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Xiaomi zhou (golden millet porridge)
小米粥 · northern China's simple yellow millet porridge for breakfast and supper
In Shanxi, Hebei and the rest of the north, where rice was once a luxury, a pot of golden foxtail millet porridge is breakfast with steamed buns and pickles, a light supper, and the first food given to new mothers and anyone who is unwell. It needs just millet and water, cooked until a thin, silky layer called mi you, 'rice oil', forms on top. The common mistake is to stir it constantly or add the millet to cold water; start with boiling water and let it simmer gently and it turns creamy without catching. Serve it plain, or with a few red dates or cubes of pumpkin simmered in. Chef's tip: toast the rinsed millet in a dry pan for a minute before boiling for a deeper, nutty flavour.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 3 ½ oz hulled yellow millet
- 5 cups water
- 4 dried red dates (jujubes) (optional)pitted
- 5 ½ oz pumpkin (optional)peeled, in 2 cm cubes
To serve
- 2 ⅛ oz Chinese pickled vegetablesto eat alongside
- 1 tbsp brown sugar (optional)if you like it sweet
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Rinse 3 ½ oz hulled yellow millet in a sieve under cold running water until it runs clear. Shake dry.
Step 2: Bring 5 cups water to a rolling boil in a heavy pan. Pour in the millet, and 4 dried red dates (jujubes) and 5 ½ oz pumpkin if using, and stir once so nothing settles on the bottom.
5 minStep 3: When it boils again, turn the heat to low so it just bubbles and cook uncovered for 25–30 minutes, stirring only every 10 minutes. It is ready when the grains have burst, the porridge is thick and creamy and a shiny golden skin forms on top when you stop stirring.
30 minStep 4: Take off the heat and rest for 2 minutes. Ladle into bowls and serve hot with 2 ⅛ oz Chinese pickled vegetables, or with 1 tbsp brown sugar stirred in for children.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 110 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 23 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does xiaomi zhou (golden millet porridge) take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
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