Millet With Corn, Mango and Shrimp
Updated Oct. 1, 2024

- Total Time
- 30 minutes
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- 1cup millet
- Salt
- 2tablespoons neutral oil
- 4ears fresh corn, shucked, with kernels stripped off cobs
- 1tablespoon cumin seeds
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 8ounces peeled shrimp, roughly chopped
- 1small red onion, chopped
- 1mango or 2 peaches, peeled and chopped
- 4cups arugula
- ½cup basil, chopped
- Juice of 2 limes
- 3tablespoons olive oil
Preparation
- Step 1
Put the millet and a large pinch salt in a medium saucepan with water to cover by about an inch. Bring to a boil, then adjust the heat so the mixture bubbles gently. Cook, stirring occasionally until the millet is tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Add water if necessary to keep the grains covered; if any liquid remains by the time the millet is tender, strain it out.
- Step 2
While the millet cooks, put 1 tablespoon neutral oil in a large skillet over high heat. When hot, add the kernels and cook, shaking the pan occasionally. Keep the corn in a flat layer until all of the corn kernels are deeply browned (or even lightly charred) on at least one side. Add the cumin seeds and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about a minute. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, transfer to a serving bowl and wipe out the skillet.
- Step 3
Put the remaining tablespoon of neutral oil in the skillet. When it’s hot, add the shrimp, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are pink all over and just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Add them to the bowl with the corn.
- Step 4
When the millet is tender, add it to the bowl along with the onion, mango or peach, arugula, basil, lime juice and olive oil. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Private Notes
Comments
This recipe is terrific and gets raves from family and guests whenever I make it. I recommend cutting the recipe in half, since, as stated, it makes enough for a small army. But don't cut down on the shrimp--I actually add more. I've also found that sprinkling a Tsp.(or more, to taste) of ground cumin works as well as cumin seed, and that mango is a better choice than peach. Also, I chop up the onion and add it to the lime juice for 15-20 minutes-- it mitigates the strong onion flavor.
Not toasting millet first is a crime. See the NYT recipe for toasted millet salad. This recipe was oodles better when first toasting the dry millet in a skillet just until it starts to pop.
Very nice, if unusual dish. Since I don't like raw onion I sautéed it with the corn. I also wilted the arugula in the pan after I sautéed the shrimp.
Next time I would toast the millet in a little oil before cooking, like a pilaf. It was a little mushy for my taste. I think adding a minced fresh Serrano pepper or two would also be good.
The flavors of this recipe were delicious, but I’m not a fan of millet as it tends to turn to mush. I would definitely make this again, but would substitute with quinoa or leave the grains out altogether.
Dish was delicious but was improved by adding 1 T fish sauce while shrimp was browning; sautéed both the onions and mango; used farrow bc didn’t have millet; browned farrow before adding.
This recipe is phenomenal! I’ve made it three times: once as written, once without shrimp and lastly substituting fresh mint for basil. All are delicious. Even with very juicy limes, I added more lime juice. I think this recipe would work really well with quinoa or black rice in lieu of millet.
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