Ragi is well-known for its high calcium content exceeding any other cereal and is also a significant source of Vitamin D, both essential for the bone and muscle development of infants. Ragi is an easily digestible; hence, it is ideal for babies and small children. Ragi is also rich in fiber and an additional source of iron. Finger millet or Ragi flour is otherwise popularly also known as Nachni (Marathi), Mandua/Mangal in Hindi, Kodra (Himachal Pradesh), Mandia (Oriya), Taidalu (in Telangana region), Kezhvaragu in Tamil.
When introducing ragi sheera to infants, it's essential to keep it simple and suitable for their delicate digestive systems. Here's a basic recipe that you can try:
Ingredients:
- Ragi flour
- Water
- Ghee
Optional Ingredients
- Jaggery powder
- Milk
- Dry fruits like almonds, cashews and walnuts in powdered form
Cooking time: 5-7mins
Instructions:
- Roast Ragi Flour: Heat a pan and dry roast the ragi flour on medium heat until it gives a nutty aroma. Make sure not to burn it. Set aside.
- Cooking Ragi: In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat ghee. Add the roasted ragi flour and sauté on low heat until it turns golden brown. This step is crucial to eliminate the raw taste of the flour.
- Prepare Ragi Paste: Add a little water to the ragi flour to make a smooth paste and continue stirring, ensuring there are no lumps.
- Cook Until Done: Cook until the ragi is completely cooked and reaches a porridge-like consistency.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the ragi sheera to cool to a suitable temperature for the infant and serve in a baby-friendly bowl.
How to use optional ingredients
- Jaggery powder: You may add jaggery powder in small portions just immediately after you have added ghee and this is to be used only if you wish to introduce flavours
- Milk – Milk is a good substitute for water once you have introduced external milk and can be used either additionally with water or as a substitute for water.
- Dry Fruit powder: The dry fruits enhance the taste of the recipe and are an additional source of nutrients for babies.
This was one of the favourites for our daughter and hence we would experiment with various optional and incremental ingredients.
Ragi is otherwise used as flour for several products like Nachni sticks (like soya sticks), idli, dosa, cake, ladoos, biscuits etc. We have also experimented with making a ragi roti for making frankie or pizza base at home and they taste delicious.
Important Points to note
- Ensure that the ragi sheera is lukewarm and doesn't contain any added sugars or sweeteners when serving it to infants.
- Always consult with your paediatrician before introducing new foods to your baby's diet, especially if they are less than six months old.