This sweet and creamy millet breakfast porridge recipe is a refreshing 4-ingredient alternative to classic oatmeal. It is flavored with blueberries and topped with nuts and seeds. It is a truly perfect breakfast to kick-start your day.

If you love porridge-type breakfasts as much as we do, you’ll love these vegan and gluten-free breakfast recipes as well. Check out our vegan tapioca pudding with strawberry sauce, the creamiest vegan rice pudding ever with mixed berries sauce, our easy apple cinnamon oatmeal, or our overnight chia pudding.
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What is millet?
In short, millet is an underrated gluten-free whole grain. 🙂 They are tiny yellow balls with a black dot on one side (see the below picture).
It has several different types, but these 4 are the most well-known ones. If you want to read more about the various types of millet, read FAO’s list.
- Finger millet – This is the most common one. It is also known as “ragi” in India or “wimbi” in Africa. This is also the one I used for this recipe.
- Pearl millet
- Foxtail millet
- Proso millet
I wasn’t a huge fan of millet either before I was diagnosed with coeliac. Not for some time even after that. However, I began to try and test different recipes using millet and after eating these sweet millet balls with mixed berries sauce I was hooked. I love millet now even as a side or in savory recipes.
What to expect from this recipe?
The consistency of millet porridge can be somewhere between rice pudding and oatmeal. Closer to which end only depends on your preference. I love the idea that this gluten-free millet porridge recipe can be made in two ways:
- If you prefer to have a grainy porridge for breakfast, which is similar in consistency to rice pudding or tapioca pudding, then go with hulled finger millet*.
- If you prefer to have an oatmeal-like experience, then use millet flakes* or just grind hulled millet pearls in a food processor or in a coffee grinder.
- I don’t recommend using millet flour* as it will be more like a custard pudding than porridge.
It is up to you really. I tried the first two versions and the ingredients in the recipe card are working in both cases. The first version is more grainy, while the second version is rather a thick and creamy porridge. You can see the difference in the below picture.
If you are making millet porridge for one, we recommend using a coffee grinder, or what I usually use is the chopping bowl of a hand blender*. If you wash your millet, please dry it up in between towels otherwise wet grains are harder to grind properly.
Ingredients
What do you need to turn millet into a creamy breakfast porridge? This recipe is a simple base recipe, but we give you 7 variations below as well. Choose your favorite and let us know how you like it.
- Finger millet -> we used a certified gluten-free product like this one*.
- Blueberries
- Milk -> we used dairy-free milk (almond milk or homemade cashew milk usually)
- Water
- Cane sugar or another sweetener of your choice
- Optional toppings
🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Instructions
How to prepare millet
- As a first step, you might want to wash and rinse millet a couple of times. Millet can have this bitter after-taste if you don’t. The bitterness comes from the hull, so washing ensures that you get rid of any remaining ones.
- A quick note here. There is no need to soak the millet. It will not shorten the cooking time. Actually, you will not see much of a difference at all.
Grinding millet?
- If you prefer to stick to the whole grains version of this recipe, you don’t need to grind. You will have a lovely, rice or tapioca pudding-like porridge, which I personally also enjoy very much.
- If you prefer a thick and creamy oatmeal-like breakfast then you have to use millet flakes or have to grind the millet pearls. You can do that in a coffee grinder, in the chopping bowl of a hand blender, or in a food processor if you need a bigger batch.
How to cook millet porridge
In both cases, the golden ratio (according to my opinion) is by using 1 cup of millet and 4 cups of liquid. For the best creamy texture use 4 cups of milk, but we rather recommend 2 cups of water and 2 cups of milk in combination.
- Take a saucepan or a pot. Add millet and all liquid ingredients. Bring to boil and then simmer over medium heat until most of the liquid is absorbed. It will take approximately 15 minutes.
- Then turn it to low heat and add sugar or maple syrup or another sweetener of your choice and frozen or fresh berries.
- Stir and simmer for 5 minutes until you have a creamy porridge.
Variations
How to make this breakfast millet recipe even better? Here are 7 flavorful variations:
- Blueberry – To make the millet breakfast bowl you see in the photos, we used frozen berries, blanched almond slices, and chia seeds for added nutrition.
- Cinnamon Berries Sauce – Whatever berry you have: blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and a combination of these, you can top it with them or make a quick cinnamon berry sauce just like in our panna cotta or rice pudding recipes.
- Cinnamon & Raisins – Sprinkle the top with some cinnamon or cook it with a cinnamon stick. Add a handful of raisins or other dried fruits if you like them.
- Chocolate & Banana – You can easily turn this recipe sugar-free by adding overripe mashed bananas instead of sugar. It goes perfectly with 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder. So delicious.
- Peanut Butter & Jelly – Talk about classics. How about a swirl of peanut butter and jelly? Just a swirl though for topping. 🙂
- Coconut – If you like coconut flavor, substitute 1 cup of milk with 1 cup of full-fat canned coconut milk (shaken). To go all in add ¼ cup of shredded coconut flakes. Top it with some toasted coconut chips if you have any. And do you know what is perfect to complement the coconut flavor? Chocolate chips! Just like the combination in Bounty chocolate bar.
- Salted Caramel – I don’t know about you, but I love salted caramel desserts. You make a quick vegan caramel by melting ½ cup (35g) coconut sugar and one 14-oz (400g) full-fat coconut milk in a saucepan. Make sure you have sea salt flakes (fleur de sel) not regular salt to make this delicious sauce. Add ½ tsp and check for taste.
FAQs and substitutions
What kind of milk can I use?
We love making this porridge with almond milk or homemade cashew milk recipe). However, you can choose other types of dairy-free milk as well even whole milk (dairy). The recipe should work the same resulting in a delicious breakfast.
We don’t recommend using fully canned coconut milk (full-fat or light, but not the one in the carton) though. It will result in a really heavy, and fatty porridge. If you like the coconut taste though you can substitute 1 cup of milk with 1 cup of coconut milk though.
Can I use other fruits?
Absolutely, whatever berry you have: blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and a combination of these. You can absolutely use frozen fruit as well. No need to thaw them, just add them to the porridge.
Can I use other sweeteners?
Sure you can. I usually use coconut sugar, cane sugar, or maple syrup. I am not familiar with the measurements for low-carb sweeteners like stevia or erythritol. If you do, please let us know in the comments.
How to store it?
You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days without a problem. After that, the consistency will change.
Allergen info
This millet porridge recipe can be made allergen-free.
- Vegan – If you use dairy-free milk then this recipe can be made vegan easily.
- Nut-free – If you don’t use nuts as toppings you are good to go since all ingredients are supposed to be nut-free. Check for cross-contamination info on all packaging you need to use especially the millet.
- WFPB-friendly (whole foods plant-based) – If you need it to be compliant, you should decide on the proper sweetener. Maple syrup, date paste, and coconut sugar are usually accepted in this diet.
- Gluten-free – Millet does not have gluten therefore, all ingredients are supposed to be gluten-free. In any event, always look for the certified label, especially when choosing millet. It is however not a grain-free porridge since millet is a cereal grain.
- Soy-free – No soy product is used to make this recipe.
More sweet breakfast recipes
You can browse through our vegan gluten-free breakfast recipes or check out
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Creamy Blueberry Millet Porridge
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup Millet hulled
- 1 cup Dairy-free milk (I used almond milk)
- 1 cup Water
- 2 Tbsp Cane sugar or sweetener of your choice
- 1 cup Blueberries
- Chia seeds optional for topping
- Blanched sliced almonds optional for topping
- More blueberries optional for topping
Instructions
- First, wash and rinse your millet a couple of times using a sieve to get rid of any hulls that later can cause a bitter after-taste.
- For creamy millet porridge, dry up your millet in a towel and grind it in a food processor or in the chopping bowl of a hand blender. See the video for more visuals.
- Take a saucepan and add millet and all liquid ingredients. Bring it to a boil and cook them over medium heat until most of the liquid is absorbed. It will take approximately 15 minutes.
- Then reduce it to low heat and add blueberries and cane sugar. Stir and simmer for 5 minutes until creamy.
- The millet porridge is ready now. Add your favorite topping. Mine are: lots of additional blueberries, chia seeds, and sliced almond. Yum! Enjoy!
Notes
- You don’t need to grind them. If you prefer to have a whole grain millet breakfast, then after washing and rinsing continue with the recipe as described.
- I used frozen blueberries, but this porridge is – of course – even better with fresh ones. You don’t need to thaw the frozen blueberries as the millet porridge is hot enough to deal with them right out of the freezer.
- The golden ratio (according to my opinion) is by using 1 cup of millet and 4 cups of liquid. For the best creamy texture use 4 cups of milk, but we rather recommend 2 cups of water and 2 cups of milk in combination. You can substitute 1 cup of milk for heavy cream or full-fat coconut cream for a richer result.
Video
Nutrition
When I was asked by the Whole Grains Council to develop a recipe specifically for their Whole Grains Sampling Day I immediately thought of millet. If you don’t know them, they are a non-profit consumer advocacy group that intends to educate people about whole grains and promote their health benefits. So it is not a sponsored post in any meaning, but rather a whole grain and millet enthusiast post. 🙂 This recipe was also featured in their article titled Creative Ways to Eat Whole Grains for Breakfast.
UPDATED: This recipe was originally posted in March 2019. It has been updated with detailed instructions and tips in July 2022.
Kara
I have Millet already ground so how much pre ground millet would I use in this recipe?
My Pure Plants
I just blitzed millet a bit, so they are not completely ground in this recipe. I would still keep the 1:4 millet:liquid ratio. Let me know how it goes.
Lori
Can someone please tell me whether you are supposed to cover the Millet while it is cooking? I know I have to cover it when I am making it as a hot dish like rice
My Pure Plants
Hi Lori, I don’t cover it.
Davilyn eversz
I rinse then let it dry then grind. I often toast it first. I make cream of millet on the stove or in my fuzzy logic zojirushi. Just to mention, there are several brands of white cane sugar that are processed without using bone char filters. Costco carries organic C&H which is vegan. I liked your article accompanying this recipe. Very down to earth – I have also grown weary of pretentious food blogs…reading yours was quite refreshing. Keep up the good works!
Jason Peterson
The proportion for proso millet is indeed 1:4 by volume, or slightly more liquid (contained in the berries). The variation in cookbooks is unbelievable; any less and the porridge will turn solid and burn. The grains cook quickly without any preparation, and make a nice sunny yellow meal. Unless the millet is old, I find that most of the specific flavor cooks off. One could tame it some more and use 1:1 mixture with rice. Maybe add the rice a few minutes later, as it cooks quicker.
Real milk is needed for creaminess and nutrition. Plant drinks are pointless: Just add the seeds or ground flour that the “milk” is made out of.
Marnie
Plant based ‘milks’ are definitely not pointless. They add a wonderful creaminess to this recipe as well as to many many others. Besides.. they taste better, are much better for you health AND much better for the environment.
Katrina L Morris
Being lectin free for 1 year this porridge is the only grain I’ve had. I was so excited to have found it. I replaced chia seeds with pine nuts. I have a full belly, it feels so good! Lol
My Pure Plants
Hi Katrina,
It is so good to hear you liked our recipe.
Cecilia
Can you eat this cold like overnight oats?
My Pure Plants
Absolutely.
Rita Bee
Such a delicious breakfast hot cereal. As we are hunkered down currently I am shopping in my own pantry and realized I purchased millet flakes 6 months ago from local Eastern European market and this was a great way to use them. I added some local honey that crystallized in jar another great way not to waste and use what I already had.
Thanks for sharing your delicious creation. This will become a regular in my breakfast line up.
Happy cooking and eating,
My Pure Plants
We are so happy you liked our recipe. Most people think of only oats for breakfast, but millet porridge is equally versatile. Did you add any fruits, nuts or seeds or only honey?
Sara
I’m lectin free for health reasons and love millet as a rice replacement. So happy to find this recipe for porridge! I used coconut milk, cinnamon and a sugar free ‘maple’ syrup. Turned out delicious!! Will be adding walnuts too:) Thank you!
My Pure Plants
We are so glad you liked it. Thanks for trying our recipe.
Alison
I love oatmeal for breakfast and make it all the time, but I’ve never tried millet! This looks delicious, especially with the blueberries, almonds, and chia. This is on my list of recipes to try. I love that it’s health and plant-based too!
Arun
Great recipe, I love my morning oatmeal. Tommorow giving it a try.
Madi Rowan
This look absolutely delicious! I’ve never made anything with millet actually, I’ll have to give this a try! Thanks for sharing!
-Madi xo | http://www.everydaywithmadirae.com