Ask any Mom in India what she fed her baby during the weaning stage and you're almost certain to hear Ragi featured in the list. That's how popular this millet is, and it's true for all generations of mothers! Ragi recipes are popular all over India, and many regional delicacies can be adapted by substituting ragi in the original recipe.
Nutritional Benefits of Ragi
- Highest concentration of anti-oxidants and phenolic content among all other millets and grains
- Richest source of calcium and iron among plant foods
- Excellent food for growing children
- Builds strong bones
- Curbs excessive weight gain
- Maintains healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels
Baby Food
This is the most basic way to prepare ragi for weaning babies. Indian Healthy Recipes gives detailed steps with pictures that show you different ways to prepare ragi porridge for babies in different stages of weaning.
This is a lovely recipe from Archana's Kitchen that uses an assortment of spices, making it perfect for winters! Skip the salt for babies under one year.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and when it's eaten with ragi, the doctor will stay away too! As your baby grows older, adjust the texture of the grated apples to give him more chewing practice.
Kanji is a simple way to introduce babies to foods other than breast milk or formula, since it contains different kinds of textures and flavors. This salted ragi kanji from Raks Kitchen is ideal; just make sure you avoid the tempering and salt.
This puttu recipe from G K Food Diary is an interesting variation of traditional ragi dishes to feed your baby. For babies under one year, skip the salt, replace the jaggery with mashed banana and use Dry Fruits Powder instead of whole dry fruits.
When you're looking for finger foods for baby, pancakes are your best bet. You can sweeten them naturally with mashed bananas, as in this recipe from G K Food Diary.
Breakfast Recipes
Upma is such a versatile dish, you can make it with any ingredient available! This Ragi Rava Upma recipe from Yummy Tummy Aarthi looks delicious enough to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
With quinoa, oats and ragi, your idlis can't get any healthier than this! This multigrain idly recipe is from Spices and Aroma and looks super soft to the touch!
Ragi dosas are surprisingly tasty, proof that even health foods can be yummy! Raks Kitchen has a simple instant recipe for ragi dosa that doesn't require any soaking or fermenting.
Do you love pooris but feel guilty about eating them? With these healthy ragi pooris from Uma's Kitchen Experiments, you don't need to - enjoy them whole heartedly!
If you have a waffle iron, you absolutely must make these Ragi waffles! These waffles from Archana's Kitchen are the perfect things for kids to wake up to on a lazy Sunday morning!
If you've baked bread before, you might want to try out this Ragi oats bread recipe from Priya's Versatile Kitchen. The result is not your fluffy maida bread, it's got a more mealy nature and tastes very good on its own!
Lunchbox Recipes
While this recipe is a great option for the lunchbox, it is also one that works for the whole family can have! Just skip the salt for babies under one year and make sure the carrots don't pose a choking hazard.
Idiyappam is a popular breakfast dish in Kerala and is quite versatile - it can be had with anything, even plain coconut milk. Kannamma Cooks has transformed this dish by using ragi - just look at those beautiful brown swirls!
Uttappams are a good way to get nutritious dals and veggies in a single dish. Well-made uttappams stay soft even in the lunchbox and this recipe from Priya's Versatile Recipes is ideal.
Many people think that making rotis out of ragi flour will end up in hard, chewy rotis. But this recipe from Tamalapaku will give you soft, easily breakable rotis. The technique is slightly different, but worth it!
One thing is sure, these fluffy paniyarams from Cook's Hideout won't stay in the lunchbox for long! They're sure to disappear as soon as the lid is opened!
Semiya isn't just good for kheer or payasam, it's also good for upma! And when the semiya is made of ragi, it's even better. Akila's Kitchen shows you how to make this lunchbox classic - add vegetables to make it more balanced.
Snacks Recipes
Muthiyas are a better alternative when compared to deep fried pakodas, since they're lighter and better for the cold season. There's a lovely spicy recipe for ragi muthiya at Lite Bite that isn't too spicy for kids.
Jagged, crunchy murukkus are universally loved and they go so well with some chai and conversation! My Kitchen Odyssey has a recipe for picture perfect ragi murukkus that are asking to be made!
If you'd like a savory snack that's not namkeen, you have to try these ragi masala twisters from Archana's Kitchen. With lots of spices, we can imagine this being a hit with hot tea when it's pouring outside!
Which kid doesn't love cookies? Make the most of this 'cookie love' by making healthy ragi cookies. This recipe is free from maida and baking soda.
When kids get tired of cookies, offer them these crunchy, savory crackers from Tarla Dalal. They're so good, you'd better make a huge batch!
When your kids are hungry but you don't want to feed them anything heavy, cutlets are the perfect option. Try out these ragi broccoli cutlets from Tarla Dalal, including multiple superfoods in one recipe!
Beverages
Why bother with commercial 'health drinks' that make false claims when you can give your child the best nutrition in the form of ragi? This Ragi malt drink takes all of two minutes to make and is delicious!
Add chocolate to anything and it immediately becomes attractive to kids! The same goes for this yummy chocolate ragi milkshake from Cook Like Priya. You can cut down on the sugar if you like.
There's nothing like a glass of chilled buttermilk on a hot summer's day, but you can make it healthier - just add ragi! This is a nutritious summer beverage that is miles better than any packaged juice!
This drink from Just Homemade is a lovely, nutritious drink made with ragi flour and almond meal. It is rich without being heavy and is perfect if you don't feel like eating anything but don't want to stay hungry.
Dessert Recipes
Turn the super nutritious finger millet into a dessert that kids will love eating! Serve either warm or cold depending upon weather.
Brownies are always associated with being unhealthy and as a treat to have occasionally. But when they're made of ragi, it changes everything! Get the recipe for this awesome dish from Tamalapaku.
Can you believe that the delicious, sinful chocolate cake you see here is actually made of ragi? Yes, this absolutely delightful cake from Padhu's Kitchen is made from whole grain and is completely egg and maida-free!
Modaks are a well known festive dish in India, but we're pretty sure you haven't heard of ragi modaks before! This innovative recipe is featured on Yummy Tummy Aarthi with an outer covering of ragi and rice flour and a stuffing of sweet khoya.
Don't have an oven at home? Don't worry, this ragi banana cake from Subbu's Kitchen can be made in the pressure cooker. This cake doesn't use any sugar, maida or eggs - it's perfect!
Made from two super foods - ragi and dates - these laddus are more health food than dessert! Make them with 100% organic ragi flakes for more wholesome nutrition.
No Indian festival is complete without some kind of burfi. For the upcoming festivities, why not try this chewy ragi coconut burfi from Blend with Spices? It's sure to be a welcome change!
If you're wondering where you can get ragi flour to make these ragi recipes, don't worry. You can buy 100% organic ragi flour, free from chemicals, pesticides and added flavors, directly from our store. Here are some more ragi products that you can stock in your kitchen:
Some children can have trouble digesting ragi, so always follow the 3-day rule when introducing any new food. Once they're in the clear, you an go ahead and whip up new ragi recipes every day!