Little Millet Benefits| Recipes

Little Millet Benefits: In this article we are going to know about one of the special millets, “Little Millet.”.

What is Little Millet ?

Little millet is a small grain native to India. We have so many millets. The little millet is so special. These are very sweet and tasty to eat. It is half white and looks like cream color. It is the smallest millet compared to all other millets. It takes 3 to 4 months of time to grow. It is very easy to grow with a lesser amount of water. It has 9.8 percent fiber content.

Scientific Name:

Little millet scientific name is Panicum sumatrense.

Little Millet Nutrition: per 100 grams of raw grains

Nutrient	Amount	Health Benefits
Energy	329 kcal	Provides sustained energy for daily tasks.
Carbohydrates	67 g	Good source of complex carbs for stamina.
Protein	9.7 g	Supports muscle repair and growth.
Dietary Fiber	7.6 g	Aids digestion and prevents constipation.
Fat	4.7 g	Provides essential fatty acids.
Calcium	17 mg	Promotes strong bones and teeth.
Iron	9.3 mg	Helps in preventing anemia.
Magnesium	119 mg	Supports nerve and muscle function.
Phosphorus	220 mg	Vital for energy production and bone health.
Potassium	47 mg	Helps maintain fluid balance and heart health.
B Vitamins (Thiamin)	0.3 mg	Supports energy metabolism and brain health.
Zinc	2.5 mg	Boosts immunity and wound healing.

Little Millet Benefits

Little millet has many health benefits for both men and women.

1. Helps Wound Healing: It speeds up healing for wounds, including diabetic wounds and bone fractures.
2. Good for Fasting: Eating little millet during fasting keeps you full longer, making it great for fasting or sports.
3. Balances Hormones: It helps with hormonal imbalances, like thyroid issues, PCOD, painful periods, and menstrual problems. It can also improve sperm count in men.
4. Good for Children: Little millet is a healthy first food for babies.
5. Improves Milk Quality: It helps breastfeeding mothers by improving milk quality.

It’s best to eat little millet three times a week.

Little millet common names

Here is a unique table listing common names of Little Millet in English:

Region/Language	Common Name	Speciality
English	Little Millet	Widely used international name.
Hindi	Kutki	Popular in North India.
Telugu	Samalu	Common in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Tamil	Samai	Used in Tamil Nadu’s traditional diet.
Kannada	Saame	Widely grown in Karnataka.
Malayalam	Chama	Known in Kerala as a health grain.
Marathi	Sava / Halvi	Used in traditional Maharashtrian dishes.
Gujarati	Gajro / Kuri	Popular in rural Gujarat.
Odia	Suan	Common in Odisha.
Bengali	Sama	Used during fasting days.
Nepali	Sama	Used in Himalayan diets.
Sinhalese	Kurakkan Sam	Found in Sri Lankan cuisine.
Chinese	Xiao Mi	Translates to “small millet.”

How to Cook Little Millet -Recipes

Here are two simple and nutritious Little Millet recipes you can try

1. Little Millet Upma

Ingredients:

• Little Millet: 1 cup
• Water: 2.5 cups
• Vegetables (carrot, peas, beans): 1 cup (chopped)
• Onion: 1 (finely chopped)
• Ginger: 1 tsp (grated)
• Green chilies: 2 (slit)
• Mustard seeds: 1 tsp
• Curry leaves: A few
• Oil: 2 tbsp
• Salt: To taste
• Coriander: For garnish

How to cook?

1. First, wash the millet and soak for 2 hours.
2. Take a pan, put one tablespoon of oil in it, and heat it.
3. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add curry leaves.
4. Add chopped onions, ginger-garlic paste, and green chilies. Mix well until onions turn a golden yellow color.
5. Add the vegetables—carrot, tomato, capsicum, etc.—and mix for 2 minutes.
6. Add water and salt, and bring it to a boil.
7. Add soaked millets. stir well
8. Cook on low flame until water is absorbed and the millet is soft. might be up to 10 min.
9. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

2. Little Millet Sweet Pongal

Ingredients:

• Little Millet: 1 cup
• Split Moong Dal: 1/4 cup
• Jaggery: 3/4 cup (grated)
• Water: 3 cups
• Milk: 1/2 cup (optional for creaminess)
• Ghee: 2 tbsp
• Cashews: 10 (halved)
• Raisins: 10–12
• Cardamom powder: 1/2 tsp

How to cook?

1. First, wash the millets and moong dal together.
2. Soak for one hour.
3. Add 1 tablespoon of ghee and roast the moong dal and millets.
4. Boil the millet and dal with the required water until cooked like rice.
5. In another pan, boil jaggery with a small amount of water. Make jaggery syrup.
6. Add the jaggery syrup to the cooked millet-dal. mix well. Cook for 5 minutes.
7. Add milk and cardamom powder and mix thoroughly.
8. Fry cashews and raisins in ghee until golden, and add to the Pongal.
9. Serve warm as a dessert.

Frequently Asked Questions?

Can little millet help in weight loss?

Answer: Yes. Little millet has low calories and fiber. It definitely supports weight loss.

Is little millet suitable for people with diabetes?

Answer: Absolutely! Little millet has a low glycemic index. It releases glucose slowly into the blood. It is an excellent choice for managing diabetes.

How long does it take to cook little millet?

Answer: Little millet cooks quickly compared to other millets. First, soak for 20–30 minutes. Then it takes about 15 minutes to cook.

What are the best ways to include little millet in my diet?

Answer: Little millet can be cooked as upma, idli, dosa, pulao, kheer, or salads. It is easy to include in meals.

Are there any side effects of eating little millet?

Answer: Little millet is generally safe and healthy. However, excessive consumption may cause bloating in some people. So, eat 2 to 3 times a week.

What are the 5 positive Millets?

The five positive millets are:

1. Foxtail Millet
2. Little Millet
3. Kodo Millet
4. Barnyard Millet
5. Brown Top Millet

These millets are known for their health benefits and high nutritional value.
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