Ragi Malt or Finger Millet Porridge is a delicious, healthy, and nutritious drink that can be prepared in less than 10 minutes and served for breakfast or even as a snack.
This porridge can be served to babies, toddlers, diabetic patients - people of all age groups.
What is Ragi?
Ragi, also known as finger millet, is a grain popular in Southern parts of India. Ragi is rich in protein, iron, and calcium.
Ragi is known as Finger millet in English, Raagi in Kannada, Ragulu in Telugu, Nachani in Marathi and Gujarati, Mandua in Hindi, Marwa in Bengali, Kodo in Nepal, kezhvaragu, keppai, and ariyam in Tamil, kurakkan in Sri Lanka.
How to use Whole ragi & Ragi Flour?
Whole Ragi can be used to make dosa, idli, and manni (which is similar to caramel custard). At the same time, ragi flour can be used to make RAGI NANKHATAI (COOKIES), RAGI SOUP, RAGI MUDDE, instant ragi dosa, ragi ladoo (laddu), ragi rotti, etc. I will soon share more ragi recipes. Stay tuned.
I am not a nutritionist, but I have a family filled with doctors and aged people who keep sharing benefits on eating ragi. Suppose you know more benefits of eating ragi, comment below. I would love to read.
Health benefits of Ragi Malt or Ragi Porridge:
- Ragi has high iron content. So the deficiency of iron (anemia) can be prevented by regularly consuming ragi in your diet.
- High fibers in ragi will help manage diabetes by slowly releasing the sugar.
- Increased fiber in ragi keeps you full for a longer time, which aids in weight loss.
- For babies, it helps to have stronger bones (calcium) and iron levels.
- Ragi has antimicrobial and anti-cancer potential.
- Ragi reduces any bad cholesterol.
- Post-pregnancy, consuming ragi helps in the production of milk.
Ingredients for Ragi Malt
¼ cup Ragi flour (Finger Millet flour)
¾ + ¾ cup Water
2 tablespoon Jaggery (or sugar or dates)
¼ teaspoon Cardamom powder
½ cup Milk (Use dairy-free milk for vegan version)
How to prepare Ragi Malt | Finger Millet Porridge
Make Ragi Slurry
Add ragi flour with ¾ cup water in a bowl and whisk until it's lump-free. Keep this aside.Â
Making of Finger Millet Porridge or Malt
In a pan, add ¾ cup of water and bring it to a boil. To this, add ragi slurry and keep stirring for 2-3 minutes or until the mixture becomes glossy. Check the video here.Â
Next, add jaggery, cardamom powder, and mix until jaggery dissolves.Â
Add milk little by little as required to reach the desired consistency and simmer for a minute. Switch off the flame.Â
I have garnished with toasted cashews and raisins as I love the crunch it gives to the malt. It is optional.Â
Tips
- To make ragi malt more nutritious, you can even add one or two tablespoons of nut powder (cashew, almond, etc.) while preparing ragi slurry.
- I have used whole milk. But you can use any nut-based or plant-based milk to make this recipe vegan.Â
- Adjust the amount of milk to get the desired consistency.Â
- Ragi malt tastes the best when served warm and fresh.
- Raagi malt thickens when cooled down. In this case, you can thin it down with water or milk.Â
- The amount of jaggery can be varied to taste.Â
- Substitute jaggery with dates. That is, blend dates in a mixer grinder and add.
Ragi Malt for Babies
Ragi Malt is one of the best food you can give to your babies after they are 6 months old or once they have been introduced to solid food. I have given it to my kids only after taking my pediatrician's consent - I would recommend you do the same.
You can follow the same recipe given above to serve for babies. Just avoid adding whole nuts. Instead, use almond or cashew powder while preparing ragi slurry. If you are against giving jaggery to kids, skip it completely, or you can even blend one date with milk/water and add it to the recipe.
Ragi Malt vs. Ragi Ambali (Raagi Ambli) - Savory ragi Malt
Ragi Malt, also known as porridge, and Ambali have slight differences. To make Ambali, a savory version of ragi malt, cook ragi flour in water. Once it has cooled down completely, buttermilk and salt are added to make ambali (a savory version of ragi malt). Finally, similar to how you make tempered chaas or buttermilk, you can season the ambali.
Can I drink ragi malt daily?
Due to high fiber content, if you have a constipation problem, then avoid drinking it daily as it takes a long time to digest.
Video recipe for Ragi Malt | Finger Millet Porridge | Ragi Kanji
Full video here on making ragi malt (porridge or kanji)
Recipe card
Ragi Malt for Weight Loss | Finger Millet Porridge | Ragi Kanji
Equipment
- 1 Pan
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Ragi flour (Finger Millet flour)
- ¾ +
¾
cup Water - 2 tablespoon Jaggery (or Sugar or Dates )
- ¼ teaspoon Cardamom powder
- ½ cup Milk (Use dairy-free for vegan verison)
Instructions
Make Ragi Slurry
- Add ragi flour with ¾ cup water in a bowl and whisk until it’s lump-free. Keep this aside.¼ cup Ragi flour (Finger Millet flour)
Making of Ragi Malt
- In a pan, add ¾ cup of water and bring it to a boil. To this, add ragi slurry and keep stirring for 2-3 minutes or until the mixture becomes glossy. Check the video here.¾ + ¾ cup Water
- Next, add jaggery, cardamom powder, and mix until jaggery dissolves.Â2 tablespoon Jaggery (or Sugar or Dates ), ¼ teaspoon Cardamom powder
- Add milk little by little as required to reach the desired consistency and simmer for a minute. Switch off the flame.½ cup Milk (Use dairy-free for vegan verison)
- I have garnished with toasted cashews and raisins as I love the crunch it gives to the malt. It is optional.Â
Video
Notes
- To make ragi malt more nutritious, you can even add one or two tablespoons of nut powder (cashew, almond, etc.) while preparing ragi slurry.
- I have used whole milk. But you can use any nut-based or plant-based milk to make this recipe vegan.Â
- Adjust the amount of milk to get the desired consistency.Â
- Ragi malt tastes the best when served warm and fresh.
- Ragi malt thickens when cooled down. In this case, you can thin it down with water or milk.Â
- The amount of jaggery can be varied to taste.Â
- Substitute jaggery with dates. That is, blend dates in a mixer grinder and add.
Nutrition
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Sara Welch
Enjoyed this recipe for breakfast this morning and started my day off right! Quick, easy and delicious; definitely a new favorite breakfast recipe!
Ieva
I haven't heard of ragi flour up until now and your post taught me a lot! Will definitely look out for the ingredients when I am next in the International foods shop!
Kate
Finger Millet/Ragi is new to me and I can't wait to get some and try this porridge recipe!
Dannii
What a great alternative to porridge. This looks so warming and comforting.
Eni
Not big on porridge normally but this sounds yummy! You maybe able to convert me. 😊