Little Millet Upma/Samai Upma/Millet Recipes is a wholesome breakfast or dinner dish that can be made with just a few ingredients in less than 30 minutes.
|Little Millet in English |Samai in tamil| Kutki in Hindi|Saame Akki in kannada|Chama in malayalam| Sama in telugu, is a very healthy variety of 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.
IS LITTLE MILLET GOOD FOR HEALTH?
For humans, they release Glucose slowly into the blood stream as against highly processed Rice & wheat which release it very quickly.Millets are highly nutritious and rich in calcium, protein, fiber and the list goes on. They are gluten free unlike wheat.
- Prevent diabetes
- Healthy heart
- Prevent cancer
- Anti-ageing properties
- Balance cholesterol level
- Strengthen bones
- Assist digestion
I have made a few recipes with millets such as Pongal, Bisibelebath, Little millet lemon rice, Bajra(Pearl Millet) Khichdi,Kodo Millet Pulao,dosa. But there are a lot of recipes to make with these wonder grain.
This recipe can be made for breakfast as well for dinner. The variations are endless and the addition of vegetables adds nutrition as well as color.
HOW TO MAKE LITTLE MILLET UPMA RECIPE
Wash the Little Millet and soak it in water for at-least 15 minutes.
In a kadai add oil and add in the mustard seeds, jeera, hing, green chillies, ginger(optional),curry leaves and fry till mustard splutters.
Then add onion.Saute for a minute or two till the onion turns slight brown in color.
Later add finely chopped mixed veggies ,some salt and saute for 2-3 mins until veggies are cooked.
Add 1 cup of water and bring it to boil.
Drain the water from the soaked samai and add little millet to the boiling water and remaining salt.Mix well.
Cover with a lid and cook for about 8-10 minutes on low flame.
Note:Since we soaked it for 15 minutes, it reduces the cooking time.
Once little millet is cooked ( until all the water has been absorbed ,completely cooked and looks grainy ) turn off the gas and then add grated coconut , coriander leaves and lime juice .
Mix Well and serve little millet upma hot with coconut chutney or chutney powder.
CHECKOUT MORE BREAKFAST RECIPES
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- Bread Upma
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Little Millet Upma (Samai Upma)
Ingredients
- Measuring 1 cup = 250 ml
- ½ cup Little millet(samai)
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- ½ cup mixed veggies (Beans,Carrot,Peas,Capsicum etc )
- 2 tablespoon grated coconut optional
- 2 tablespoon coriander leaves chopped
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- salt to taste
- 1 cup water
To Temper
- ½ teaspoon mustard
- ½ teaspoon jeera(cumin)
- a pinch hing(asafoetida)
- 2 green chilles finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger optional
- few curry leaves
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions
Stove Top method:
- Wash the Little Millet and soak it in water for at-least 15 minutes.
- In a kadai add oil and add in the mustard seeds, jeera, hing, green chillies,ginger(optional),curry leaves and fry till mustard splutters.
- Then add onion . Saute for a minute or two till the onion turns slight brown in color.
- Later add finely chopped mixed veggies ,some salt and saute for 2-3 mins until veggies becomes soft.
- Add 1 cup of water and bring it to boil.
- Drain the water from the soaked samai and add little millet to the boiling water and remaining salt.Mix well.
- Cover with a lid and cook for about 8-10 minutes on medium-low flame .Note:Since we soaked it for 15 minutes, it reduces the cooking time.
- Once little millet is cooked ( until all the water has been absorbed ,completely cooked and looks grainy ) turn off the gas and add grated coconut , coriander leaves and lime juice .
- Mix Well and serve little millet upma hot with coconut chutney or chutney powder.
Notes
- Soaking reduces the cooking time. So soak the little millet for at-least 15 minutes.
- If you are in a hurry and do not have time to soak, add 1.5 cups of water while cooking for ½ cup of little millet.[3:1] Ratio
- You can add any vegetables of your choice.
- You can increase or decrease spice according to your preference.
- You can make upma without vegetables and onions too.
Nutrition
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These are such great looking recipes! Thank you so much.
I have a question though. In the US it seems as though all millet is "pearl millet". Does pearl millet cook differently than the "little millet" you are using?
Thank you again for your great cooking!
Water ratio must be increased, ur ratio it turned out very much grainy, I:3 might be okay I guess.
Hey Leela, for me 1 cup of water worked fine for 1/2 cup of millet after soaking for 15-20 min in water.I cooked with close lid on medium low flame.But you can increase to 1.5 cups no harm(ie 1:3 ratio).If you have new millets ,take less water to cook ,if millets are very old they take more water to cook.Hope this helps.FYI recipe is for 1/2 cup millet so i have used 1:2 (millet:water) ratio you can also use 1:3 like regular upma