are ragi malt or ragi porridge the same ?

ragi malt is a healthy breakfast drink made with ragi flour or sprouted ragi flour, water or milk. ragi porridge is a thicker version. though both the names ragi malt and ragi porridge are used interchangeably.

specifically, malt is the word used for drinks made with sprouted grains. even though i have used ragi flour, but even sprouted ragi flour can be used to make this nutritious drink. i have also not used milk as milk makes the malt heavy. so i avoid adding milk and make the malt with water.

i make ragi malt for breakfast at least twice a week. thus sharing the recipe. i also make ragi malt with soaked ragi seeds which require some extensive preparation, but making ragi malt with ragi flour is a breeze and gets done in less than 15 minutes. so sharing this quick method of making ragi malt with ragi flour. i personally prefer making ragi porridge with ragi flour as it gets done quickly.

ragi porridge has been a tradition in my family from decades. it was given to growing up kids, family members convalescing from an illness and aged family members. from my mother, i have learned many ragi recipes and they have been shared on the blog too.

ragi malt – 2 ways

1. ragi malt can be made both sweet and savory. in this recipe post, i am sharing the sweet ragi malt recipe.
2. for the savory version, ragi mixture is cooked in water. then after cooling in this ragi mixture, buttermilk is added. some more ingredients like cumin powder, onions, curry leaves etc can also be added. this savory ragi malt is called as ragi ambli and is a cooling drink.

what about this ragi malt recipe ?

• using this technique of making ragi malt won’t give you any lumps. the ragi malt will be smooth and without any lumps.
• very easy to make and takes less than 15 minutes right from start to finish.
• a forgiving recipe and more water or more ragi flour can be added as per your needs. the recipe can be halved, doubled or tripled easily.
• nuts, dry fruits and flavorings of your choice can be added. i always add cardamom powder and a few almonds or cashews.
• only water is used to make ragi malt as milk makes the ragi malt heavy. so this ragi malt recipe is a vegan recipe. though if you prefer, you can add half-half of water or milk or only milk.
• jaggery is added in the ragi malt instead of sugar. in the absence of jaggery, you can add sugar. for diabetics skip jaggery or sugar entirely.
• both ragi flour and sprouted ragi flour can be used to make this ragi malt recipe.

health benefits of ragi malt

1. help in weight loss.
2. keeps the bones strong and prevents conditions like osteoporosis due to ragi being an excellent source of calcium. 100 grams of ragi contains approx 350 mg of calcium. women should have foods with a good calcium content as with age deficiency of calcium can occur making the bones porous. thus it is beneficial for women to include ragi in their meals. ragi is also good for growing up kids.
3. get rids of anemia as ragi is rich in iron.
4. ragi is also a good source of proteins. thus making it an excellent source for protein intake for vegetarians.
5. good for people having diabetes.
6. helps in reducing cholesterol.
7. ragi is good for people who have an aggravated pitta dosha.
8. being gluten-free grain, ragi can be easily consumed in a gluten-free diet.

few points to keep in mind when having ragi

• ragi has a cooling nature. so best consumed during summers and hot seasons.
• folks suffering from kidney stone problem should not consume ragi.
• include more water when having ragi. when foods high in fibre are included in the diet, then more water has to be consumed. taking less water will cause constipation.
• have ragi in moderation in your diet. do not include ragi in excess as it may cause kidney stone problem due to it being a rich source of calcium.

how to make ragi malt

making ragi slurry

1. take 4 tablespoons ragi flour or sprouted ragi flour in a mixing bowl.

2. add ½ cup water.

3. using a small wired whisk or spoon mix the ragi flour with the water very well. there should be no lumps.

cooking ragi for ragi porridge

4. in a heavy or thick-bottomed saucepan or pan, take 2 cups of water. bring the water to a rolling boil on medium to medium-high flame. do note that depending on the quality of ragi flour, you can add less or more water. also for a thinner ragi malt, add more water and for a thick ragi porridge add less water.

5. then lower the flame and in a steady stream add the ragi slurry.

6. keeping the flame to a low, mix the ragi slurry in the hot water with a wired whisk or spoon.

7. simmer and cook on a low flame. the ragi solution will look thin initially but on cooking further will begin to thicken.

8. in between do stir at intervals with a wired whisk or spoon.

9. the mixture will thicken gradually.

10. overall cook for 10 to 12 minutes after adding the ragi slurry. the mixture will thicken more by this time. before proceeding to the next step, the ragi should be completely cooked. there should be no rawness in the taste. you can take a bit of the mixture in a spoon and taste it to check the raw taste.

making ragi malt

11. once the ragi has cooked completely, add 6 tablespoons jaggery powder or add as per taste. you can even add sugar. sweeteners like jaggery or sugar can also be skipped entirely for a diabetic friendly option.

11. mix again very well till all of the jaggery gets dissolved. if in case the ragi porridge becomes thick then add some more water.

note on jaggery: i have used organic jaggery powder and thus have not filtered its syrup. if using jaggery with many impurities, then mix it in ¼ cup water in a small pan. keep the pan on a low to medium flame and stir till all jaggery is dissolved. then strain the jaggery solution and add in the ragi malt.

12. add ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder.

13. next, add 1 tablespoon chopped cashews or cashew powder. you can even use chopped almonds. for small kids or toddlers, you can use blanched almond powder. various dry fruits and nuts or nut powder of your choice like add dates, pistachios, raisins etc can be added. nuts can also be skipped.

14. mix very well. ragi porridge will thicken more on cooling.

15. serve ragi malt hot or warm or at room temperature.