Ragi or nachni is finger millet is a wonderful ingredient to cook with. It is high in protein and iron and also one of the best gluten-free flours to cook with. You can use it to make traditional roti or the quintessential flat bread. This can be eaten instead of wheat roti if you are trying to control sugar in your diet or are a diabetic. Millets are a fantastic way to up your energy. If you would like to increase millet flours in your diet read our glossary.
South India has been using finger millet recipes for ages. ragi porridge, ragi mudde, ragi malt, ragi dosa and idli are a great way of adding finger millet to your diet. You can also use it to bake cakes and ragi cookies. Another great recipe is ragi murungai keerai adai where adai is cooked with curry leaves and drumstick leaves.
These healthy rotis are soft and can be eaten with any easy stir fry like thotakura or amaranth greens or aloo matar curry. Just like regular rotis, they are soft and thin ragi chapatti which need little practice. Once you get the flow, nachni roti will be the easiest roti you have made.
Jump to:
How to make Ragi roti? (video recipe)
Ingredients
- ragi atta / finger millet flour
- warm water
- ghee / olive oil if vegan
- salt optional
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
In hot boiling water and add some oil or ghee in a saucepan.
Now add ragi flour to it and you may add salt optionally.
mix well until you can knead the soft ragi dough ball with your hand or using spoon.
Take a small portion of rotti dough. Roll into a thin flatbread using parchment paper and rolling pin after applying little flour. Repeat for the remaining sticky dough.
Let it cook on a hot pan with a heavy bottom or cast iron tava.
Flip and cook once its cooked on one side completely. If you flip early it will break.
Flip and cook on both sides until you get little brown spots on both sides.
Serve hot with any greens or curry.
Hint: If you are vegetarian, you can add a dollop of ghee on top.
Related recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Ragi rotti recipe | healthy millet chapathi recipe
Equipment
- saucepan
- griddle
- Rolling Pin
- parchment paper /baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 cup ragi flour / ragi atta /finger millet flour
- ¾ cup water You need little more than ¾ cup water for 1 cup ragi flour.
- 1 tbsp. ghee or olive oil
Instructions
- Warm water and add some oil or ghee in a saucepan.
- Now add ragi flour to it and mix well until you can knead the smooth dough,
- Take a portion of ragi roti dough and roll into a thin flatbread using parchment paper and rolling pin. Repeat for the remaining ball of dough.
- Let it cook on a heavy bottom griddle or cast iron tava.
- Flip and cook on both sides.
- Serve hot with any greens or curry.
Video
Notes
Substitutions and Variations
Some people like to mix a little wholewheat flour with ragi initially as it makes it easier to make such millet rotis. Later they move to making all ragi roti.
Similar to ragi chapati, you can make gluten-free rotis like jowar flour to make jowar roti, bajra roti etc. You can also make a thick flatbread like Sindhi jowar doda (sorghum flatbread).
FAQ
There are many health benefits of finger millet.
It has low glycemic index.
Excellent source of fiber.
It is also good source of calcium.
It contributes positively to blood sugar levels.
Anti-ageing
Good for your hair.
Great for lactating mums.
It is a cooling food as per Ayurveda.
Storage
Store the dough in an airtight container for 2-3 days. You can also store roti in an aluminium foil and reheat it before you consume.
Top tip
Always use warm water to make ragi dough. Avoid dairy with ragi as it is rich in iron and dairy inhibits iron absorption.
Conclusion: plain nachni roti or traditional ragi roti is a perfect alternative to whole wheat flour rotis if you want to go gluten-free or on your weight-loss journey.
Leave a Reply