cooker. Sprinkle 1 tbsp. ghee or coconut oil on khichdi and fluff it up.
- Your millet khichdi is ready to serve.
Notes
- Soaking millets is important as it helps in cooking it fast.
- Millets tend to dry out more during cooking hence adequate ghee/oil is needed.
- Add chillies as per taste.
- You can use any variety of millets in this dish.
- Use coconut oil for a vegan foxtail millet khichdi
Nutrition
If you liked the recipe, do give a * star rating either on the recipe or when you comment. Thank you.
Please do share with your friends.
Shilpa Garg says
A healthy and nutritious breakfast dish. I dont make it frequently, but I must as the health benefits of millets are immense!
Rachna says
True Shilpa. Millets can easily substitute rice in khichdi, dosa, idli etc. Try it.
Roshan Radhakrishnan says
Needed to enlarge the pic to understand what foxtail MILLET was. But yes, this is a nice healthy option for sure. Millets are badly underused in the south, I feel.
Rachna says
Thanks doc. Actually I feel we use them more in the South and the West compared to the rest of the country.
Obsessivemom says
Another easy one. This, I can try.
Also, a request – please give us the Hindi/Indian names too. Of course google came to my rescue. I didn’t even know that green gram was green mung.
Rachna says
Sure Tulika. Will update the post today. ? As far as millets are concerned, you can use any one that are available. I normally pick them up in the millet section of the supermarket or buy them online eg. Big basket. Here we get them at farmer's markets as well.
Reema D'souza says
A healthy recipe indeed and an easy one at that.
Rachna says
True Reema
Vidya Sury says
I use millets regularly, thanks to their easy availability, family tradition and of course, diabetes, Rachna. I often substitute millet for rice. I love trying all kinds of dishes with them and of course, khichdi is a family favorite. I love they’re gluten free too! Millet flakes are also super convenient to cook with and for a quick snack!
Rachna says
Yes easy availability is definitely a factor too. I have not been able to source millet flakes or millet noodles so far. Maybe I should try Amazon or Big Basket?
Kaddu says
Dahi, papad, ghee, achaar… khichdi ke chaar yaar! ?
I have never used millets in cooking before. You are right, they are more popular in the South.
Find my F post @ 5 Must-Have Fitness Tools for Home Workout
Rachna says
You should. They should be readily available. Do check our for them.
Shalini says
You know what! My knowledge of millets is limited to Ragi and Maize! ? I should incorporate different varieties in my food, I guess. Thanks for the recipe.