Top 4 Millet Snacks for children

1. Millet Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup foxtail millet (thinai)
• 2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup sugar or sweetener of choice
• A pinch of cardamom powder
• A handful of chopped nuts (almonds, pistachios)

Instructions:

1. Wash and soak the foxtail millet in water for 2 hours.
2. Drain and blend it into a smooth paste with a little milk.
3. In a saucepan, heat the remaining milk, add the millet paste, and stir well.
4. Add sugar and cardamom powder. Cook until the mixture thickens.
5. Let it cool, then pour it into popsicle molds, garnish with chopped nuts, and freeze until solid.

2. Millet Chakli

Ingredients:

• 1 cup finger millet flour (ragi)
• 1/4 cup rice flour
• 1/4 cup gram flour (besan)
• 2 tbsp melted ghee or oil
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp sesame seeds
• Salt to taste
• Water for kneading

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine finger millet flour, rice flour, gram flour, cumin seeds, sesame seeds, and salt.
2. Add melted ghee or oil and mix well.
3. Gradually add water to form a smooth, non-sticky dough.
4. Heat oil for deep frying.
5. Shape the dough into spirals or circles using a chakli maker or a piping bag.
6. Fry until they turn golden brown.
7. Drain excess oil and let them cool before storing.

3. Millet Cutlets

Ingredients:

• 1 cup mixed millet cooked and mashed (use a combination of foxtail millet, barnyard millet, and little millet)
• 1/2 cup boiled and mashed mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, beans)
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup grated cheese
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Oil for shallow frying

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine mashed millets, vegetables, breadcrumbs, grated cheese, garam masala, salt, and pepper.
2. Shape the mixture into small cutlets or patties.
3. Heat oil in a pan and shallow fry the cutlets until they turn golden brown on both sides.
4. Serve with ketchup or chutney.

4. Millet Ladoo

Ingredients:

• 1 cup little millet (samai)
• 1/2 cup jaggery
• 1/4 cup grated coconut
• 2 tbsp ghee
• A pinch of cardamom powder
• Chopped nuts for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cook little millet until it’s soft and slightly mushy.
2. In a separate pan, melt ghee, add jaggery, and cook until it melts and forms a syrup.
3. Add cooked millet, grated coconut, and cardamom powder to the jaggery syrup. Mix well.
4. Allow the mixture to cool slightly, then shape it into small ladoos.
5. Garnish with chopped nuts if desired.

These Indian-style millet snacks are not only tasty but also packed with the goodness of millets, making them a wholesome choice for your children. Enjoy these delightful treats while ensuring your kids get the essential nutrients they need to grow and thrive.