Delicious Hot Ragi drink with cloves and cardamom is a healthy protein rich drink made with Ragi flour and Unsweetened vanilla almond milk.
If you live in Southern part of India, your baby’s first food will be this Ragi porridge/Ragi malt. Yes I have grown up eating that, we call Panchapul in Malayalam (the language in Kerala, South India). It is commonly called as Ragi which is a red finger millet. Here in US I can get them as Ragi flour from Indian store, even Bob's Red Mills sells them, but it is cheaper in Indian store.
My son is allergic to milk so he is drinking Silk Half Gallon Almond Unsweetened Vanilla (lactose and diary free) after weaning from the breast milk. So lots of times for him I make this delicious hot ragi drink with cloves and cardamom with almond milk
What is Ragi/ FingerMillet ?
Eleusine coracana/ Ragi/Finger millet is an annual plant widely grown as a cereal in the arid areas of Africa and Asia. Earliest records of its cultivation in India show that it was cultivated in the Hallur region of Karnataka about 4000 years ago. Even though all the South Indian States uses ragi, it remains one of the main ingredients of the staple diet in Karnataka.
If you look at Ragi closely, it is really small red color millet, but they are really healthy with lots of benefits. Ragi has high protein content, because of the presence of amino acid methionine. It also a very good source of minerals it is rich in, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron.
It has better energy content than other cereals, and as a result it is ideal for feeding to infants and the elderly. Since I did not have the whole grain in hand, I checked with few friends and Parvathy, Subha and Kinjal were kind to share the pictures. Here is the Ragi millet picture from my friend Parvathy.
It also known to help in controlling the diabetics due to its high polyphenol content in the outer skin read this study. Ragi reduces “bad” cholesterol (LDL), prevents cardiovascular disease, it also has anti microbial and anti cancer properties etc.
Even though Ragi drink is a traditional drink, it uses regular milk and is not spiced up. Since my son is allergic to milk I make it with almond milk and spice it up with cardamom and cloves both of which are really aromatic and increase the flavor of the hot drink. I lightly sweetened the drink with maple syrup. You can skip that part or add your favorite sweetener to it.
You can start your day with this delicious hot ragi drink with cloves and cardamom. The marriage with between Ragi flour and nutty almond milk is so perfect that you will make every day. This one is ultimate health drink which is vegan, gluten free and also looks like hot chocolate drink. So kids will drink it without any problem.
First add crushed cardamom and cloves
Heat almond milk
Ragi flour
Add ragi flour / finger millet flour into almond milk with maple syrup.
Once it is slightly thickens serve.
Hot Ragi drink with cloves and cardamom
Ingredients
- 2 whole cloves lightly crushed
- 2 cardamom pods lightly crushed
- 2 cups Almond milk Unsweetned Vanilla
- 2 teaspoon 100% pure Maple syrup You can increase or decrease according to your taste*
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- 3 tablespoon Ragi flour
- * use your favorite sweetener if you want
Instructions
- In a sauce pan place the cloves, cardamom, Slik almond Unsweetened Vanilla milk and salt.
- Heat the mixture over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until almost boiling .
- Add the ragi flour and mix well with whisk until smooth and there is no lumps remain.
- Lower the heat for a couple of minutes, and allow the ragi to thicken little, like a grainy hot chocolate.
- Strain the drink into the Mug discarding the cloves and cardamom.
- Enjoy warm.
Notes
Nutrition
This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
tigerfish says
Have not seen this before, esp. with the use of ragi flour. Very interesting.
Suja Manoj says
Healthy and yummy drink,love it
Sundari says
Healthy and yummy drink!!
Sharvari (Mumbai to Melbourne) says
Fab recipe and super duper healthy! High in calcium as well and great for kids and pregnant women http://www.mumbaitomelbourne.com/food-and-health-blog-posts/baingan-bharta-punjabi-style-smoky-mashed-eggplants
Sona says
A very healthy drink.. Love the addition of spices..
Gloria says
This is not only healthy but delicious too...love the addition of spices..
veena says
healthy and flavourful drink.. it is also keep u full till next meal
Subha says
Super healthy drink not only for kids but also for grown ups. Loved the addition of cardamom and cloves. Is your son allergic to cow's milk protein or is he lactose intolerant?
swathi says
His Eczema gets worse if he drink milk. He is not lactose intolerant.
Ramya Venkat says
healthy drink and this is perfect for winter
Rafeeda says
I love that it is made with almond milk... have always made it in milk and only with cardamom flavor, next time will try adding a pinch of cloves too... 🙂
kushi says
A very healthy drink and lovely recipe!
srividhya says
Awesome. Love this for breakfast.
madhavicyberkitchen says
An apt drink for the winters, with perfect ingredients, giving the feel of warmthness .
Binjal's VEG Kitchen says
Awesome recipe!
Carolyn West says
I've never heard of this but really want to go out and find some so I can give this a try. #client
Swathi says
Caroyln, you can find them in Indian stores here or in Bob Red millet's as whole millet flour.
Mayuri Patel says
Years back when I had delivered my twins, my house help would make this porridge from what is known as wimbi here. She would tell me to drink it to get strength. Back then I didn't know that what is known as wimbi here is ragi. Its good to have it when one is sick, after delivery or just as comfort food.
Swathi says
Yes Ragi is really healthy one, every Indians drank or eat it atleast once in life time