I’ll give you an easy and proper method in which you have to learn about how to cook foxtail millet you can easily get help from it. But before, cooking it’s a short introduction to millet.
About Millet:
Millets are grain that belongs to the Poaceae family that cultivated within the Indian subcontinent in previous times and all these are different in color and species. In Asia and African countries, it is also cultivated and it is the Indian and African dishes it is commonly protected. Mostly it may develop at high temperatures. They are also grown in fewer water assets areas and are not expensive and don’t require pesticides for Millet. It is known as a miraculous food product. Because, this food give benefits to our bodies like, keeping diseases away from us and strengthening our immunity. so, that millet is a beneficial grain. Millets help to maintain good health. Millet found protein and multi-nutrients. It is a staple in many parts of the world.
History of Millets:
Firstly millets were introduced by the US. It has the ability to grow in dry weather that why millets are mostly cultivated in China and India. In millet, cultivated millet is the ancient Foxtail millet. China indicates millet to originated. It is the second production of millet in the whole world. Its originated date was 7000-5000 B.C, 2000 to 1000 B.C in more than 4000 years. Millet is an important part of Indians’ diet. It has the greatest history as compared to rice. In 4000 years ago, millet has two varieties.
What is Millet?
Millet is a cereal grain. It is usually known as a poor person’s food. It may look like a seed and it is small, round grain. These all are rich in B vitamins, calcium, iron, and protein. There are many types of millet and some are here Jowar, Sama, and Bajra. Except for wheat, these can grow with less water. Major millets grain include pearl, foxtail, and proso. Minor millets include Kodo, brown top, and adlay.
To eat rice with Daal these all millet are used. For cooking small amounts of millet are used. Millet is also used as flour not only as a grain.
Benefits of Millet:
It is great food for weight loss and gives benefits to conscious people about their fitness as well as, it keeps your blood sugar levels low and also boosts your immunity. Millet provides a great source of protein and builds to strengthens our immunity. Millet Contain fats that provide us natural fat. It helps to deposit excess fat on our muscles that lower the risk of high cholesterol. They have no irritants which lead to asthma. It is a rich fiber that can digestion alleviate bloating and gas. It can help your body detox. Millet provides essential amino acids. Millet is the building block of protein and provides plenty of magnesium.
It helps to control blood sugar levels and it is beneficial for diabetes patients and therefore it helps to lower our cholesterol levels.
What is Foxtail Millet?
Scientifically, foxtail millet is known as Setaria italica. Foxtail millet is like a tiny seed from grass that is grown for human food. It is in light yellow color. Foxtail has slim, vertical, leafy stems. It gets digested easily and cooks quickly.
In India, foxtail millet is an important crop in its region. And South India, people eat foxtail millet for a long time and in China, foxtail millet is the commonly used food crop in the northern side of the country. In Asia, it is usually cultivated in dry weather. The nature of the foxtail is warm. It grows up to 6 cm. it is usually used for heartburn.
Structure of Foxtail:
It has small caryopses with 1000 kernel weight of 2 mm length. The colors of caryopses can be red, yellow, brown, and black. Glumes closed the kernel inside it The pericarp is thin and consists of two characters and contains large numbers of starch are present in the pericarp. Kernels have one layered aleurone. The size of starch ranges from 0.8 to 11.8μm.
Benefits of Foxtail Millet:
It is a source of nutrients for the strengthening of bones. Millet is rich in B12 vitamin which maintains smooth function, nervous system and is good for skin and hair. It may build on glycemic to control insulin and cholesterol in diabetes patients. Foxtail reducing the factors of diabetes. It is high in dietary fiber and cures indigestion. Foxtail millet is a good vegetative remedy for anorexia patients. Foxtail millet reduces the pain of stomach aches. It protects arteries wall from the risk of a heart attack. Millet stops causing cardiac arrest through minimizes the chances of blockage. It regulates cholesterol levels in the body.
Nutritional Information:
Millet has 11.2 gm protein, 4.42 gm dietary fiber, 63.2gm carbohydrates, 14mg calcium, and 4.8 mg iron.
Different Names of Foxtail Millet:
In China, foxtail millet is called xiǎomǐ, and it is known as Kangni in the Punjabi language. In Korean, it is named Jo.
How you can eat Millet?
it is like rice and it is usually eaten with chutney, raita. You can use millet as fried rice, lemon rice, and many more.
How to Cook Foxtail Millet:
- Wash The Millet
Firstly, take a cup of foxtail millet in a pan then fill the pan with 3-4 cups of water. Soaking it for 10 minutes. Wash it until there is no dirt and water gets muddy. Use your hands to rub it and remove all the dirt, similarly, repeat the wash till the water runs clear. Drain the water.
- Boil The Water
Secondly, heat the cooking pot put water in it. Use water as the amount of millet. In short, if you have one cup of millet then used 2.5 cups of water. Add a tiny pinch of salt and 2 teaspoons of oil. Bring the water on high heat. Close it with a lid.
- Boil The Millet
If the water starts to boil then turns the flame medium. Put the millet in a pot. Keep stirring properly they don’t get stuck at the bottom of the pan. water is completely absorbed and after 12 minutes it’ll almost be cooked. It took only15 minutes to cook.
- Stand and Soft
Let the boiled millet rest for 7-8 minutes without the pan’s lid. Fluff the millet with a fork. Cover the pan again and rest for 5 minutes again.
- Serve The Millet
Serve millet with Daal, curry, and what you want to eat with it.
Pressure Cooker Method:
On the other hand, it is another way to cook the foxtail.
Use one cup of millet. Add 2 cups of water. Add a pinch of salt. Leave the millet up to 4 whistles. After the pressure is released check if it is cooked, then some drops of water are putting in it and wait for 3, 4 whistles if the millet is not cooked.
Tips for Cooking:
Soak repeatedly before using, washing the millet before cooking will break down the outer peel. Millet seeds contain phytic acid and anti-nutrient which can disrupt the body’s ability to absorb the nutrients inside.
If not soaking, some cooks prefer to wash millet but some don’t. In that case, you can pledge the millet in the pan before you start cooking the foxtail millet.
Change the texture, you can also prepare it with a looser texture. For a lighter texture, use a 2:1 ratio of water in the millet.
Types of Foxtail Millet:
Lemon Foxtail millet.
Mint Millet.
Vegetables Salad Millet.
Millet curd.
Foxtail Pulao.
Foxtail Pulao:
It is very simple to prepare. In this way, we cook foxtail millet pulao. It takes 25 minutes only. Mostly, people eat pulao in winter. First to soak millet for almost one hour in warm water. Chop the vegetables about your choice. Heat oil in a given pan and add dry spices and, fry while it became crackles add ginger, garlic paste, and fry until the smell goes off. Add vegetables and fry for 3 to 4 minutes. Put pepper and salt. Drained millet is cooked on low heat, Switch off the stove and covered it for 7to 8 minutes if vegetables get boiled. Serve Pulao with raita, chutney, and what you want to eat.
Lemon Millet:
To cook foxtail millet you should use a cooking pot. Heat oil in a pan. Add Chana daal, red chili and, green chili. Fry all these ingredients until they turn golden, add ginger, turmeric and, put 3 to 4 tablespoons of water and cook until water evaporates. Turn off the heat. Squeeze lemon juice after the millet will cool. Mix everything well. Serve it with pickle, salad.
Foxtail Millet for Sugar Patients:
Diabetes is a condition in which the body doesn’t provide enough insulin. The body can’t process foods for energy. It affects blood sugar.
Millet and other grains are carbohydrates and have contained fiber, minerals, and vitamins. If you are a diabetes patient, you should use it in your diet. It’s beneficial for diabetes patients. Diabetes patients need to be familiar with the glycemic index. Food with a higher glycemic index digest fast and raises blood sugar quickly. These measures can help to prevent diabetes complications like nerve damage, eye issues, skin problems, and kidney disease
Recipes for Millets:
Millet pancake:
Add the oil to a pan on medium flame. Cut onions put in it and turn in to light brown color then also add garlic and ginger paste. Add chili sauce and other spices. Stir it with oil. Add lentils and boil them. Add soy sauce and covered it for 20 minutes. Cooking until the lentils, sauce, and oil get smooth and add an egg to it. Whisk cornstarch in it. No lumps are remaining while cooking. Cooked foxtail millet and stir the scallions.
Add a cooking spray into a non-stick skillet on medium-high flame. Scoop pancake batter onto the sauté pan and rubber spatula. Cook it for 3 minutes until it gets golden brown thenFlip the pancake’s other side and cook again for 3 minutes. This side did the same process. Repeat this for 7 pancakes, spraying in between each pancake. Dip pancakes in lentil puree. It’s ready to serve.
Millet Stuffed Chicken:
The first step is to preheat the oven at 375 degrees F. Using a baking dish and coat it with cooking oil. Add oil to a non-stick sauté pan over medium heat. Cut onions and sauté for 4-5 minutes until they turn clear then Mixed vegetables with cooked foxtail millet and set aside to cool it if millet and vegetables are cooled, filling the pocket of chicken breast with mixture and side by side lay then in a baking dish and Each breast is brushed with Dijon mustard, in another bowl, mix breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper and, divide breadcrumbs topping on each breast, coating top properly. Then Spray each with cooking spray and bake for 35 minutes. Until the internal temperature remains 165 degrees F then before slicing the rest of the chicken for at least 5 minutes and, the last step is always to serve.
Fact about Foxtail:-
Have to wash millet firstly before cooking?
Wash them as all the dirt clear out
How long do cook foxtail millet?
In 20 minutes, It’ll be cooked. It depends on the cooking method.
Is millet healthy?
It takes less water to grow and it is healthy. Millets are nutritious. It contains goitrogens.
Is it ok to eat it daily?
You should try it in day-to-day cooking similarly as another type of grain e.g wheat rice and the right amount of vegetables makes the meal complete.
Is foxtail good for dinner?
Yes, you can eat millet for dinner.
Which is better millet or oats?
Both have high fiber grains. Millets are not processed. While as compared to millet oats takes second place.
Is millet rich in protein?
Millet is not rich in protein but also rich in carbohydrates.
Which millet type is best?
All the varieties of millet are best and have their own positivity. The right amount of it helps you to improve your health.
Are foxtail and quinoa are same?
The main difference between them is their amino acid profiles meanwhile, quinoa is complete protein but millet is not.
Is foxtail is better as compared to rice?
Yes, foxtail is better than, rice because rice is low in protein but, high in carbohydrates. It is the best food alternatives. Millet is rich in protein and fiber. By the way, it depends on your mood taste.
Is foxtail is most nutritious millet?
Foxtails are healthy grains also nutritious therefore it has multi-nutrients which are beneficial for health.
Uses of Foxtail millet?
Alcohol and vinegar and winemaking are manufacturing by foxtail. On the other hand, we cooked it in milk, And foxtail flour is usually used for noodle making. Mostly, people used it with pulses. Foxtail seeds have tasted like sweet food.
