Ways to add ragi to your daily diet

• Ragi returns as a modern superfood rich in calcium and iron
• Versatile recipes include dosa, idli, roti, and healthy snacks
• Use it to replace flour in cakes or as a nutritious drink base

Ragi, or finger millet, is making a well-deserved comeback from a traditional staple to a modern superfood. Packed with calcium, iron, and fibre, this humble grain is a powerhouse of nutrition that's surprisingly easy and delicious to cook with.

Start Your Day Strong

Breakfast is the perfect time to introduce ragi into your diet. For a quick and savoury option, an instant ragi dosa is a winner. Simply mix ragi flour with rice flour, fine semolina, curd, water, and finely chopped onions and chillies for a batter that needs no fermentation. Another fantastic option is soft ragi idlis, made by adding ragi flour to your regular idli batter. If you prefer a sweet start, ragi pancakes are a modern favourite. A simple batter of ragi flour, a ripe banana, milk, and a touch of jaggery creates fluffy pancakes that offer sustained energy. And for a comforting classic, a warm bowl of ragi porridge or malt, sweetened with jaggery and perhaps flavoured with cardamom, is both nourishing and filling.

Wholesome Main Meals

One of the most straightforward ways to include ragi in your main meals is by making ragi roti. The secret to soft ragi rotis is using hot water to knead the dough, which makes it more pliable. You can add chopped onions, coriander, and spices to the dough for a more flavourful version. In South Karnataka, ragi mudde, or soft-cooked balls of ragi flour, are a staple. These nutritious balls are traditionally served with a flavourful sambar or curry and are made by cooking ragi flour in boiling water until it forms a thick, dough-like consistency before being shaped.

Healthy, Guilt-Free Snacking

Ragi is incredibly versatile for creating healthy snacks. Ragi laddoos are a quick and nutritious treat made with just roasted ragi flour, jaggery, and a bit of ghee. For a savoury crunch, you can try making ragi murukku (chakli), which gets its crispiness from a blend of ragi and rice flour. Ragi pakodas are another excellent tea-time snack; mixing ragi flour with besan, sliced onions, and spices creates a crispy fritter. For a baked option, consider replacing some of the regular flour in your cookie or brownie recipes with ragi flour for a nutrient-dense and flavourful twist. You can even make healthy baked ragi crackers to pair with your favourite dip.

Nourishing Drinks

Beyond solid food, ragi makes for incredibly nourishing beverages. Ragi malt, also known as ragi java, is a popular drink across India. It can be prepared in two ways: sweet or savoury. The sweet version involves cooking ragi flour with water or milk and sweetening it with jaggery. The savoury version is cooked with water and salt, then mixed with buttermilk and sometimes seasoned with cumin and curry leaves. For a modern twist, you can even blend cooked and cooled ragi into a smoothie with fruits like banana and mango for a refreshing and filling drink.

Innovative and Modern Twists

Don't limit ragi to just traditional recipes. The earthy flavour of ragi flour lends itself well to modern baking. You can substitute a portion of all-purpose flour with ragi flour in recipes for chocolate cake, creating a moister and richer dessert. For a fun breakfast, ragi waffles are a great alternative to pancakes. It can also be used to make a healthy, gluten-free pizza base. For those who enjoy savoury vegetable-filled bites, ragi appe (paniyaram) is a fantastic option, made by steaming a batter of ragi, sooji, and vegetables in a special pan.