Little Millet (Panicum miliare), one of the small millets, is called kutki in Hindi, sava (Marathi), gajro (Gujrati), same (Kannada), samai (Tamil), and samalu (Telugu).
Little millet is suitable for people of all age groups. Little millet is grown throughout India and is a traditional crop. It is a relative of proso millet but the seeds of little millet are much smaller than proso millet.
It is mostly consumed as rice. Any recipe that demands staple rice can be prepared using little millet. It has the smallest grains, so it cooks faster than other millets.
Little millet is commonly available across the country as a whole grain. Millet flour can be procured from certain sources or more commonly could be made at home. Practically devoid of grain storage pests, the little millets have indefinite storage life.
Little millet is suitable for people of all age groups. Little millet is grown throughout India and is a traditional crop. It is a relative of proso millet but the seeds of little millet are much smaller than proso millet.
It is mostly consumed as rice. Any recipe that demands staple rice can be prepared using little millet. It has the smallest grains, so it cooks faster than other millets.
Little millet is commonly available across the country as a whole grain. Millet flour can be procured from certain sources or more commonly could be made at home. Practically devoid of grain storage pests, the little millets have indefinite storage life.
Minor millets, with their low carbohydrate content, slow digestibility and low water-soluble gum content have been attributed to improve glucose metabolism. The grains release sugar slowly in the blood and slow down glucose absorption. The dietary fiber and resistant starch in minor millets exhibit hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects.
Little millet has a significant role in providing nutraceutical components such as phenols, tannins and phytates along with other nutrients.
Samai dosa, porridge, paddu and payasam from little millet are few traditional recipes in different millet growing states in India.
Nutrient Composition of Little Millet
Nutritional information on Little millet versus other millets (per 100g of raw millet)
Nutrient composition of millets compared to fine cereals (per 100 g):
Nutritional Value of Millet
Millet is counted on around the world to provide basic nutrition for many developing nations. Every 100 grams of millets contain 378 calories of energy, 4.2 grams of total fat out of which saturated fat is 0.7 grams, total carbohydrate content is 73 grams, dietary fibre is 8.5 grams, protein content is 11 grams, folate is 85 mcg, niacin is 4.720 mg, Pantothenic acid is 0.848 mg, Riboflavin is 0.290 mg, Thiamine is 0.421 mg, Vitamin B6 is 0.384 mg, Vitamin E 0.05 mg, Tocopherol alpha is 0.05 mg, Vitamin K is 0.9 mcg, Calcium is 1%, Iron content is 17%, Copper is 38%, Magnesium is 28%, Manganese is 82%, Phosphorus is 28%, Potassium is 4%, Selenium is 4%, Zinc is 11%.
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| Nutritional Components in Little Millets Sama Kutki |
Little millet has a significant role in providing nutraceutical components such as phenols, tannins and phytates along with other nutrients.
Samai dosa, porridge, paddu and payasam from little millet are few traditional recipes in different millet growing states in India.
Nutrient Composition of Little Millet
Nutritional information on Little millet versus other millets (per 100g of raw millet)
| Protein (g) | Fiber (g) | Minerals (g) | Iron (mg) | Calcium (mg) | |
Sorghum
|
10
|
4
|
1.6
|
2.6
|
54
|
Pearl
millet
|
10.6
|
1.3
|
2.3
|
16.9
|
38
|
Finger
millet
|
7.3
|
3.6
|
2.7
|
3.9
|
344
|
Foxtail
millet
|
12.3
|
8
|
3.3
|
2.8
|
31
|
Proso
millet
|
12.5
|
2.2
|
1.9
|
0.8
|
14
|
Kodo
millet
|
8.3
|
9
|
2.6
|
0.5
|
27
|
Little
millet
|
7.7
|
7.6
|
1.5
|
9.3
|
17
|
Barnyard
millet
|
11.2
|
10.1
|
4.4
|
15.2
|
11
|
Teff
|
13
|
8
|
0.85
|
7.6
|
180
|
Fonio
|
11
|
11.3
|
5.31
|
84.8
|
18
|
Brown top
millet
|
11.5
|
12.5
|
4.2
|
0.65
|
0.01
|
Nutrient composition of millets compared to fine cereals (per 100 g):
| Food gain |
Carbo-hydrates
(g)
|
Protein (g)
|
Fat (g)
|
Energy (KCal)
|
Crude fibre (g)
|
Mineral matter
(g)
|
Ca (mg)
|
P (mg)
|
Fe (mg)
|
Finger millet
|
72
|
7.3
|
1.3
|
328
|
3.6
|
2.7
|
344
|
283
|
3.9
|
Kodo millet
|
65.9
|
8.3
|
1.4
|
309
|
9
|
2.6
|
27
|
188
|
0.5
|
Proso millet
|
70.4
|
12.5
|
1.1
|
341
|
2.2
|
1.9
|
14
|
206
|
0.8
|
Foxtail millet
|
60.9
|
12.3
|
4.3
|
331
|
8
|
3.3
|
31
|
290
|
2.8
|
Little millet
|
67
|
7.7
|
4.7
|
341
|
7.6
|
1.5
|
17
|
220
|
9.3
|
Barnyard
millet
|
65.5
|
6.2
|
2.2
|
307
|
9.8
|
4.4
|
20
|
280
|
5
|
Sorghum
|
72.6
|
10.4
|
1.9
|
349
|
1.6
|
1.6
|
25
|
222
|
4.1
|
Bajra
|
67.5
|
11.6
|
5
|
361
|
1.2
|
2.3
|
42
|
296
|
8
|
Wheat (whole)
|
71.2
|
11.8
|
1.5
|
346
|
1.2
|
1.5
|
41
|
306
|
5.3
|
Rice (raw,
milled)
|
78.2
|
6.8
|
0.5
|
345
|
0.2
|
0.6
|
10
|
160
|
0.7
|
Nutritional Value of Millet
Millet is counted on around the world to provide basic nutrition for many developing nations. Every 100 grams of millets contain 378 calories of energy, 4.2 grams of total fat out of which saturated fat is 0.7 grams, total carbohydrate content is 73 grams, dietary fibre is 8.5 grams, protein content is 11 grams, folate is 85 mcg, niacin is 4.720 mg, Pantothenic acid is 0.848 mg, Riboflavin is 0.290 mg, Thiamine is 0.421 mg, Vitamin B6 is 0.384 mg, Vitamin E 0.05 mg, Tocopherol alpha is 0.05 mg, Vitamin K is 0.9 mcg, Calcium is 1%, Iron content is 17%, Copper is 38%, Magnesium is 28%, Manganese is 82%, Phosphorus is 28%, Potassium is 4%, Selenium is 4%, Zinc is 11%.