Ragi Idli Recipe | How to make Soft Ragi Idli or Finger Millet Idli (2024)

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Tried and tested soft ragi idli recipe or finger millet idli recipe. Ragi idli is made by fermenting ragi flour along with rice and urad dal.

Ragi Idli Recipe | How to make Soft Ragi Idli or Finger Millet Idli (1)

Ragi or finger millet is one of very nutritious gluten-free grain that can be consumed in the variety of ways. Ragi flour is wholesome and nutritious flour, which I mostly use to make ragi dosa, ragi roti and sometimes Ragi bread and Ragi and Red Amaranth Fritters . In Karnataka, Ragi mudde is part of everyday diet too.

Ragi is a millet and millets have been part of everyday diet till my mother's generation (in some home they still are). But, in most homes across India, Rice and wheat have taken over. Growing up in Haryana, I remember bajra ki roti or khichadi was made atleast one meal per day in many homes.

Though Ragi I came across only when my husband was posted in south. Kids were small that time and paediatrician recommended ragi flour for more nutrition. That's how the ragi flour made it's entry into our kitchen, and gradually we started to love the taste.

Ragi Idli Recipe | How to make Soft Ragi Idli or Finger Millet Idli (2)

How to make Soft Ragi Idli

You can make ragi idli and ragi dosa from the same batter. Just like commonly made rice idli, homemade ragi idli batter also involves soaking the grains, grinding, fermenting and then steaming them to make ragi idli.

For making soft homemade ragi idli, rice, urad dal and ragi are first soaked for few hours and them grinding them to a smooth batter. After grinding ragi idli batter is kept for fermenting and then made into soft ragi idli or a really crisp ragi dosa (just add little bit more water to the ragi idli batter).

Ragi Idli Recipe | How to make Soft Ragi Idli or Finger Millet Idli (3)

Ragi or finger millet is one of very nutritious gluten-free grain that can be consumed in a variety of ways, ragi dosa, and ragi idli are the one's I cook quite frequently.

Ragi flour is high in protein as compared to regular flours and also rich in minerals particularly calcium which is almost 5 times more than the regular grains. So ragi flour is good for your bone health. Also being a complex slow digesting carb ragi is better grain for diabetics.

Ragi is very small grain, and usually whole grain is ground to flour,unlike some other grains where one bran is separated, this naturally makes it richer is dietary fibers and also low GI of Ragi makes it great flour to be included in the diabetic diet.

Ragi Idli Recipe | How to make Soft Ragi Idli or Finger Millet Idli (4)

To make ragi idli more nutritious, I sometimes add some veggies like peas in the bottom of idli plates before pouring the batter for steaming.

Ragi Idli Recipe | How to make Soft Ragi Idli or Finger Millet Idli (5)

These fluffy and soft ragi idli are best served with piping hot sambhar and chutney, just a little bit of drizzle of ghee makes it even more delicious.

Some people think that adding ghee will increase the calories, and that's why they avoid it, but if you add something like ½ teaspoon or 1 teaspoon in your every meal the amount of health benefits far outweighs the amount of calories it adds to the meal. You can read health benefits and how to make ghee here.

More Such Recipes

  1. Soft Rice Idli
  2. Ragi Dosa Recipe
  3. Coconut chutney
  4. Fried Idli and Podi Idli
  5. Chana Dal Idli
  6. Idli Varieties and History of Origin of Idli

If You like this recipe and made it Please rate the recipe. It helps us to reach more people. You can follow me onInstagram,Facebook,Youtube,Pinterestfor more food inspirations.

📖 Recipe

Ragi Idli Recipe | How to make Soft Ragi Idli or Finger Millet Idli (6)

Ragi Idli Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Indian

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 16 number

Author: Rekha Kakkar

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups rice idli
  • ¾ cup urad dal white (dehusked and washed)
  • 1.5 cups Ragi Flour finger millet flour or
  • to taste salt
  • water as needed

Instructions

  • Thoroughly Wash and Soak idli rice and dal in seperate bowls, Soak each of them in water separately for 5-6 hours.

  • Once the rice and dal is soaked, grind them in a mixer grinder one by one by adding little water at a time to form a smooth batter.

  • Transfer them to a single large container together after grinding and mix both.

  • Now add 1.5 cup of ragi flour and salt to taste. Mix everything together. Cover this bowl with a lid and let it ferment overnight.

  • The next morning, the batter would be risen and almost doubled in volume, fold it well.

  • Now grease idli plates and pour this ragi idli batter into each depression in the idli plates.

  • Steam it for 8 to 10 mins till it is done. Insert a skewer to check.

  • take it off the heat but let it remain cover and leave it to cool for 5 mins, and scoop out these soft steamed idlies with help of a wet spoon.

  • Serve these ragi idlies hot immediately with sambhar and coconut chutney or you can store them in casserole for sometime. That keeps them moist and warm.

Related

More Millet Recipes

  • Ragi Dosa Recipe - Finger Millet Dosa
  • Bhagar - Barnyard Millet Recipe
  • Little Millet Pulao | Samai Millet Pulao

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave me your feedback here please

  1. Ram

    excellent recipe.

    Reply

  2. Rekha

    Thank you Ram ??

    Reply

  3. Padmavathy Swami Naidu Chokkapu

    I make easy variety where I mix ragi oats rice flour with curd leave it for few minutes then add add water to make the consistency for idly batter then add cooking soda and steam them as such and sometimes I do tempering

    Reply

  4. seema rai

    i have ragi atta..can i use it?

    Reply

  5. janu2611

    Tried this today. Came out very well. Thanks a ton for a perfect and healthy recipe

    Reply

  6. Sunitha

    Hi , you have mentioned how to soak rice and dal, but what about the ragi grains , how many hrs to soak them ?

    Reply

    • Rekha Kakkar

      Hi Sunita, I have used Ragi Flour/Atta for making this idli SO no soaking required 🙂

      Reply

  7. Shriya Vanvari

    Ragi Idli Recipe | How to make Soft Ragi Idli or Finger Millet Idli (10)
    Can I use basmati rice instead if idli rice is not available?

    Reply

Ragi Idli Recipe | How to make Soft Ragi Idli or Finger Millet Idli (2024)

FAQs

Why is my idli soft but not fluffy? ›

To make soft and spongy Idlis, it is suggested by experts to leave the yeast for sometime so that the batter could rise well. Especially during the cold or rainy days, keep the batter for fermentation for a long time. Also, don't let the yeast ferment for too long in the hot summer days.

What is Ragi idli made of? ›

Ragi idli are steamed cakes made with finger millets & urad dal. Traditionally idli recipe is made with urad dal and idli rice. Ragi idli are just a variation of the basic idlis where rice is replaced with ragi. There are so many ways these can be made.

Is Ragi idli good for health? ›

Yes, it is safe and beneficial to include ragi in your daily diet. Ragi is a nutritious whole grain rich in fibre, calcium and iron. Its gluten-free nature and low glycemic index make it suitable for regular consumption, promoting digestive health and overall well-being.

Can ragi be soaked in water overnight? ›

yes you can... Wash ragi seeds thoroughly and soak them in drinking water overnight. Drain out all the water in the next afternoon. Take a perforated utensil and line it with a clean white muslin cloth.

What made idli soft and fluffy? ›

Add yeast cells to the batter of idli and dosa. The fungus undergoes anaerobic fermentation. Fungi use fermentable sugars and convert them into ethanol and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide gas raises the dough and becomes soft and fluffy.

What is the reason for hard idly? ›

The most common reason for hard idlis is due to lack of urad dal and insufficient water used for grinding. If you find your idlis are hard, just add more dal and use more water while grinding the batter. Add enough water while grinding itself. Even if you add water while mixing the batter, it won't work.

Is finger millet and ragi same? ›

Finger Millet, also known as Ragi is an important millet grown extensively in various regions of India and Africa. Its scientific name is Eleusine coracana. It ranks sixth in production after wheat, rice, maize, sorghum and bajra in India.

Is ragi better than millet? ›

Of all the cereals and millets, ragi has the highest amount of calcium (344 mg%) and potassium (408 mg%).

What is finger millet ragi used for? ›

Ragi, or finger millet, offers women vital nutrients like calcium for bone strength and iron to combat anemia, while its gluten-free nature supports those with intolerances. Including ragi in the diet promotes overall health and addresses specific nutritional requirements for women.

What is the disadvantage of ragi? ›

While ragi is a nutritious food choice for babies, it's essential to be aware of potential disadvantages. Excessive consumption of ragi can sometimes lead to digestive issues such as constipation, and in rare cases, it may cause allergies.

Who should not eat ragi? ›

Kidney Problems: Ragi is high in protein, and excessive protein in the body can cause issues for patients with kidney disease. So, be cautious of consuming not too much ragi millet. Mineral Absorption: One of the acids present in ragi is phytic acid, which binds minerals like zinc, iron and magnesium.

Does ragi increase uric acid? ›

Good Heart - Does millet increase uric acid? Millets- jawar, bajra, ragi, buckwheat – are good combinations of starch and fiber. Therefore having millet roti/ porridge/ khichri etc in high uric acid found to be a safe option.

Does ragi increase sugar level? ›

Ragi has a low glycemic index (GI), which means it causes a slower and more gradual rise in blood sugar levels compared to high-GI foods. This can be beneficial for people with diabetes as it helps to prevent rapid spikes in blood sugar levels.

How many hours should I soak ragi? ›

Soak the ragi grains: Place the rinsed ragi grains in a bowl or container and cover them with enough water. Allow them to soak overnight or for at least 8 to 12 hours. Drain the water: After the soaking period, pour out the water by using a strainer or colander.

How do you know if idli batter is over fermented? ›

If the idli or dosa batter is over-fermented, it may either be too thick or too thin
  1. According to Dr Das, there is a “great difference between eating fresh fermented and stale/rotten food”. ...
  2. *Foul smelling.
Oct 10, 2023

What makes idli puffy 12? ›

Explanation: In the preparation of idli batter, the batter is fermented using bacteria or yeast. During fermentation, CO2 bubbles which are released get trapped in the gluten, thus making idlis puffy.

Why my dosa batter is not fluffy? ›

Not fermenting the batter properly: Fermenting the batter is crucial for making soft and fluffy dosas. Make sure that it is fermented well, check on it a couple of times in the 8- to 12-hour period. You should be able to see a rise in its volume, and it should also start smelling slightly sour.

Why is my dosa soft and not crispy? ›

If the batter is too thick, it can result in a softer dosa. Add a little water to thin it out if needed. Fermentation: Proper fermentation is crucial for achieving a crispy dosa.

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