Ragi (Finger Millet) Roti

Ragi or Finger Millet is a power filled and protein rich food. This is many times made as a breakfast porridge. If you travel to remote villages in India, the farmers have this for breakfast so they have a whole bountiful of energy to get through farming and walking all day in the fields. I've also heard from the wise old people that eating this regularly helps in maintaining strong knees and legs. So, if you're planning to get old and wise, start eating this now. 

Ragi roti, is an easy recipe to start with if you are new to this grain. These are just flat breads, spiced up with flavorful seasonings. I don't even need a side dip or dish to eat this with. Just love to bite them and  chow them down. 

Start with about 2 cups of ragi flour. Add about 1/2 cup each of regular atta and 1/2 cup of rice flour. The rice flour helps to make the rotis crispy.

Here's all these seasonings that go in the roti.

Chopped Onions - 1 cup
Chopped green chilli - about 2-3 chopped finely
Chopped Ginger - about 2 tsps
Chopped Cilantro - a small bunch (you can only see a little on my chopping board ..please take a little bit more than this)

In a small pan, add about 2 tsps oil. When the oil is hot, add all of these following ingredients -

Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Chopped green chilli
Chopped ginger
Chopped onions

Saute the onions till they are cooked and turn soft.

Mix all the cooked onions and the other seasoning to the flour mix. Add salt to taste.

Finally add the chopped cilantro and mix well.

Adding water, a little at at time, make a stiff dough out of the flour.

Take a small portion, roll it into a ball and flatten it on a greased ziploc sheet. Ragi could get sticky and so you don't want to do it on a rough surface and have a big mess.

Apply a little oil on your hands and press down the flour into a round shape...well, almost round in my case.

Heat both sides on a tawa till the dough is cooked. Add a few drops of oil on top (not a lot, remember - we're trying something healthy here!)

And then...wait..we're done. Nothing else to do. Except eating of course. I don't think you'll need my help with that.

This would go great with a side of chutneys or even daal. Try some spicy tomato thokku with this. What are your favorite sides to go with this if you are a ragi regular. Let me know. 

Enjoy making it and enjoy a healthy meal. Give it to your kids as well and they would not even know how much goodness they are eating. 

Enjoy. Peace out!