Ragi recipes - Swasthi's Recipes (2024)

Ragi recipes – Nachni or Ragi is one of the most commonly used millet in Indian cuisine especially in dry regions of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and many other states. Many sources say that it was first cultivated in Hallur of Bagalkot district in Karnataka. Later the cultivation spread to the surrounding areas.

What is Ragi?

Due to the ease of harvesting them with minimum water and no risk of pests, very soon it became one of the popular grain among the poor farmers having dry lands in Karnataka. According to various sources Ragi is one of the staple grains in Karnataka and 53% of the total production in India comes from this state.

Ragi is the kannada name to red millet often referred as finger millet in English. They are known as ragulu in telugu, kezhvaragu or keppai in tamil, Nachni in Marthi and Gujarati, Marwa in Bengali & Nepali and mandika in Hindi.

Ragi or nachni is a wonder grain and a power house of nutrition which can provide many health benefits. Being born and brought up in Karnataka, our main diet includes these red millets for our breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I have shared 21 easy ragi recipes using flour, whole grain, semiya and even rava. I am compiling all the recipes here for easy and quick access.

Include this wonder grain in your diet and experience the amazing health benefits. All the ragi recipes are suitable to diabetics and even to babies if eaten in moderation.

Please note that the glycemix Index of ragi is high and also has a good amount of carbs. So it may not be suitable to all diabetics. Eating in moderation along with high protein foods like dal is the key.

21 Ragi recipes or Nachni recipes

For kids
Eggless chocolate ragi cake – Moist, soft and delicious eggless cake that can be made with or without oven.

Ragi ladoo are a quick, delicious, protein and iron rich balls made of finger millet flour, jaggery, nuts and seeds. These are good to include in kids’ diet for their snack. This recipe uses less then 2 tbsp ghee so they are also suitable to anyone.

Eggless ragi biscuit: These are made similar to the karnataka style benne biscuit. They turn very good and delicious.

Coconut ragi cookies : This recipe uses eggs but the cookies turn out great, so delicious and crunchy. They can also be served to babies as teething biscuits as there is no soda or baking powder used.

Ragi recipes for breakfast

Ragi roti is a traditional karnataka style spiced rotti that is eaten mostly for breakfast or a meal. It is served with chutney and kosambari, a vegetable and lentil salad. These are made similar to the Akki Roti.

Ragi dosa: There are 3 ways of making these dosas. I have shared 3 methods : Instant dosa made with flour and another method made with flour and left over dosa batter. Both of these can be made instantly. Serve them with a Chutney or Tiffin Sambar for a breakfast or meal.

Ragi mudde is a traditional dish made using finger millet flour. It is cooked in water until thick and then a ball is formed. It is eaten with a dal or leafy greens curry.

Ragi rava upma is a Upma variety that makes an healthy breakfast. It is wholesome and keeps you full for long.

Ragi malt is apt to enjoy for morning breakfast or in the evening as a quick energy booster. In this post I have shared how to make sweet and salted ragi. Sweet one uses milk and salted uses butter milk to enhance the taste.

Ragi idli – This post shares how to make Soft Idli using finger millets.

Ragi recipes for babies & toddlers

Ragi porridge for babies: Learn how to introduce finger millet to your baby or toddler. This post also includes tips on how to use it to gain weight in kids and babies.

Apple ragi halwa is another great way of consuming finger millet flour with flavors of apple. It makes a good breakfast or can also be enjoyed in the mid morning or evening. There is no milk used in this recipe.

How to sprout and make finger millet flour at home : Step by step guide to sprout and make flour using whole grains. This can also be used for babies, kids and all. The flour can be used to make malt, porridge, roti, ladoo etc.

More ragi recipes

Ragi ladoo : Sweetened balls made with jaggery, roasted flour, sesame seeds and peanuts. There is a very small amount of ghee used in this recipe. They make a great snack for kids and anyone to enjoy after school or as a mid morning snack.

Ragi aloo paratha : Traditional Karnataka style finger millet roti turn out to be slightly hard, but this roti uses aloo or potato to yield soft mouth melting roti. They go great in kids lunch box too.

Ragi Semiya recipes : This post has 3 recipes using ragi semiya. The first one is to make sweet. The other 2 are for making the savory versions – upma and curd bath.

Multigrain roti: A good recipe for folks looking for recipes to loose weight and is also a good food for diabetic.

Multigrain ladoo: Another ladoo variety using differnt kinds of whole grain flour. Made with palm jaggery and can be consumed by folks trying to loose weight or even by diabetic people.

Ragi halwa: Quick halwa made with flour, jaggery, ghee and cardamom powder.