Little Millet in Hindi: कुटकी (Kutki), Samai & Saame
Sources: NIN Hyderabad, ICMR, USDA FoodData Central
Little millet in Hindi is कुटकी (kutki). It is a tiny, pale grain, botanical name Panicum sumatrense, and one of the five Siridhanya, or "positive", millets. In Tamil it is சாமை (samai), in Kannada ಸಾಮೆ (saame) and in Telugu సామలు (samalu).
Looking for the other grains? See all millets in Hindi in one chart.
What is little millet (kutki)?
Kutki is a small, hardy millet that grows on poor soil with little rain, which is why it has long been grown in the dry and hilly farms of central and South India. The grain is very small and cooks quickly, so it is an easy first millet for people moving from rice.
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Little millet names in Hindi and other languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Little millet |
| Hindi | कुटकी (Kutki) |
| Tamil | சாமை (Samai) |
| Kannada | ಸಾಮೆ (Saame) |
| Telugu | సామలు (Samalu) |
| Malayalam | ചാമ (Chama) |
So samai, saame and samalu are all little millet, the same grain as kutki.
Kutki is not sanwa or kangni
Three small millets are often mixed up in Hindi:
- कुटकी (kutki) is little millet.
- सांवा (sanwa) is barnyard millet.
- कंगनी (kangni) is foxtail millet.
In Ayurveda shops, "kutki" is also the name of a bitter medicinal root (Picrorhiza kurroa). That is a herb, not this food grain.
Nutrition snapshot (per 100 g)
| Nutrient | Little Millet |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~329 kcal |
| Protein | 7.7g |
| Fat | 4.7g |
| Fibre | 7.6g |
| Carbohydrates | 67g |
| Calcium | 17mg |
Full nutrition and benefits: Little millet benefits
How to cook kutki
- Wash 1 cup of kutki 2–3 times and soak it for at least 30 minutes (6–8 hours is best).
- Drain, add 2½ cups of water and cook covered on a low flame for about 15 minutes, or 3 whistles in a pressure cooker.
- Rest it covered for 5 minutes and fluff with a fork.
Kutki cooks fast, so check it a few minutes early the first time. Use it in place of rice, or make kutki khichdi, upma with little millet rava, or samai pongal.
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Frequently asked questions
What is little millet called in Hindi?
Little millet is कुटकी (kutki) in Hindi.
What is samai in Hindi?
Samai (சாமை) is the Tamil name for little millet, which is kutki in Hindi.
Is kutki the same as sanwa?
No. Kutki is little millet; sanwa is barnyard millet. They look alike but are different grains.
Is kutki millet the same as kutki herb?
No. Kutki the millet is a food grain. Kutki the herb is a bitter medicinal root (Picrorhiza kurroa).
Sources & References
- Orggu, Millet names in Hindi
- Orggu, Millet names in Indian languages
