Cheesy Millet Cakes

I had not really heard of millet until I took a grains class last spring. In the class, our instructor talked about many relatively unknown grains that you wouldn't not usually find on the shelves of your local Wal-Mart.  What is Millet you ask? Millet is an ancient seed, originating from Africa and northern China, and it remains a staple in the diets of about a third of the world's population. It has a mild corn and nutty flavor and is naturally gluten-free. With all the concern about gluten in our diets, this is one whole grain you don't need to worry about. The picture below is a cup of millet and it's small size cooks quickly. I know it looks somewhat like bird seed, but trust me. It doesn't taste like it. 

I've used this recipe for rice cakes in the past and was looking to add this to my increasing amount of recipes for quinoa, but decided to give millet a try. Although the texture is different, the taste is just as good. 

Ingredients

1 cup dry millet

2 cups low sodium chicken broth

1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated

1/4 cup Monterrey jack cheese, grated

1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 large clove garlic, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

For complete nutrition information, click the magic button  

Directions

To cook the millet, bring the two cups of chicken broth to a boil in a 2 quart saucepan (you can use water if you wish) then add the millet. Bring back to a boil then set it on simmer for about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and place it in a mixing bowl. 

Add the cheeses, garlic and parsley and mix together well. The cheese should be slightly melted at this point. 

Form the millet mix into hockey puck sized patties by rolling them in your hands then flattening them out a bit. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper. In a large skillet over medium heat, place the olive oil and heat until a drop of water can bounce off it. 

Cook the patties over medium to medium-high heat until golden brown, 5-8 minutes a side. Flip them at least once during the process. I like mine lightly golden, but you may like yours a bit darker and crispier, it's up to you. Serve immediately. 

These wonderfully nutty little patties were an excellent side dish for the stuffed pork chops I made last week. They are cheesy but not greasy and the unique texture really added to the experience.  I really loved how these turned out and am looking forward to making them again.

Featured at the Law Student's Cookbook June Pantry Party

Bobs Red Mill 19445 Millet Flo (Google Affiliate Ad)
All-Clad d5 Brushed Stainless Steel Saute Pan, 6 qt. (Google Affiliate Ad)