millet by a landslide: broccoli, chickpea & millet salad

I love salads that are meals in their own right. And a salad that looks like springtime? Well, even better. Better because while the calendar says spring, the weather outside isn’t co-operating. We have cherry blossoms but unfortunately, this week, we’ve had an attack of winter. Yesterday, we even had a brief hail storm! March came in like a lamb but is leaving with a lion’s roar and I don’t like it one bit.

But back to the springy salad. I made a stripped-down version of this salad from 101 Cookbooks a couple of weeks ago and loved it. Instead of quinoa, I used a new-to-me grain, millet. I wasn’t sure I’d like the grain since while I like quinoa, I’m not mad about it. But there was no reason for me to be hesitant…because millet is the bomb. Way better than quinoa in my opinion and even Cornelius (who is a bonefide quinoa-hater) loved this salad too. Millet has a great texture and a really great flavour. This time around, I made the salad with broccoli and liked the results even better. It makes a great lunch and is quite simple to put together. The lemon-tahini dressing has a nice bite and helps to bind everything together in a nice flavourful package. So not only does this salad look pretty on a plate it tastes delicious too.

34 comments to “millet by a landslide: broccoli, chickpea & millet salad”

  1. 1
    S.   March 27, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    I love a colourful salad. Haven’t tried any of the new trendy grains yet like quinoa or millet but it gives me hope that I’m not the only one, and does make me want to buy some.

  2. 2
    kickpleat   March 27, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    romina, indeed it is! i just realized during editing i had removed the link to 101 cookbooks! doh. i tweaked her original recipe (which was delicious) and tried to make my own version (equally delicious!)

    stephanie, i certainly like millet better than quinoa, but quinoa is quite popular!

  3. 3
    AnnaBanana   March 27, 2008 at 8:45 pm

    I love millet!

    I saw it on http://www.whfoods.com a couple of years ago tried it & have been eating it ever since.

    The salad sounds realy good – I’ll probably try it next week.

  4. 4
    LisaRene   March 27, 2008 at 9:20 pm

    We had SNOW today in Washington State! Crazy!

    Millet is a great grain but it’s texture can vary depending on how you cook it. I prefer it cooked 1 pt millet to 2 pts water so it has the texture of quinoa or rice. My husband prefers it when I prepare it 1 pt millet to 3 pts water, it ends up more polenta like and he really likes that.

    Regardless it’s healthy and a great addition to our diets. Hope you continue to experiment with millet!

  5. 5
    Romina   March 27, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    This reminds me of Heidi Swanson’s recipe for a chickpea quinoa salad. Looks delicious!

  6. 6
    Wheeler's Frozen Dessert   March 27, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Hi again!
    Just wanted to pass on this information …

    Boston Magazine recently published an article all about us this month – here is the link:

    Oh Soy Tasty!

    If you have a few minutes to spare, could do us a huge favor and read the article and comment at the bottom of the page? We’re very excited about getting such great press, especially from a magazine of this caliber. If everyone drops by and leaves a quick comment, soon there will be no doubt in any publisher’s mind: YES, readers absolutely do want to know about vegan happenings and developments. Please don’t hesitate to repost the article on your blog and spread the world!

    Thanks!
    Emily @ Wheeler’s Frozen Desserts

  7. 7
    Wheeler's Frozen Dessert   March 27, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Hi again!
    Just wanted to pass on this information …

    Boston Magazine recently published an article all about us this month – here is the link:

    Oh Soy Tasty!

    If you have a few minutes to spare, could do us a huge favor and read the article and comment at the bottom of the page? We’re very excited about getting such great press, especially from a magazine of this caliber. If everyone drops by and leaves a quick comment, soon there will be no doubt in any publisher’s mind: YES, readers absolutely do want to know about vegan happenings and developments. Please don’t hesitate to repost the article on your blog and spread the world!

    Thanks!
    Emily @ Wheeler’s Frozen Desserts

  8. 8
    Wheeler's Frozen Dessert   March 27, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Hi again!
    Just wanted to pass on this information …

    Boston Magazine recently published an article all about us this month – here is the link:

    Oh Soy Tasty!

    If you have a few minutes to spare, could do us a huge favor and read the article and comment at the bottom of the page? We’re very excited about getting such great press, especially from a magazine of this caliber. If everyone drops by and leaves a quick comment, soon there will be no doubt in any publisher’s mind: YES, readers absolutely do want to know about vegan happenings and developments. Please don’t hesitate to repost the article on your blog and spread the world!

    Thanks!
    Emily @ Wheeler’s Frozen Desserts

  9. 9
    Wheeler's Frozen Dessert   March 27, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Hi again!
    Just wanted to pass on this information …

    Boston Magazine recently published an article all about us this month – here is the link:

    Oh Soy Tasty!

    If you have a few minutes to spare, could do us a huge favor and read the article and comment at the bottom of the page? We’re very excited about getting such great press, especially from a magazine of this caliber. If everyone drops by and leaves a quick comment, soon there will be no doubt in any publisher’s mind: YES, readers absolutely do want to know about vegan happenings and developments. Please don’t hesitate to repost the article on your blog and spread the world!

    Thanks!
    Emily @ Wheeler’s Frozen Desserts

  10. 10
    Wheeler's Frozen Dessert   March 27, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Hi again!
    Just wanted to pass on this information …

    Boston Magazine recently published an article all about us this month – here is the link:

    Oh Soy Tasty!

    If you have a few minutes to spare, could do us a huge favor and read the article and comment at the bottom of the page? We’re very excited about getting such great press, especially from a magazine of this caliber. If everyone drops by and leaves a quick comment, soon there will be no doubt in any publisher’s mind: YES, readers absolutely do want to know about vegan happenings and developments. Please don’t hesitate to repost the article on your blog and spread the world!

    Thanks!
    Emily @ Wheeler’s Frozen Desserts

  11. 11
    Wheeler's Frozen Dessert   March 27, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Hi again!
    Just wanted to pass on this information …

    Boston Magazine recently published an article all about us this month – here is the link:

    Oh Soy Tasty!

    If you have a few minutes to spare, could do us a huge favor and read the article and comment at the bottom of the page? We’re very excited about getting such great press, especially from a magazine of this caliber. If everyone drops by and leaves a quick comment, soon there will be no doubt in any publisher’s mind: YES, readers absolutely do want to know about vegan happenings and developments. Please don’t hesitate to repost the article on your blog and spread the world!

    Thanks!
    Emily @ Wheeler’s Frozen Desserts

  12. 12
    Wheeler's Frozen Dessert   March 27, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Hi again!
    Just wanted to pass on this information …

    Boston Magazine recently published an article all about us this month – here is the link:

    Oh Soy Tasty!

    If you have a few minutes to spare, could do us a huge favor and read the article and comment at the bottom of the page? We’re very excited about getting such great press, especially from a magazine of this caliber. If everyone drops by and leaves a quick comment, soon there will be no doubt in any publisher’s mind: YES, readers absolutely do want to know about vegan happenings and developments. Please don’t hesitate to repost the article on your blog and spread the world!

    Thanks!
    Emily @ Wheeler’s Frozen Desserts

  13. 13
    Wheeler's Frozen Dessert   March 27, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Hi again!
    Just wanted to pass on this information …

    Boston Magazine recently published an article all about us this month – here is the link:

    Oh Soy Tasty!

    If you have a few minutes to spare, could do us a huge favor and read the article and comment at the bottom of the page? We’re very excited about getting such great press, especially from a magazine of this caliber. If everyone drops by and leaves a quick comment, soon there will be no doubt in any publisher’s mind: YES, readers absolutely do want to know about vegan happenings and developments. Please don’t hesitate to repost the article on your blog and spread the world!

    Thanks!
    Emily @ Wheeler’s Frozen Desserts

  14. 14
    Wheeler's Frozen Dessert   March 27, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Hi again!
    Just wanted to pass on this information …

    Boston Magazine recently published an article all about us this month – here is the link:

    Oh Soy Tasty!

    If you have a few minutes to spare, could do us a huge favor and read the article and comment at the bottom of the page? We’re very excited about getting such great press, especially from a magazine of this caliber. If everyone drops by and leaves a quick comment, soon there will be no doubt in any publisher’s mind: YES, readers absolutely do want to know about vegan happenings and developments. Please don’t hesitate to repost the article on your blog and spread the world!

    Thanks!
    Emily @ Wheeler’s Frozen Desserts

  15. 15
    Wheeler's Frozen Dessert   March 27, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Hi again!
    Just wanted to pass on this information …

    Boston Magazine recently published an article all about us this month – here is the link:

    Oh Soy Tasty!

    If you have a few minutes to spare, could do us a huge favor and read the article and comment at the bottom of the page? We’re very excited about getting such great press, especially from a magazine of this caliber. If everyone drops by and leaves a quick comment, soon there will be no doubt in any publisher’s mind: YES, readers absolutely do want to know about vegan happenings and developments. Please don’t hesitate to repost the article on your blog and spread the world!

    Thanks!
    Emily @ Wheeler’s Frozen Desserts

  16. 16
    Wheeler's Frozen Dessert   March 27, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Hi again!
    Just wanted to pass on this information …

    Boston Magazine recently published an article all about us this month – here is the link:

    Oh Soy Tasty!

    If you have a few minutes to spare, could do us a huge favor and read the article and comment at the bottom of the page? We’re very excited about getting such great press, especially from a magazine of this caliber. If everyone drops by and leaves a quick comment, soon there will be no doubt in any publisher’s mind: YES, readers absolutely do want to know about vegan happenings and developments. Please don’t hesitate to repost the article on your blog and spread the world!

    Thanks!
    Emily @ Wheeler’s Frozen Desserts

  17. 17
    Wheeler's Frozen Dessert   March 27, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Hi again!
    Just wanted to pass on this information …

    Boston Magazine recently published an article all about us this month – here is the link:

    Oh Soy Tasty!

    If you have a few minutes to spare, could do us a huge favor and read the article and comment at the bottom of the page? We’re very excited about getting such great press, especially from a magazine of this caliber. If everyone drops by and leaves a quick comment, soon there will be no doubt in any publisher’s mind: YES, readers absolutely do want to know about vegan happenings and developments. Please don’t hesitate to repost the article on your blog and spread the world!

    Thanks!
    Emily @ Wheeler’s Frozen Desserts

  18. 18
    EAT!   March 28, 2008 at 4:24 am

    I love salads with chickpeas and grains – I will give this one a try.

  19. 19
    Patricia Scarpin   March 28, 2008 at 6:15 am

    I love salads that are entire meals, too, Kickpleat. This looks delicious and healthy, great combo!

  20. 20
    Bijoux   March 28, 2008 at 10:14 am

    I want to jump on the bandwagon too!! I have cooked with amaranth before and with quinoa and I once tried to make a dessert using millet but it was awful. I really like quinoa salads with yoghurty-garlic dressings. I’m eager to give millet a try as a salad rather than a dessert! I’m hoping the results will win me over this time around.

  21. 21
    cookinpanda   March 28, 2008 at 1:21 pm

    I love quinoa, but I’ve never had millet. This salad looks really nice though. It’s inspired me to give millet a shot!

  22. 22
    liberal foodie   March 28, 2008 at 1:45 pm

    I haven’t tried millet or quinoa. I am little bit afraid to bring it home to find out I don’t like them. I guess I won’t know ’til I try, right? What do they taste like?

  23. 23
    Lydia   March 28, 2008 at 9:17 am

    Always up for trying new grains.

    I saw you on the street yesterday! On Seymour. I was on the bus, otherwise I would have said hi. I was all excited.

  24. 24
    Jenni   March 28, 2008 at 4:45 pm

    Looks delicious! About the weather, I was thinking while reading this post, she must live in NW Washington! Same storm just north of us, we live about an hour south of the Canadian border!

    Anyway, your salad looks delicious, hope to try it sometime! Thanks!

  25. 25
    Tizzalicious   March 29, 2008 at 1:41 am

    I just found your blog on StumbleUpon 🙂

    That looks delicious!

  26. 26
    kickpleat   March 29, 2008 at 9:48 am

    annabanana, this salad is great, even for an old millet pro like yourself 😉

    lisarene, it snowed here too for an hour or so! grrrrr! i’m not sure i’d like a millet based polenta or mush. i like distinct grains, but who knows, it could be a good oatmeal substitute!

    eat, chickpeas & grains go great together!

    patricia, it’s a great combo! millet, who knew?

    lydia, so funny that you saw me!

    bijoux, a millet dessert seems kind of out of the rules of dessert 😉 anyway, i think you’ll like this version as it’s really delicious!

    cookinpanda, give it a try, it’s definitely delicious!

    liberal foodie, quinoa kinda has a peanut butter aftertaste that isn’t my favorite. millet is more like a grain…taste is harder to describe, but it’s bland enough so that it blends well and it’s got great texture!

    jenni, i’m definitely a NW girl from Vancouver.

    thanks for commenting, tizzalicious!

  27. 27
    Mari   April 1, 2008 at 10:00 am

    OMG, I haven’t had millet in decades! My parents used to cook millet all the time, and if I remember correctly, we’d even have a millet porridge sometimes for breakfast. Thanks for reminding me about this grain!

  28. 28
    Browningtonforest   April 1, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    I think I am going to try this! I love that it uses the nutrient packed and gluten free millet! I haven’t tried much with millet- it seems hard to find recipes that use it, so I look forward to this. I don’t love the quinoa much myself.

  29. 29
    Tricia   April 2, 2008 at 6:10 pm

    i’ve been wanting to try millet, but haven’t had a recipe jump up and say “hey! try me!” until now, that is…that looks so good.

  30. 30
    kickpleat   April 4, 2008 at 10:09 am

    Mevrouw Cupcake, definitely sounds like a good way to have breakfast. I’m really going to have to explore this new grain!

    Browningtonforest, glad you are with me on the quinoa! Millet is so much better, in my opinion!

    Thanks Tricia, it is that good! Really 🙂

  31. 31
    Amelia   April 13, 2008 at 7:34 pm

    I tried this recipe out last weekend on some visiting friends. It was a big hit! The dressing is so awesome!

    Glad to have tahini in the house again! ^_^

  32. 32
    zora*rose   April 14, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    Yum, this was delicious…. although I used bulgur instead as I went to two different groceries looking for millet to no avail. I’ll have to take a jaunt across town to the health food grocery to get some for next time!

  33. 33
    Cindy   July 3, 2008 at 10:50 am

    I’ve been looking for a millet salad recipe and this one is the best I’ve found so far. And I have everything on hand – even better.

    I’ve made quinoa but it wasn’t anything too exciting. Maybe I just need a better recipe for it.

    I’ll be exploring your site a little more to see what other tasty things I can find.

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