Introduction: Welcome to our millet recipe series! Today, we’re preparing a fresh and vibrant Millet and Chickpea Salad using Barnyard Millet. This salad is a nutritious and colorful dish that combines the nutty flavor of barnyard millet with hearty chickpeas and crisp vegetables. Perfect for a light lunch or a healthy side dish!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Barnyard millet
• 2 cups water or vegetable broth
• 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook the Barnyard Millet:
   • Rinse the Barnyard millet under cold water.
   • In a medium saucepan, combine the millet and water (or vegetable broth). Bring to a boil.
   • Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the millet is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
   • Remove from heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and let it cool to room temperature.
2. Prepare the Vegetables:
   • While the millet is cooling, dice the cucumber, red bell pepper, and red onion.
   • Halve the cherry tomatoes and chop the fresh parsley and mint.
3. Combine Ingredients:
   • In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled Barnyard millet, chickpeas, diced cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, cherry tomatoes, parsley, and mint.
4. Make the Dressing:
   • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
5. Toss and Serve:
   • Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
   • If using, sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese on top.
6. Serve:
   • Serve the salad immediately or refrigerate it for up to 2 hours to let the flavors meld together.

Tips:

• For added crunch, consider including ingredients like sliced radishes or toasted nuts.
• This salad can be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator for easy meal prep.

Conclusion: This Millet and Chickpea Salad with Barnyard Millet is a refreshing and nutritious dish that’s packed with flavor and texture. The combination of nutty millet, hearty chickpeas, and crisp vegetables makes for a satisfying and healthy meal. Give this recipe a try and let us know how it turns out in the comments below!

Happy cooking and enjoy your vibrant salad!