Instant Ragi Dosa

July 17, 2021

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Instant Ragi Dosa

Vegetarian and gluten-free, ragi dosa is a healthy delicious Indian recipe made using Ragi flour or ‘Finger Millet’. This is the recipe of instant ragi dosa which does not require any soaking or fermentation and can be prepared in a short time.

Ragi, scientifically called Eleusine coracana, is an annually cultivated cereal crop, vastly found in the tropical regions of Africa and Asia, such as in Ethiopia, India And Sri Lanka. Being densely packed with a host of nutrients, ragi confers valuable health benefits such as enhancing digestion, reducing the risk of heart disease, slowing down ageing and managing diabetes.

Ragi Nutrition Content:

Ragi displays a rather impressive nutritional profile, encompassing all the essential macronutrients – carbohydrates, fibers, fats and proteins, along with noteworthy levels of key micronutrients – vitamins and minerals. It has negligible levels of cholesterol and sodium to promote heart wellness. In addition, ragi contains vitamin C, vitamin E, B-complex vitamins, iron, calcium, antioxidants, proteins, fibers, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and folic acid. As well as calcium, magnesium, sufficient calories and useful unsaturated fats, iron and phosphorus are also found in ample amounts in ragi flour, truly justifying its status as a wholesome breakfast cereal and a superfood.
Following a deep sleep at night, the stomach and intestines display peak levels of metabolism in the morning.

Ragi is in fact a favourable fibre rich Indian food, that serves as an alternative to other routine cereal and grain crops in the Indian diet regime such as rice, wheat or barley. It has the distinction of being a relatively rare plant source of crucial essential amino acids namely isoleucine, tryptophan, valine, methionine and threonine, thus complementing both vegetarian and vegan diets.

A significant number of young adults and older people tend to develop intolerance towards the gluten proteins in cereals like wheat, which, unfortunately, is a regular ingredient in Indian dishes. Ragi, being organically gluten-free, can easily be substituted for wheat, to prepare chapatis, dosas and sweets or mithais, and is often recommended for patients with celiac disease.

It is important to keep in mind though, that the best time to consume ragi is in the morning, for being fiber-rich, its digestive process is more elaborate and it is usually not okay to eat ragi at night, especially for those with digestive problems and gluten allergies.

Finger millet, although being high in calories and carbohydrates for instant energy, also comprises a plethora of phytates, tannins, polyphenols – plant chemicals that slow down the digestion process. This lowers high blood sugar in those with diabetes mellitus, making ragi a valuable addition to a diet for diabetes. Also, owing to its low digestibility and rich fiber content, ragi is the top food of choice for adults, for accelerating weight loss and managing other lifestyle diseases like diabetes and obesity.

Ragi is blessed with the goodness of dietary fibers, with quantities higher than many other kinds of cereal such as wheat, barley and oats. Eating foods with increased fiber content positively influences bowel movement, regulating faecal bulk and promotes optimal passage of food and other materials within the intestines. In this manner, consuming a meal with ragi porridge for breakfast stimulates healthy metabolism, remedies IBS symptoms and even assists in averting the risk of colon cancer.

However, the wealth of minerals and healthy fats in ragi are known to calm the brain and promote sleep. Hence having a small portion, such as half a glass of ragi malt or ragi kanji at night can help treat insomnia and other issues of low moods.