Ragi Malt (Healthy Ragi Drink)

Ragi malt is a healthy, filling and wholesome porridge made with finger millet flour (Ragi in India). This is a very good health drink choice for toddlers and kids, easy to make and so much better than store bought malt drinks. This is also known as ragi java and it is a very age old traditional south Indian recipe that we serve to toddlers and kids for breakfast or snacks. Making ragi malt takes only 5 minutes if you have finger millet flour handy. Here is how to make easy and best ragi malt at home.

Ragi malt or ragi kanji as we call it is a traditional and age old health drink from south India. Ragi known as kezhvaragu in Tamil is a super food with immense health benefits. While growing up this ragi malt was the staple drink for us and not the attractively packed sugar loaded health drinks off the shelves from stores 🙂

What Is Ragi?

Ragi is the Indian name for the finger millet or red millet. It goes by the name ragi in Hindi, keppai or kezhvaragu in Tamil, nachani in Marati.

Ragi is one of the super foods with loads of health benefits. It is especially rich in calcium and a must for growing kds. In south India you will find that most of the families feed ragi malt without milk as weaning food for babies. Usually you can feed ragi to kids above eight months. Gradually they start adding milk and it becomes the regular drink for kids in the morning or evening.

Ragi is one those foods that provides internal warmth to the body and helps in building immunity during the season change.

Apart from making ragi malt we use ragi in many ways like ragi dosa, ragi ladoo, ragi murukku, ragi idli etc. I always have sprouted ragi flour handy and it is very easy to make these recipes.

Now coming to ragi malt it is a very popular drink not only at homes but also in south Indian tea shops. People who don’t consume coffee or tea usually go for this ragi malt, badam milk, cardamom milk, masala milk in these shops. So the consistency of ragi malt is just like tea or coffee.

Making ragi malt is so simple and easy if you have ragi or finger millet flour handy. You can even make ragi malt with whole grains. While it is a bit time consuming it is very good for babies and aged people.

You can serve ragi malt as health drink for kids and even adults can have this drink in place of coffee or tea.

This Ragi Malt Recipe Is

Healthy, wholesome and very nutritious

Delicious & flavorful

Gluten Free & vegetarian

Can be made vegan by using water or dairy free milk

Ultimate health drink for toddlers and kids.

Is Ragi Malt And Ragi Porridge The Same?

While few people use the terms ragi malt and ragi porridge interchangeably as far as I know they are not same. Ragi malt is usually sweet drink with milk that has the consistency of tea or coffee. Ragi porridge on the other hand is a thicker and often eaten by spoon. Moreover ragi porridge does not contain milk mostly. It is just water and ragi.

We usually feed ragi porridge to babies as a meal or weaning food while ragi malt is for toddlers and kids in place of health drink or plain milk.

Making Ragi Malt- Two Ways

1. Easy shortcut method as mentioned here using sprouted finger millet flour. This is a very easy method and takes just 5 minutes. If you make ragi malt on daily basis, this is most suited method for you. In fact there is one more instant ragi malt recipe and I make too.
2. Using whole ragi millet. I have given brief instructions for this method towards the end. This method takes time but it is the most healthy version and easily digestible for babies.

How To Make Ragi Malt (With Flour)

For this method you need homemade or good quality store bought ragi or finger millet flour. Making sprouted ragi flour at home is easy but it takes some time and effort. I usually get it from my mother.

Here is how to make ragi malt with step by step photos.

Take 2 tablespoons ragi flour in a pan.

Add 1/4 cup water and mix well without any lumps. This is the most important step for making smooth and lump free ragi malt. Ragi malt with lumps is no good 🙂

Start cooking this in medium flame, while stirring continuously.

After 2 or 3 minutes the mixture will turn thick, glossy and good aroma wafting out. At this stage add jaggery or sugar.

Switch off the flame and add 3/4 cup boiled and cooled milk.

Mix well.

 

Serve ragi malt warm or hot.

Making Ragi Malt With Whole Millet

This method is most preferred for babies or aged people. The advantage of this method is that it gets digested very easily and prevents loose stools that ragi may induce to few people.

To make ragi malt with whole millet pick and rinse 1/4 cup finger millet very well. Soak in plenty of water for 8-12 hours.

Next day drain and rinse again. Add this to a mixer jar with 1/2 cup water. Grind to a very smooth puree. Pass this through a sieve and collect the ragi milk. It is just like extracting coconut, almond or rice milk.

Now take this milk in a sauce pan and cook in low flame until it thickens and turns glossy. To this you can add sweetener and milk or water to get the desired consistency.

Ragi can be introduced to babies after 6 months. Always consult your doctor before introducing new foods to babies.

How To Make Vegan Ragi Malt?

It is very easy to make vegan ragi malt. You can either use just water or replace dairy milk with apple puree or juice, almond milk or coconut milk. As with any non dairy milk, simmer it gently and do not boil.

Can I Make Salted Ragi Malt?

There is a savory ragi drink we make with finger millet flour and buttermilk but we don’t call it ragi malt. It isjust a cooling drink very much suited for summers.

Make thick ragi porridge as mentioned in the recipe with ragi flour and water. Let it cool thoroughly. In the meanwhile mix 3/4 cup water to 1/4 cup curd and churn well. To this add the cooled ragi porridge and mix well. Add required salt, a pinch asafoetida and few crushed curry leaves. Serve at room temperature.

Health Benefits Of Ragi Malt

• Ragi is a rich source of calcium and it helps in developing strong bones and teeth for kids.
• Also ragi helps in maintaining the bone density of women after thirties. Again it is rich source of calcium and maintains bone health for adults too.
• Ragi helps in better absorption of iron thus helps in treating anemia to an extent.
• Ragi is rich in fiber so a small portion keeps you going for long time and thus helps in weight maintenance and some weight loss.
• It is one of the super foods that helps in making the muscles of the kids strong and improves general wellness.
• Ragi is a diabetic friendly grain but you may want to have it without sugar.

With all the above mentioned health benefits, do note that ragi is a not a medicine for any of the above. Continuous and steady consumption of ragi in any form will help in keeping these conditions at bay.

Tips For Making Best Ragi Malt

• Mix the ragi flour in cold water very well without lumps before heating.
• Always cook ragi malt in low flame to prevent lumps formation.
• Switch off the flame before adding milk and stir simultaneously while adding milk.
• You can a pinch of cardamom powder for flavor.
• You can double or triple the recipe.

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Ragi Malt Recipe