Barnyard Millet Ganji is quick, easy, healthy and wholesome porridge recipe. Adding Barnyard Millet, to Ganji is nutritious twist to regular ganji | kanji recipe. Ganji made with millet is nutritious, comforting, filling, vegan and gluten-free.
What is Ganji?
Ganji or Kanji or Nombu Kanji (in Tamil) is light, gentle on tummy and easy to make savory porridge recipe. This is often made in Iftar during Ramadan.
In Andhra Ramadan Ganji is made using fine semolina and minced mutton in most of the places.
Ganji in Kerala is called Kanji as is made with raw rice, shallots and cumin. It is called Jeerakanji.
In Tamil Nadu, Ganji is called Nombu Kanji and is made with rice, coconut milk and moong dal as main ingredients.
In Karnataka, Ganji is made with rice and fresh coconut. This Akki Ganji is tempered with mustard, cumin and ghee.
Different Types of Ganji
There are many varieties and variations in making Ganji. Apart from making it during Ramadan, Ganji is also made for new moms and for the ones who are healing from injuries or when mood calls for light and gentle food. Here are few different ganji recipes to try,
Why Millet Ganji?
Ganji is my family favorite iftar and light meal recipe. As I make ganji often, I try many different varieties of ganji. I sometimes add vegetables like carrots, peas, beans, etc; and sometimes add chicken mince or mutton mince to ganji. This will make this porridge wholesome and even more delicious.
Benefits of Ganji
I make ganji often not only during Ramadan but also as snack or light meal on days when I crave for light meal. Hence, I keep looking out for variations in making Ganji. After trying Millet Daleem, which was instant hit with my family and readers. I thought of tying out this millet ganji.
Millet Ganji is,
- Wholesome
- Light
- Gentle on tummy
- Vegan
- Gluten-Free
- Plant Based
Tips to make best millet ganji
Wash and soak the millet for 5-6 hours before cooking. Soaked millet will cook fast and soft.
Vegetable stock or broth will increase the nutrition level and taste in the ganji recipe.
I used Branyard millet in making this ganji, you can use any millet available to make this ganji.
You can add powder or whole garam masala spices (cardamom, cinnamon and clove) to make ganji recipe.
Barnyard Millet Ganji

Barnyard Millet Ganji is quick, easy, healthy and wholesome porridge recipe. Adding Barnyard Millet, to Ganji is nutritious twist to regular ganji | kanji recipe.
Ingredients
- ½ cup Millet, I used Barnyard Millet
- {soaked in water for 3-4 hours)
- 6 cups Water | Vegetable stock
- 1 Onion, sliced
- 1 Tomato, chopped
- 2 Green chilies, roughly chopped
- ½ tbsp. Ginger-Garlic paste
- ¼ tbsp. Garam Masala
- Salt
- 1 ½ tbsp. Oil | Ghee
- 15 fresh Mint Leaves
- 10-12 sprigs fresh Coriander leaves, roughly chopped
FOR TOPPING:
- Roasted Chivda | Fresh Kara Boondi
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
How to make Barnyard Millet Ganji
- Add oil to a heavy bottom saucepan and fry sliced onions till translucent.
- Now add chopped tomatoes and chopped green chilies. Fry till tomatoes turn mushy.
- Add ginger-garlic paste and fry till raw smell wafts.
- Now add mint leaves and coriander leaves. Fry till leaves starts to wilt.
- Add 6 cups of water or stock and continue to boil. Boil until the consistency is reduced to 2/3rd.
- Add in salt and garam masala. When the water starts to boil, add in soaked millet. Stir well and cook on low flame for 10 minutes.
- Stir and turn off the flame. Serve warm.
- Add love to make this Millet Ganji taste ‘Yummy’.
Notes
Lubna’s Serving Suggestions:
Generally, ganji is served by topping it with kara boondi. But as I am making a healthy version of ganji, I added homemade roasted chivda.
Serve millet ganji by topping with chivda and lemon wedges.
You can serve ganji in Iftar along with dates and juice.
A Quick Iftar Platter Menu:
Dates + Fruit Bowl + Millet Ganji + Sharbat -e- Rooh Afza or Lemonade.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 211Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 389mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 5gSugar: 4gProtein: 5g
Shinta Simon says
This is so comforting and nourishing! I have to try it out soon. Thanks for sharing
Danielle Wolter says
This came out so delicious! I love flavor packed dishes like this. Thanks!
Allyssa says
Thanks a lot for sharing this very helpful recipe! loved it!
Julia says
I like this healthy version. It is looking very flavourful!
Kate says
I was lucky enough to find some millet from my local oriental supermarket. This millet ganji was so flavorful, looking forward to making it again.