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Pearl Millet

Pearl millet is a small-seeded cereal grain used whole or cooked into porridges, pilafs, and other grain dishes.

Pearl Millet — illustrative ingredient image

About Pearl Millet

Pearl millet is the whole seed of a small-seeded cereal grass. The dry grains are cooked for porridges, pilafs, salads, stuffings, and other grain dishes, and may also be popped or used in cereal preparations. It is a versatile alternative to rice or other cooked grains.

Its flavour is earthy, gently nutty, and sometimes slightly sweet. The grain has a firm outer layer and starchy centre. Cooking can leave it separate and pleasantly chewy or make it soft and porridge-like, depending on soaking, liquid, heat, and cooking time.

Dry pearl millet is usually sold as round, pale cream, tan, or grey grains. Soaking and simmering soften the seed; less liquid produces a looser grain, while more liquid makes a creamy porridge. Popping produces a lighter, crisp form rather than an intact cooked grain.

Ingredient type
whole food

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Where pearl millet appears

9 linked foods

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Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for pearl millet

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Pearl Millet

English

Pearl millet grain

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Pearl Millet nutrition & diet

Pearl Millet nutritional value

Pearl millet, whole grains (with bran), raw — WAFCT 01_017

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the named food form.

Calories
365kcal
Protein
9.3g
Carbs
64.2g
Fat
5.9g

Per 100 g edible portion. Source: Vincent et al., FAO/INFOODS Food Composition Table for Western Africa (2019). Carbohydrate is available carbohydrate calculated by difference; square-bracketed fat in the source uses continuous-extraction analysis. Values describe this reference form, not every recipe, cultivar or preparation.

Portions & preparation

Identify whether the reference covers whole pearl millet, decorticated grain, cooked porridge, steamed grain, or another preparation. Cooking changes water content and portion volume, while roasting, milling, and fermentation create different forms. Mixed dishes may include oils, legumes, vegetables, dairy, or animal ingredients needing separate consideration.

Compare the right form: Match pearl millet by grain form and state—whole, decorticated, roasted, fermented, or cooked—and use the specified dry or prepared portion.

Diet considerations

Pearl millet is a plant-derived cereal grain. Plain grain differs from porridge made with dairy, pilaf containing animal fat, or batter combined with other cereals. Milling, fermentation, sweetening, and added legumes or sauces change the recipe and carbohydrate pattern, so compatibility depends on the finished preparation.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically compatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically compatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    Depends on the version
  • Paleo
    Typically incompatible
  • Low-carb
    Depends on the version
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Vegetarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Keto · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Paleo · Typically incompatible
This profile falls outside the conventional paleo pattern used here (grains and pseudograins, legumes, dairy or refined sugar).
Low-carb · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: FAO/INFOODS Food Composition Table for Western Africa (2019) — 01_017 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .