Puffed Millet sounds like the name of a penguin, somehow. But it isn’t. It is millet turned into a sort of rice krispie style cereal, only slightly less crunchy. There is, however, a snap crackle and pop!
I got the bag of Puffed Millet for a recipe. Once upon a time. And I can no longer remember what recipe it was for, so the bag has been in my kitchen for a while, giving me pause (“what did I get that for again?”) every time I see it. I’m not much of a cereal person in the mornings (or, I guess, ever), but not because I don’t like them. Just because it isn’t my habit, for whatever reason. This morning I was stretched thin in terms of what to bring to work. I had done a meager shopping trip on the way home from the sanctuary last sunday, after the epic day of the Open House, but I hadn’t done a good job of it and I was running out of food to bring to work. Without cooking, that is, and I haven’t had the motivation to cook.
So I eyed the rather large bag of Puffed Millet. Whatever recipe I’d gotten it for, I certainly wouldn’t need the whole bag even if I do remember someday what I’d planned to use it for. So I brought some puffed millet in my handy to-go ware, and put some (unsweetened) almond milk in the handy tiffin that fits nicely inside the to-go ware (with the added benefit of making sure the almond milk stays in the tiffin). It was interesting. I did add some sugar, I have to admit. The puffed millet has a mildly nutty taste, and it wasn’t as crisp as I expected (even before the addition of the almond milk). Not a bad thing, just a surprise at first. (My mouth was expecting rice krispies I suppose!) It was cute the way the little puffed balls would cluster when the almond milk was added. All in all, it was pretty tasty, though not as filling as I had hoped. (Or maybe today was just a very hungry day!)
Though not enough for me post-ride on its own (even after my post-ride fruit smoothie), it will likely be a good pre-sanctuary option. I certainly need to get into a good habit of eating before heading to the sanctuary, and this might just do the trick. I love the ingredient list too: organic puffed millet.
Invisible Voices 
I have a bag of puffed millet sitting on my fridge, to include in my rats food, but I just realized I don’t think I’ve ever tried it! Maybe I should, huh? 🙂 -Eve
That’s funny! Me and your rats could totally chow down together. When I was trying to take pictures of the millet, my cats were trying to knock down my precarious “studio” setup (A folding table in front of the patio door) to get at the puffed millet. When I was done, I put a piece down for each of them. After they sniffed it, they looked at me like I was crazy! lol.
I can’t guarantee you’d like it. It is the kind of thing that is mild and earthy, no wow-zing to it, but I think it also is something that grows on you. Or maybe that’s just me! My mom was a bit of a health food nut when I was growing up, so sometimes I like “healthy tasting” things that most don’t.
But, if nothing else, it is definitely called for in some recipe out there…if only I can find that recipe again! 😀
I used to love that stuff. I would add it to my sugar cereal to pretend I was being healthy.
@Isa – lol. I think that’s the same as me adding sugar to the puffed millet! I say we’re being healthy. 🙂
Oohhhh, yummy! I grew up eating puffed rice, and I accidentally bought the puffed millet once–I love its texture. Yum!
I was thinking that it reminded me of puffed corn, but now I don’t know if it was puffed corn or puffed rice that I must have had sometimes as a kid! Either way it’s probably good to mix things up now and again! Glad you liked your accidental puffed millet! 🙂
Where would you buy this at?
I get this at my organic grocery store. It’s a local chain, like a mix between a grocery store and a health food store. The brand they carry is Arrowhead Mills. You’d likely be able to find it at whole foods or possibly any health food store. I’d also bet you could buy millet (a grain, often found in the bulk section) and pop it in an air popper (like for popcorn). Hope this helps!