A Recipe for Millet Tots This Nutritionist Loves

Good news for tater tot lovers: There’s a new way to enjoy them.

Classic tater tot recipes usually feature potatoes. But these tots make use of a lesser-known ingredient—millet. Unlike wheat, oats, brown rice, and quinoa, millet isn’t a commonly consumed grain in Canada, though its popularity is expected to grow—and for a good reason. This ancient whole grain is one of the world’s oldest cultivated crops. It has a rich history in India and remains the sixth most popular cereal grain in the world.

(Related: What Are the Health Benefits of Functional Mushrooms?)

Reasons to try millet

Americans are now embracing millet as a naturally gluten-free, nutrient-rich plant-based food. Each cup of cooked millet provides six grams of plant protein, energy-supporting carbohydrates and B vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, including magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, copper, zinc, iron, and potassium, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and research in the journal Food Science & Nutrition.

A one-cup cooked serving packs 24 percent of the Daily Value for manganese and 19 percent for magnesium. Manganese plays a role in carbohydrate and protein metabolism and is needed for healthy bones, wound healing, and collagen production. Magnesium is involved in over 300 chemical reactions in the body, including muscle and nerve function, and blood sugar and blood pressure regulation, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Why use millet?

From a culinary perspective, millet is quite versatile. The grain can be enjoyed in place of oats as a sweetened breakfast porridge, blended into a smoothie, transformed into a plant-based pudding, or incorporated into baked goods. Millet also works well in various savory recipes, from grain bowls and soups to stuffed peppers or squash, and plant-based casseroles.

(Related: What’s the Healthiest Cereal to Buy in Canada?)

How to make millet tots

Another fun and simple way to enjoy millet is in tot form. Swapping potatoes for millet results in a crispier texture, to the delight of those (including me) who enjoy a bit of crunch. If you’re new to cooking with millet, don’t worry. It’s an easy-to-use ingredient.

First, rinse dry millet with cold water and strain. Pan toast one cup of rinsed millet, stirring constantly, for about four minutes. Add three cups of water and a pinch of sea salt, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Then remove from heat and let sit for five minutes.

Cooked millet is hearty, with a bit of stickiness. Combined with the sautéed onions, seasoning, and millet flour, the mixture binds easily to form tots.

Serve as an appetizer or snack, with any of your favourite plant-based dips, like all-natural ketchup, cashew “cheese” sauce, or vegan ranch. Here’s the simple and satisfying recipe to make tasty millet tots.

Crunchy Millet Tots

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup minced yellow onion
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup cooked millet
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Extra virgin olive oil spray
• 3 tablespoons millet flour

Instructions:

1. Sauté onions in olive oil over low heat until translucent. Add the cooked millet, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine thoroughly and heat through.
2. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool for five to 10 minutes until it’s safe to handle. Stir in millet flour.
3. Using your hands, form the mixture into 14 uniform balls. Squeeze each tot to bind the mixture thoroughly, so that they won’t break apart.
4. Place the tots on a baking sheet coated with extra virgin olive oil spray. Bake in a preheated 400 F oven for 20 minutes, and flip halfway through.

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