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While millets and millet recipes are catching the world's attention, finger millet, or ragi, is rapidly becoming one of the most sought-after ingredients. It can be a wheat substitute, or an all-purpose flour substitute in making delicacies like dosa, cookies, pancakes, etc.
Video Credit: Chef Kunal Kapur/ YouTube
For the past couple of years, famous chefs and experienced home chefs have been experimenting and teaching people how one could use ragi to make gluten-free snacks and indulge in loads of guilt-free munching. Right from sweets and baked goods to rotis and savoury dishes, here are some healthy snacks you can whip up with this one ingredient.
Ragi Mudde
Although quite popular in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, this is a unique preparation wherein the ragi flour is cooked in water until you have a binding paste with a dough-like consistency. It is diving and shaped into balls which are then served with a delicious coconut-based curry, sambar, or yoghurt. It is a delicious meal you can prepare in no time if you have leftover sambar.
Ragi Pancakes
If you are done with pancakes made with maida, you should make ragi the star ingredient of your recipe. Whether you like savoury or sweet pancakes, the finger millet is perfect for cooking a delicious batch of guilt-free snacks. For the sweet version, you can add mashed bananas or chunky fruits to the batter. If you like the salty kind, also referred to as uttapam, add your favourite vegetables to the mix and prepare a healthy dish to savour with chutney and ketchup.
Ragi Porridge
Porridge is a healthy sweet snack that you can consume during any time of the day. It is lightweight to digest and fulfilling. If you have it for breakfast, you won’t feel hungry till lunch. This delightful dish can be prepared by cooking ragi in milk and sugar or natural sweeteners (if you prefer). Make it more nutritious by adding crushed dry fruits, raisins, and coarse cardamom powder.
Also Read: Guilt-Free Snacks For Untimely Hunger Pangs
Ragi Idli
Ask any Indian, they will tell you that idli is the most versatile and delicious snack that you can relish on any day. Instead of rice, ragi can be used to amplify the nutritional value of the steamed cakes. Combine the finger millet flour with urad dal paste to prepare the batter. Serve this with coconut chutney, tomato chutney, and sambar. You can make stuffed idli or fry them with sliced onions, turmeric powder, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and slit green chillies.
Ragi Cookies
Cookies are brilliant companions while travelling or to manage hunger pangs in the office. One of the things that vegans and vegetarians can enjoy about these baked goodies is the fact that they can be made without eggs. You only need the ragi flour, ghee, and jaggery. Add some seasoning or dry fruits and bake the goodies till they are crispy. Enjoy them with milk or tea.
Ragi Dosa
Similar to ragi idli, you can also make ragi dosa. This mouth-watering South Indian recipe will be a nice add-on to your diet if you want to keep yourself healthy and fit. You can make paper dosa, masala dosa, cheese dosa, etc. Mix ragi and rice flour to prepare the batter that renders your dosa crispy in texture and offers nutrition to your body. It can be served with coconut chutney, sambar, rasam, or tomato chutney.
Ragi Upma
Video Credit: Hebbar's Kitchen/ YouTube
Upma is one of those soothing and nutritious snacks to devour. This South Indian recipe comes as the perfect breakfast—not only light on the stomach but also healthy, yummy, and quick to cook. It is typically made with rava; however, you can replace it with ragi. Now sauté mustard seeds, slit green chillies, urad dal, chana dal, turmeric, and curry leaves. Add the ragi flour and water. On low flame, allow the ingredients to cook until thickened. Serve and enjoy!
