Millet and Brown Rice Patties with Tahini and Tamari

Sometimes the easiest dishes are the most satisfying, especially when you are pressed for time but don't wish to sacrifice flavor or nutrients. Take these deliciously nutty baked millet and brown rice patties with creamy tahini and salty tamari sauce. With hardly any ingredients at all, they need little adornment to satisfy the palate and appetite. I've always maintained that millet is an under-appreciated grain, and there is no reason for that. It's always a staple in my pantry, along with the more popular grains such as rice, quinoa and oats.

Notes: I would not recommend using soy sauce in place of the tamari in this recipe. Tamari usually contains little or no grains and is much less salty than soy sauce. Usually made as a byproduct of miso paste, it's thicker and richer than most soy sauce with less of a harsh bite. Depending on the brand of soy sauce you may have in your kitchen, it might not even be fermented and sometimes contains corn syrup and preservatives. Once you have tried tamari sauce, there is no going back after experiencing its more subtle essence.

These do not have to be baked, as they make a delightful and nourishing grain side just as is. If you have the time though, baking them adds a nice outer crunchy layer and brings out the natural nuttiness of the grains. I served them with refried beans and they would also go nicely with a side salad. Because of the protein in the grains and tahini, they would also make a pleasant and balanced light meal along with some thick tomato sauce or salsa.

Millet and Brown Rice Patties with Tahini and Tamari

Recipe by Lisa Turner
Published on September 25, 2015

Easy, hearty and nourishing baked grain patties seasoned with tahini and tamari

Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour

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Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked millet
1/2 cup uncooked brown rice
3 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons celery seed
2 shallots or 1 onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons tamari sauce
1/2 cup tahini

Instructions:

Thoroughly rinse the millet and rice. Soak for 8 hours or overnight in a medium saucepan in 3 cups of water.
Add the celery seed and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until all of the water is absorbed — about 35 to 40 minutes. Quickly stir in the shallot or onion during the last 10 minutes of cooking time. Remove from heat and let sit for about 10 minutes.
Fluff with a fork and stir in the tamari and tahini. Taste for seasoning and add more tamari if desired. At this point, you can serve as is, or you can shape the mixture into patties, like I did here.
To bake, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat an oven to 425°F. Shape the mixture into 1 1/2 inch patties, transferring to the baking sheet as you go. If the mixture is too dry, add a bit of olive oil. If it is too moist, sprinkle in a bit of chickpea flour.
Bake for 15 minutes, gently flip, and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown.

Makes 10 to 12 patties