Ragi Malt or Ragi Koozh is a popular health drink made in most parts of South India. It is one of the best drinks which can hydrate your body and cool down your system. It is commonly prepared with powdered Ragi Grains, alternatively can soak the Ragi Grains overnight or for at least 8-10 Hours and grind it into a paste and prepare the same drink.  There are different methods and versions of preparing the same drink.  Can add Milk/Buttermilk/Curd/Yogurt to Ragi Drink to make it tastier and healthier. Ragi health drink is a perfect drink not only during summers but it is also suitable all the year through.

      Ragi, also known as Finger Millet/Red Millet is a highly nutritious grain grown as a cereal crop in dry regions of Africa and Asia. It is also known as Ragi in Kannada, Telugu and Hindi, Kezhvaragu in Tamil and Panjapullu in Malayalam,  Mandia in Oriya & Thaidalu in Telugu.
      Ragi had been a part of daily food in South India during olden days.  Simple Ragi Kali, Ragi Koozh and various other recipes, like Ragi Dosai. Ragi Idli, Ragi Adai, Ragi Halwa, Ragi Upma, Ragi Puttu, Ragi Sevai and even snacks like Ragi Vadai, Ragi Murukku, Ragi Seedai, Ragi Sev, Ragi Thatta Murukku,  Ragi Pakoda are prepared from this equally nutritious and tasty Cereal.

• Ragi has a high fibre content.
• Ragi has a rich source of Minerals like Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Iron.
• Calcium in the cereal helps to strengthen the Bones.
• Iron and other Minerals in Ragi helps to fight against Osteoporosis and helps to improve the haemoglobin level in the body.
• Ragi is one cereal grain which has high Protein Content.
• It is also one of the cereal grain which is gluten-free.
• As Ragi has highly complex Carbohydrate and high fibre content, it is suitable to control Diabetes
• It regulates blood sugar levels.
• Ragi also has antimicrobial properties and fight against Bacterias which causes Food Poisoning, Typhoid.
• It also helps to fight against soft tissue infections.
• Ragi helps to maintain a healthy skin and also helps to keep you young.
• The Anti-oxidants in Ragi helps to fight against Cancer.
• Ragi reduces Bad Cholesterol and also prevents from Cardio-vascular diseases.
• Ragi drink is a great recipe for Kids.

Cuisine - Indian (South Indian)
Recipe Type - Drink
Difficulty - Easy
Serves -1
Author - SM

Soaking Time - 8-10 Hours/Ovenight
Preparation Time - 5 - 10 Minutes
Cooking Time - 10 - 15 Minutes


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HOW TO MAKE RAGI HEALTH DRINK/ RAGI MALT

 

RAGI HEALTH DRINK/RAGI MALT - SWEET VERSION

INGREDIENTS :

Ragi Flour - 4-5 Tspns
Water - 1/2 Cup
Sugar/Rock Sugar/Palm Sugar/Jaggery - 2 Tspns
Salt - a Pinch
Milk - 3/4 Cup - 1 Cup

METHOD :

• Mix Ragi Flour with few teaspoons of cold Water and make a paste out of it.
• Mix well until there are no lumps.
• Pour in the remaining water to the Ragi paste and mix well.
• Add the sweetener of your choice along with a pinch of Salt and mix well.
• Boil this mixture on a low flame stirring continuously.
• After few Minutes pour in the Milk and mix well.
• Cook for another few minutes until the Ragi Malt boils.
• Switch off the flame and allow it to cool.
• Serve the Sweet Version of Ragi Health Drink hot or cold.
• Can sprinkle few teaspoons of grated Coconut and a pinch of Cardamom powder to the Ragi health drink, if preferred.

RAGI HEALTH DRINK/RAGI MALT - SALTY VERSION

INGREDIENTS :

Ragi Flour -4-5 Tspns
Water - 1 Cup
Salt - To Taste
Curd/Yogurt/Buttermilk - 1 Cup

METHOD :

• Mix Ragi Flour with few teaspoons of cold Water and make a paste out of it.
• Mix well until there are no lumps.
• Pour in the remaining water to the Ragi paste along with Salt and mix well.
• Boil this mixture on a low flame stirring continuously.
• Cook the Ragi Malt until it boils.
• Switch off the flame and allow it to cool.
• Once the Ragi has totally cooled, pour in the Curd/Yoghurt/Buttermilk to the Ragi health Drink and mix well.
• Serve the Salty Version of Ragi Health Drink, cold.

RAGI PORRIDGE/RAGI HEALTH DRINK FOR WEANING BABIES :

      Ragi drink is one best recipe suitable for Kids.  Moms of all generations would have served Ragi Porridge to their weaning babies, and I am no exception to the concept.  When I started solid food for my kids, I started with Ragi Porridge from 5 months of age for both of my kids.  Whether they loved eating it, was a big question, my son used to spray it out all over me when I feed him with Ragi.  But I am sure the health benefits of the cereal has helped them grow strong and healthy.  I soak and freshly grind the Ragi Grains, sieve it through a clean muslin cloth and cook the extracted Ragi Milk along with fresh Cow Milk.  I sweeten it up with Rock Sugar and serve it up warm with a drizzle of Ghee over it to my Kids. Seiving & removing the fibre from Ragi is to facilitate easy digestion during initial months, once the kids start toothing, can add few Pottukadalai(Roasted Gram Dhal) to the Ragi Drink.  If you have Ragi flour with you make it into a paste, sieve the fibre and extract the Ragi Milk from it, before cooking it into Ragi Porridge for weaning babies.
       Ragi Porridge /Ragi Malt is one the nutritious food which can be induced to babies. It helps build up the tissues during the growing stage, it also strengthens the bones & tooth. But it is always the best idea to check whether Ragi Porridge is suitable for your kid.  As each kid would react differently to every kind of food. Be patient, try different kind of simple and easily digestible food for your kid and decide what kind of food is quite suitable for them. Mainly check for allergens.
     Though Breastfeeding helps kids build up their immunity, gain weight and health, solid food can be introduced to weaning babies from 5 months of their age.  Easily digestible, soft and light, simple carbohydrates can be started with. Initially, it can upset their stomach too.  So for any kind of solid food induce it gradually.
      Care should be taken while using Store bought Ragi Flour. If your kid is allergic to certain grains, then avoid using store-bought Flour.  Alternatively, it would be good if you can soak and grind the Ragi Grains. 
     Also, serve Ragi Porridge with fresh Cow Milk or any Milk Formula available.  Let the consistency be thin when you initially feed Ragi Porridge for weaning babies.  Milk cuts down the absorption of Iron in Ragi.  So it is always advisable to serve Ragi with Milk for weaning Babies.  This will aid easy digestion during the early months.

INGREDIENTS :

To Soak :

Ragi Grains - 2 Tspns
Water - 1/2 Cup

To Cook :

Milk - 1/2 Cup
Water - 1/2 Cup
Rock Sugar/Palm Sugar - To Taste

To Serve :

Ghee - 1/2 Tspn(Optional)

METHOD :

• Clean for any impurities and wash the Ragi Grains.
• Soak Ragi overnight or at least for 8-10 hours with ample of water.
• Drain the Water and wash the Ragi Grains well.
• Grind the soaked Ragi Grains with few teaspoons of water in a blender into a fine paste.
• Collect the ground Ragi Paste and sieve it through a clean Muslin Cloth or a fine-meshed colander.
• Squeeze the Ragi paste and collect the Ragi Milk in a bowl, add water accordingly.
• Repeat the process until you could squeeze out all the extract out of the Ragi Paste.
• Pour fresh Cow Milk to the drained Ragi milk extract along with Rock Sugar and mix well.
• Boil this Ragi Mixture on a very low flame stirring continuously.
• Allow it to boil.
• Adjust the consistency of the Ragi Drink.
• The consistency of the Ragi Drink should be thin if you are feeding it for weaning babies.
• Allow the Ragi Drink to cool down.
• Serve it warm with a drizzle of Ghee, if preferred. 

NOTES :

• If using Ragi Flour, mix it with water to make a paste and sieve it through a clean muslin cloth and extract the milk.
• Follow the rest of the steps above.
• There should be no lumps in the Ragi Paste. Mix well with cold water.
• Can sweeten the Ragi Drink with Sugar too.  Adding Palm Sugar/Rock Sugar is a healthier option.
• Serve the Ragi Drink Warm to weaning babies, this will aid easy digestion.
• Serving the Ragi Drink with a drizzle of Ghee is purely optional.
• If you are feeding this Ragi Drink to kids of 1 year of age, there is no need to sieve the Ragi paste.
• Also can add few Roasted Gram Dhals(Pottukadalai) while grinding the Ragi Grains.
• Adjust the consistency to suit your preference.

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