Foxtail Millet Fried Rice Recipe

Rajan loves cooking dishes from his native Indian cuisine. He likes to share his favourite recipes with his online readers.

Contrary to what some people might believe, millet is not birdseed. Millet is a traditional grain that has been consumed by people all over the world for thousands of years. It used to be more common before the Green Revolution of the 1960s, when wheat and rice became more popular.

Today, millet is being reintroduced to the modern world, in part because of the efforts of Indian scientist Dr Khadar Vali. He has worked relentlessly over the past 25 years to revive interest in this ancient grain.

This recipe is for fried rice with foxtail millet, one of the five siridhanya millets—so named because they are thought to be miracle grains for health. The five siridhanya millets are foxtail millet, barnyard millet, little millet, kodo millet and browntop millet

Do try this foxtail fried rice and share your experience.

Cook Time

Ingredients

For boiling the millet:

• 1/2 cup unpolished kangni (foxtail millet), or any other unpolished siridhanya millet
• 2 cups water for soaking the millet
• 1/4 tsp sendha namak/ (rock salt), or to taste
• 1/2 tsp cold-pressed oil, for boiling the millet

For making the fried rice millet:

• 2 tbsp cold-pressed oil, for preparing the dish
• 8-10 fresh red chillies, chopped
• 1 fresh green chilli, chopped
• 1 inch ginger, made into a paste
• 1 carrot, chopped small
• 1 small green bell pepper, chopped small
• 2-3 tbsp spring onions and greens, chopped
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/4 tsp black pepper powder
• 1/2 tsp sendha namak (rock salt), or to taste

Instructions

1. Wash the foxtail millet thoroughly once and then soak it in water for 8 hours (or overnight if you have the time).
2. Put the soaking water in a pan or wok and keep it on medium heat. Add 1/2 tsp of any cold-pressed oil and 1/4 tsp salt and let the water come to a boil.
3. Add in the soaked millets, reduce the heat to low and cover with a lid. Cook until all the water dries out and the millets are just moist (this should take 10-12 minutes). Set aside.
4. Keep a pan on low heat, add 2 tbsp oil and let it heat up. Add in the chopped garlic, chillies and ginger paste. Saute until these are roasted, about 1-2 minutes until they change slightly in colour and become aromatic.
5. Add in the chopped carrot, bell pepper and spring onion. You can also add beans, cabbage or other veggies of your choice. Mix well.
6. Add in the spices: turmeric powder, black pepper powder and rock salt. Raise the heat to medium and mix well. Cook for about 2 minutes until the veggies are slightly done but retain their crunch.
7. Reduce the heat to low, add in the boiled millets and mix well. Stir cook for 1-2 minutes.
8. Millet fried rice is ready. Transfer to a serving dish and serve with plain dahi (yoghurt), dal or any gravy.

Foxtail Millet Fried Rice Recipe

© 2021 Rajan Singh Jolly