By Rajlakshmi
January 20, 2026
Ragi balls are also called ragi mudde, and upsaaru is a lentil soup that is usually paired with it. Ragi balls are gluten-free, rich in fibre, amino acids and have more polyphenols than other grains, which helps in controlling blood sugar levels.
2 cups water 1 cup finger millet flour 2 cups of toor dal water ¾ tsp salt 2 tbsp coconut 2 tbsp cooked lentils 4-5 spicy red chillies 3 green chillies ½ tsp black pepper 1 tsp cumin seeds 10-15 garlic cloves ½ cup coriander leaves ½ tsp salt
Heat water in a pan. Add ragi flour to it and mix well to combine with the water.
Cook on low flame. Keep stirring the mixture until thick. Add water, cover and cook for a minute. Turn off the flame.
Grease a big spoon with oil and take out ragi mudde paste with it and place on a plate. Make balls out of the paste.
Make upsaaru. Cook toor dal in a cooker up to three whistles. Separate the lentils. Save the water. Make khara masala next.
Grind chillies, black pepper, cumin seeds, garlic cloves, coriander leaves and salt to a coarse paste. Grind cooked toor dal and coconut in it.
Now, heat a pan, add the water from the cooked toor dal, and add the toor dal paste to it. Stir this mixture.
Add salt to it and let it come to a boil. Turn off the flame.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with ragi balls with upsaaru.