7 Millet Drinks to Keep You Cool & Healthy

Millets are rich in nutrients and act as excellent natural coolants during summer. Here are seven refreshing millet-based drink recipes you can easily try at home.

1. Bajra Raab – The Cooling Healer

A Rajasthani-Gujarati favorite, Raab is a warm drink that boosts immunity and aids digestion. When served cold in summer, it becomes a naturally sweet, cooling treat.

Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp bajra (pearl millet) flour
• 1 tsp ghee
• 2 cups water
• 1 tbsp jaggery
• A pinch of dry ginger powder
• A pinch of ajwain

Instructions:

1. Roast the flour in ghee, then add water slowly while stirring.
2. Mix in jaggery, ginger, and ajwain. Let it simmer for 5-7 minutes.
3. Serve warm or chilled.

2. Ragi Mango Smoothie – Iron-Rich Treat

This creamy smoothie blends the earthy flavor of ragi with the sweet freshness of mangoes. It’s a great source of calcium and iron, perfect for hot afternoons.

Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp ragi flour
• 1 cup water
• 1 ripe mango
• 1 cup milk or plant-based milk
• Jaggery or honey to taste

Instructions:

1. Boil ragi in water until thick.
2. Cool the mixture and blend with mango, milk, and sweetener.
3. Chill and serve.

The mango ragi smoothie is a glass of health and amazing taste, Picture source: Instagram: Vandana

3. Falahari Rajgira Smoothie – Protein-Packed Fuel

Rajgira (Amaranth) is rich in protein. This smoothie combines banana and peanut butter with rajgira, making it an energizing post-workout or breakfast drink.

Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp rajgira flour (or ½ cup cooked rajgira)
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 cup milk or almond milk
• 1 tbsp peanut butter (optional)
• Pinch of cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Dry roast the flour, then blend it with banana, milk, cinnamon, and peanut butter.
2. Serve chilled.

4. Kambangkool – A Historical Refreshment

A fermented porridge mixed with sour curd, Kambangkool has been a part of history for centuries, praised for its protein, fiber, and starch content. It's a perfect drink to kickstart the day and aid digestion.

Recipe (Serves 2):

Ingredients:

• 6 cups water (1 cup = 250 ml)
• 2.5 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• 2 green chilies
• ½ cup sour curd
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• ½ inch ginger

Instructions:

1. Grind the millet to a coarse powder, then add it to 5 cups of water and mix well.
2. Stir continuously on medium heat until the mixture thickens.
3. Allow it to cool, then dilute with cold water for a drinking consistency.
4. Cover and leave it overnight to ferment.
5. The next morning, blend the curd with ginger, cumin, and chilies.
6. Add salt to the fermented mixture and stir well.
7. Serve with chopped onions or shallots.
   
   Millet drinks are a great way of incorporating healthy fibre into your diet, Picture source: Instagram: Mylapore Kitchens

5. Foxtail Millet Juice – Skin and Hair Health

Foxtail millet is rich in Vitamin B12 and supports skin and hair health. When paired with coconut, it offers additional benefits for expectant mothers and individuals with diabetes by regulating blood sugar levels.

Recipe (Serves 2):

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cup foxtail millet
• 1 ½ cup grated coconut
• Sugar to taste
• 1 tsp ginger paste/powder
• 1 tsp cloves powder
• 10 dates
• 10 cups water

Instructions:

1. Wash and soak millet for 2 hours.
2. Soak dates separately, then remove their seeds.
3. Blend millet, ginger, cloves, and dates with 1 cup of water to form a smooth paste.
4. Add 5 cups of water, strain, and set aside.
5. Blend coconut with half a cup of water, then add 3 cups of water and strain.
6. Mix everything together, adding sugar to taste.
   
   Whether you add these millet drinks to your morning routine or choose to have them after a workout, they are just the right dose of energy, Picture source: Kalkaji

6. Kunun Zaki – Northern Nigerian Drink

A protein-packed beverage, Kunun Zaki is made from sorghum (jowar) and is traditionally served to guests. It can be made with rice, coconut, or sorghum.

Recipe (Serves 2):

Ingredients:

• 3 cups jowar (sorghum)
• ½ cup sweet potatoes (fresh or dried)
• 1 tbsp ginger (fresh or dried)
• 1 tsp cloves
• Sugar to taste
• 2 liters water

Instructions:

1. Clean and rinse the jowar, then soak it overnight.
2. Grind the sweet potatoes, ginger, and cloves into a paste.
3. Add the soaked jowar to the paste and blend everything until smooth.
4. Divide the mixture into two parts. Pour boiling water into one part while stirring until it thickens, then allow it to cool.
5. Mix both parts together, then strain the mixture and add sugar to taste.

7. Coconut Zomkom – A Spicy Delight

For those who love spicy flavors, the Coconut Zomkom offers a unique drink made with millet, ginger, black pepper, and chili peppers. It’s easy to prepare and delivers a vibrant flavor.

Recipe (Serves 2):

Ingredients:

• 850 grams millet
• 4 tbsp cloves
• 5 pieces of ginger
• ½ tsp sugar
• 4 tbsp black pepper
• 4 chili peppers
• Evaporated milk (optional)
• Ice cubes
• Room temperature water

Instructions:

1. Wash the millet thoroughly in clean water, removing any chaff that floats.
2. Rinse the millet multiple times to remove any stones or sand.
3. Soak the millet for at least 8 hours, then drain and rinse it again.
4. Blend the millet, ginger, cloves, black pepper, and chili peppers with room temperature water.
5. Strain the mixture using a sieve or cheesecloth to separate the flour from the chaff.
6. Stir well and add plenty of ice cubes to chill.
   
   Coconut additions to your millet drinks are a wonderful health boost, Picture source: Instagram: Pure Green Smoothies

Courtesy: Recipes and Images adapted from The Better India – Millet Summer Drinks Article