Kodo Millet Pulao is a healthy ,delicious one pot meal, which is easy to prepare and also nutritious. I have used Kodo millet (araka in Kannada) for making this pulao. You can substitute it with foxtail millet or little millet.

WHAT ARE MILLETS?

Millets are Ancient Grains. Mankind has known their nutrition value for centuries. They are naturally gluten – free. Millet can also be used as a healthier alternative to rice , as well as in salad recipes or as a side dish.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF KODO MILLET?

In addition to all the general millet characteristics (gluten-free, low glycemic index, high fibre, etc), Kodo millet has a high antioxidant content.

English	Hindi	Kannada	Tamil	Telugu
Kodo Millet	Kodra	Araka	Varagu	Arikelu

DIFFERENT METHODS OF COOKING MILLET PULAO

You can cook Millet Pulao in various ways. With different methods of cooking ,only thing you need to take care is cooking time. Below are there different methods of cooking Millet Pulao.

ON STOVETOP IN A VESSEL OR KADAI – 

Make sure the vessel/kadai should have heavy bottom because when millet is cooked and all water evaporated, heavy bottom prevents from burning.Also make sure vessel or kadai can be sealed well with lid so that millet and veggies cook inside steam.This method also needs more water and time to cook compared to pressure cooker method.

IN TRADITIONAL PRESSURE COOKER ON STOVE TOP –Cooking in a pressure cooker is way easy and quicker than the above vessel method. Firstly you need to reduce amount of water. Secondly is to adjust the cooking time so that the millet or veggies doesn’t turn mushy.

IN INSTANT POT (ELECTRIC PRESSURE COOKER) –

Take less than 10 minutes to cook this pulao with separated millet grain and perfectly cooked veggies.

HOW TO MAKE KODO MILLET PULAO IN INSTANT POT

Chop all the vegetables like Carrot into cubes, Beans, capsicum into lengthwise as in the image and use frozen peas. Chop Onion into lengthwise.

Then gather all ingredients required to make millet pulao.

Soak Araka or Kodo Millet into sufficient water for 15-20 minutes. If you are in hurry skip this step. In this recipe i dint soak millets.

Take all the ingredients listed under “To Grind” into a mixer grinder and blend to a smooth paste.

Press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Add oil or ghee and once it’s hot add the bay leaves ,jeera ,saute for 30 secs till jeera splutters.Then add curry leaves.

Then add sliced onions and saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown in color – stir regularly.

Next add ground mint coriander paste and saute for 2-3 minutes until raw smell disappears.

Add mixed vegetables and cook for a minute.

Then add rinsed millet, turmeric powder ,garam masala powder ,salt and water and mix everything well .Adjust seasoning at this stage.

Press CANCEL button on Instant Pot.Close the lid on the pot, and turn valve from VENTING to SEALING position.Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set timer to 6 minutes.

Wait for Natural Pressure Release(NPR) . (Wait until silver button on lid drops).BE CAREFUL OF THE HOT STEAM

Remove lid away from you,Squeeze some lime juice and garnish with cilantro (coriander leaves).

Kodo Millet Pulao is ready.Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.

TIPS & VARIATIONS TO MAKE PERFECT KODO MILLET PULAO

• Dont have Kodo millet? You can make this pulao with little millet (samai) or foxtail millet too, tastes equally good.
• I usually use Manual /Pressure Cook mode for cooking millets.It works perfectly and also takes less time. If you are in a hurry ,atleast give some time, about 5 minutes, before you release the pressure manually (5 minutes NPR).
• You can replace millets with rice or quinoa.
• Soaking millets is not mandatory.In this recipe i dint soak the millets.But if you have time you can soak for 15-20 minutes and reduce water by 1/4 cup.
• Always keep an eye on the time and do not overcook. millets should not be mushy ,i like millets to be perfectly cooked and separated.
• In this recipe, I have used fresh vegetables. But you can also use frozen vegetables too.
• I kept the spices mild, you can add more spices as per your preference.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH KODO MILLET PULAO?

Kodo Millet Pulao can be served with cucumber raita ,papad and pickle.But it can be served with any kurma as well.

MILLET PULAO RECIPE|KODO MILLET PULAO RECIPE CARD

★ DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?  Don’t forget to give a ★ rating. Just click on the stars in the Recipe Card to rate

4.5 from 2 votes

Print

Millet Pulao Recipe|Kodo Millet Pulao

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

25 mins

 

Kodo Millet Pulao is a healthy ,delicious one pot meal, which is easy to prepare and also nutritious.

Course: brunch, lunch

Cuisine: Indian, south indian

Keyword: gluten-free, healthy, instant pot, kodo millet, millet pulao, millet recipes, under 30 minutes, vegan

Servings: 3

Calories: 272 kcal

Author: bhavana

Ingredients

measuring 1 cup = 250 ml

• 1 cup kodo millet
• 2 cups
  Mixed Vegetables (Carrot ,beans ,green peas and capsicum)
• 2 tbsp ghee or oil
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp cumin (jeera) seeds
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1 large onion
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
• 1/2 tsp garam masala powder
• salt to taste
• 2 cups water
• juice of half lime

To Grind

• 2 tbsp onion
• 1 inch ginger
• 3 cloves garlic
• 3 green chillies
• 1/4 cup mint (pudina)
• 1/4 cup coriander leaves (cilantro)
• 2 cloves
• 1 inch cinnamon stick
• 1 cardamom
• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds (saunf) , optional

Instructions

Preparation:

1. Chop all the vegetables like Carrot into cubes, Beans, capsicum into lengthwise as in the image and use frozen peas. Chop Onion into lengthwise.
2. Soak Araka or Kodo Millet into sufficient water for 15-20 minutes. If you are in hurry skip this step. In this recipe i dint soak millets.
3. Take all the ingredients listed under “To Grind” into a mixer grinder and blend to a smooth paste.

INSTANT POT METHOD:

1. Press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Add oil or ghee and once it’s hot add the bay leaves ,jeera ,saute for 30 secs till jeera splutters.Then add curry leaves.
2. Then add sliced onions and saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown in color – stir regularly.
3. Next add ground mint coriander paste and saute for 2-3 minutes until raw smell disappears.
4. Add mixed vegetables and cook for a minute.
5. Then add rinsed millet, turmeric powder ,garam masala powder ,salt and water and mix everything well .Adjust seasoning at this stage.
6. Press CANCEL button on Instant Pot.Close the lid on the pot, and turn valve from VENTING to SEALING position.Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set timer to 6 minutes.
7. Wait for Natural Pressure Release(NPR) . (Wait until silver button on lid drops).BE CAREFUL OF THE HOT STEAM
8. Remove lid away from you,Squeeze some lime juice and garnish with cilantro (coriander leaves).
9. Kodo Millet Pulao is ready.Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.

INDIAN PRESSURE COOKER ON STOVETOP METHOD:

1. Follow the process mentioned above until step 5 ie Then add rinsed millet, turmeric powder ,garam masala powder ,salt and water and mix everything well.
2. Close the lid place a whistle and cook for 2 whistles on medium flame.
3. After pressure has release naturally Fluff up the millet gently. Squeeze some lime juice and garnish with cilantro (coriander leaves).
4. Kodo Millet Pulao is ready.Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.

TO COOK IN A VESSEL ON STOVETOP METHOD:

1. Follow the process mentioned above until step 5 ie Then add rinsed millet, turmeric powder ,garam masala powder ,salt and water and mix everything well.
2. Let everything come to a boil.Then reduce the flame to low and tightly cover the vessel with a lid. Cook on very low flame until all the water has evaporated.Stir occasionally.
3. Then switch off the flame and let it rest covered for at least 10 minutes.Fluff up the millet gently. Squeeze some lime juice and garnish with cilantro (coriander leaves).
4. Kodo Millet Pulao is ready.Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.

Recipe Notes

1.Soaking millets is not mandatory.In this recipe i dint soak the rice.But if you have time you can soak for 15-20 minutes and reduce water by 1/4 cup.

2.You can use any vegetables of your choice like potato ,sweet corn.Frozen vegetables can be used.
3. You can also do a Natural Pressure Release(NPR) ie wait for 10 minutes after the POT beeps and then open the lid or use Rice mode if you have more time to cook.
4. You can increase or decrease spices accordingly.
5.Vegans can skip ghee.

6.I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT

7.At the end, You can also add fried cashews, adds a nice taste and texture to the pulao.

8.I kept the spices mild, you can add more spices as per your preference.

Note:Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition Facts

Millet Pulao Recipe|Kodo Millet Pulao

Amount Per Serving

Calories 272Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Cholesterol 19mg6%

Sodium 16mg1%

Potassium 118mg3%

Carbohydrates 40g13%

Protein 6g12%

Vitamin A 2000IU40%

Vitamin C 92.4mg112%

Calcium 90mg9%

Iron 2.3mg13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.