RAGI IDLI


RAGI IDLI
This is a totally diabetic-friendly recipe. Ragi or millet flour is a complex carbohydrate grain, which has a low glycemic index, meaning it raises the blood sugars slowly than compared to simple carbs (these are usually refined products made with sugars and all purpose flour). These are whole grains too hence very ideal for people who are watching their carbs or calorie intake. I make ragi idlis when we are in the mood for something different than our regular idlis and dosas. These idlis turn very soft and fluffy with a good earthy taste but the batter has to be fresh each time. The idlis do not turn out that soft when left even for a day in the fridge. Usually I prepare the idli batter with only one cup of flour at a time. One cup of flour gives around 12 small-size idlis.

INGREDIENTS:
1. Ragi or millet flour, 2 cups.
2. Urad dhal, 1 cup.
3. Fenugreek seeds, 1 tsp.
4. Salt as per taste.

PREPARATION:
Wash the urad dhal well and soak it for half-an-hour along with the fenugreek seeds. Grind the dhal into smooth paste with a blender or grinder. When the dhal is well done, add the millet flour and blend everything together to a smooth paste until the batter is fluffy. Add salt to the batter and mix everything well. Let it sit overnight or 6-7 hours to allow fermentation to take place. When the batter has risen to 1/3rd of its size, they are ready to be steamed. Pour them into idli moulds and let it steam for 5-7 minutes. Remove the hot idlis from the moulds and serve the idlis with chutney or sambar.

39 comments:

Nithu Bala said...

Wow! very healthy idlies..

Anonymous said...

oh wow...this sounds so healthy!

Unknown said...

healthy and yummy idlies ,,like the color..

Simplyfood said...

Idlis have such a rich colour.

Pari Vasisht said...

Gita, I must try these. I think you will need something spicy to go with it.

Shama Nagarajan said...

looks yummy..healthy

FH said...

Beautiful looking idlis, love it.

Nithya said...

Something really healthy and different for sure. Will try it out soon. :)

Astra Libris said...

Oooh, I've never used millet flour before! These sound delicious - thank you for introducing me to this new ingredient!

Shanthi Krishnakumar said...

Healthy, different and colourful

Sushma Mallya said...

very unique one,but so healthy and nice

Treat and Trick said...

Healthy and looks great, Gita.....

http://treatntrick.blogspot.com

Hayley said...

Innovative recipe..looks so good and delicious..must try..:))

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Hi

Looks Healthy and Fulfilling. Thanks for sharing.

Deepa

Vrinda said...

Was thinking of making thse from very long time,looks really good Gita..will try it for sure

AnuSriram said...

Looks lovely and healthier too..

Namitha said...

That's a brilliant idea..so healthy and yummy idlis...

Priya Suresh said...

Healthy idlies, looks fantastic, my fav too..

Devasena Hariharan said...

healty one Gita

Cham said...

It is a long pending on my try list! Looks wonderful!

Malar Gandhi said...

Clearly a healthy one', guilt free indulgence.

Padma said...

Healthy idlis and also very simple right. One of fav. I too prepare in a similar way.

Sandhya Hariharan said...

Quite healthy... but I surely have to learn it :)

Nandinis food said...

Healthy idlis! Used to prepare this idli only during summer. Idlis are soft and always love this color.

Vikis Kitchen said...

Very healthy idlies Gita. Never know this before. Beautiful snap. I should try this real soon. Thanks for this idly and the tips to make it fluffy. Bookmarking this.

Aparna said...

healthy idlis..i never tried with ragi.

Jackie said...

I've never seen idli made with millet flour. Does it taste tangier? Does it affect the texture of the idli. Very intersting, I'll give this a try :)

Jackie at PhamFatale.com

BeenaShylesh said...

healty and gud look

priya said...

healthy n yummy idly..so soft

Tina said...

Sounds healthy and delicious...

Recipeswap said...

We eat raagi and idly but never raagi idly.very clever.

Shri said...

Quite healthy Gita!!I love the color too..

Raks said...

Have tried only dosa and adai,this sounds good too!

Renuka Bedre - Rao said...

such a healthy idlis..i will try it soon..

Yasmeen said...

Ragi Idli is great for a change from regular idlis ,I love the dark color :D

Unknown said...

i tried ragi idly..but its a total failure...idly dint came well...whole batter collapsed and after cooking it was like paste...
any suggestions????

Gita Jaishankar said...

Hi Spandu, the idli batter should be frothy just like you would prepare a regular idli batter and it should also ferment nicely...or else the idlis wont be soft and will be like a paste...you can try adding another tablespoon of urad dhal and grinding the batter if you are using a mixie for grinding....I hope this helps you...take care.

Gayathri said...

I followed your recipe and the idlies came out awesome and I had replaced my regular idlies with the ragi ones. Then I found out that surprisingly Ragi has a very high glycemic index even higher than rice. My 2 hr after meal blood test confirmed it too. So it may not be the best option for diabetics. I also came to know that Foxtail millet(Thinai) has a very low glycemic index(34)

HappyStar said...

I just came across your blog while searching for diabetic friendly indian recipes. My husband is from Kerala and I look forward to trying some of your recipes out! Great job for creatively thinking of ways to make awesome South Indian dishes health friendly :)