Ragi / Finger Millet Roti

In the quest for healthier food options, traditional recipes often provide a wealth of nutritious and delicious alternatives. One such gem is ragi roti, a staple in many Indian households. Made from ragi, also known as finger millet, this flatbread offers a host of health benefits while being easy to prepare and incredibly versatile.

Health Benefits of Ragi:

• Ragi is one of the best sources of calcium among plant foods, crucial for maintaining bone health and preventing osteoporosis.
• The high fiber content aids in digestion, helps manage weight, and keeps blood sugar levels stable, making it a good choice for diabetics.
• Ragi is a great source of iron, which helps in combating anemia and boosting hemoglobin levels.
• It provides essential amino acids, making it a good protein source for vegetarians and vegans.
• Ragi contains antioxidants that help in fighting free radicals, thus preventing premature aging and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

Making ragi roti is straightforward and requires only a few ingredients. Ragi roti is a Karnataka special recipe which I learnt after coming to Bangalore. Ragi roti can be had for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Here's a simple recipe to get you started:

Ingredients:

• Ragi Flour – 1 cup
• Water – 1 cup
• Onion – 1
• Carrot – 1
• Green Chillies – 2
• Salt - 1 tsp.
• Coriander Leaves – a handful
• Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp.
• Oil – 1 tsp. for the dough
• Oil – for cooking the roti

Method:

• Grate onion and carrot into fine pieces.
• Chop the green chillies into fine pieces.
• Chop coriander leaves finely.
• In a wide bowl, take chopped green chillies, coriander leaves, carrots and onion and add ragi flour, 1 tsp. of oil and salt and mix well.
• In another vessel take water and boil.
• When it boils completely, pour this over the ragi mixture and mix well with a laddle without forming lumps.
• Let it cool down.
• Now take a white cotton cloth and wet it.
• Take a ball of ragi mixture and gently flatten it on the wet cloth by touching water.
• Heat a pan for making roti.
• When the pan is hot, keep it in simmer and gently place the flattened ragi on the tawa and slowly remove the cloth.
• Drissle 1 tsp. of oil and cook the ragi roti till the roti cooks on both the sides. For one side to cook it will take atleast 3 minutes.
• Now your ragi roti is ready to be served.
• Serve hot with chutney of your choice.