Millet Pulao Recipe (Kodo Millet Pulao)

Kodo Millet Pulao is a healthy, flavorful one-pot recipe prepared with millets, vegetables, and a few Indian spices in an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker or Stovetop. 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 its nutritional value for centuries. They are naturally gluten-free. Millet can also be used as a healthier alternative to rice and 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 fiber, 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 Recipe

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

On Stovetop in a Vessel or Kadai –

Ensure the vessel/Kadai has a heavy bottom because when the millet is cooked, and all water evaporated, the heavy bottom prevents it from burning.

Also, ensure the vessel or Kadai can be sealed well with a lid so that millet and veggies cook inside steam. This method also needs more water and cooking time than the pressure cooker method.

In Traditional Pressure Cooker on Stovetop –

Cooking in a pressure cooker is easier and quicker than the above vessel method.

Firstly you need to reduce the amount of water. Secondly is to adjust the cooking time, so the millet or veggies don't turn mushy.

In Instant Pot (Electric Pressure Cooker) –

Take less than 10 minutes to cook this millet pulao in Instant Pot with all separated millet grains and perfectly cooked veggies.

Ingredients

Chop all the vegetables like carrots into cubes, beans, and capsicum lengthwise as in the image, and use frozen peas. Chop onion lengthwise.

Then, gather all the ingredients required to make millet pulao.

How to Make Kodo Millet Pulao in Instant Pot

Soak Araka or Kodo Millet in sufficient water for 15-20 minutes. If you are in a hurry, skip this step. In this recipe, I didn't 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 and jeera, and saute for 30 seconds till jeera splutters. Then, add curry leaves.

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

Next, add ground mint coriander paste and saute for 2-3 minutes until the 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.

Close the lid on the pot, and turn the pressure valve to SEALING position. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and the timer to 6 minutes.

Once the pot beeps, Wait for Natural Pressure Release (NPR).

Remove the lid away from you. Squeeze some lime juice and garnish with coriander leaves.

Pressure Cooker Vegetable millet pulao is ready. Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.

What to Serve with Kodo Millet Pulao?

Serve Kodo Millet Pulao or Pressure cooker millet pulao recipe with cucumber raita, papad, and pickle. But it can be served with any kurma as well.

Tips & Variation

• Dont have Kodo millet? You can make this millet pulao with little millet (samai) or foxtail millet, too, barnyard 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, at least give some time, about 5 minutes, before you release the pressure manually (5 minutes NPR).
• You can replace millet with rice or quinoa.
• Soaking millet is not mandatory. In this recipe, I didn't soak the millets. But if you have time, you can soak for 15-20 minutes and reduce the water by ¼ 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.

If you like millets, check out more Millet Recipes

• Little Millet Upma
• Millet Curd Rice
• Bajra (Pearl Millet) Khichdi
• Little Millet Lemon Rice
• Ragi Soup

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