Kodo Millet Pulao is a healthy, flavorful one pot recipe prepared with millets, vegetables and few spices in an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker or Stovetop

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 15 minutes
  • Cook time: 10 minutes
  • Total time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Indian, South Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup kodo millet
  • 2 cups mixed vegetables (carrot, beans, green peas and capsicum)
  • 2 tablespoons oil ((or ghee))
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon cumin (jeera) seeds
  • 1 stalk curry leaves
  • 1 large onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder
  • salt (to taste)
  • 2 cups water
  • juice of half lime

To Grind:

  • 2 tablespoons 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 teaspoon fennel seeds (saunf) (optional)

Method

Preparation:

  1. Chop all the vegetables like carrot into cubes, beans, capsicum lengthwise as in the image and use frozen peas. Chop onion lengthwise.
  2. 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 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 – stir regularly.
  3. Next, add ground mint coriander paste and saute for 2-3 minutes until the 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. 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.
  7. Once the pot beeps, Wait for Natural Pressure Release (NPR).
  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 Method

  1. Follow the same process as the Instant Pot. Close the lid, place a whistle, and cook for 2 whistles on medium flame.
  2. After pressure has been released, naturally, fluff the millet gently, squeeze some lime juice, and garnish with cilantro.

Stovetop Pot Method

  1. Follow the same process as the Instant Pot. 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 a 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 coriander leaves.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.