Sweet Ragi Puttu / Keppai Puttu / Sweet Finger Millet Crumb

Ragi Puttu / Keppai Puttu/ Kezhvaragu Puttu is a healthy breakfast prepared by steaming ragi flour either in Idli Cooker or using Puttu Kudam. Today I have prepared Ragi Puttu using my Idli Pot. This is not only a breakfast, can be prepared as a quick snack for the kids coming home from the school. Ragi puttu can also be given to diabetic patients. Only thing is that they have to  skip sugar & cardamom and eat as such because the flavour and mild sweetness in the ragi itself will compensate for the sugar.

Ragi is otherwise known as ‘Finger Millet’ in English and ‘Keppai’ or ‘Kezhvaragu’ in Tamil. This millet is very rich in iron and calcium. It had been a  practice to make Porridge or Kali using this millet in villages during olden days and was taken regularly as breakfast.  Slowly, things have changed as even in villages, they are using only polished rice. But, now, awareness has been created through media and other sources to include these millets in our regular diet for a healthy life. Most of our children who are exposed to only white grains will stay away from Ragi on seeing its colour. But we can introduce this millet as the sweet Ragi Puttu to them, which they will most certainly enjoy.

Ingredients:

• Ragi flour – 1 cup
• Coconut (grated) – ½ cup
• Ghee – 1 tbsp
• Sugar – 3 tbsp
• Salt – a pinch
• Cardamom powder – a pinch (optional)

Method:

1. Dry fry Ragi flour in a heavy bottomed kadai in simmer until you get nice aroma.
2. In the mean time, bring 1 cup of water to a rolling boil.
3. Transfer the flour to a mixing bowl and mix a pinch of salt with it. Alternate between slowly adding a small amount of hot water and mixing the flour with a ladle until you get the consistency described. Don’t add too much of water. The flour consistency should be such that the flour is just wet. You should be able to shape the flour (like kolukattai) if you hold it tightly but it must be loose if left alone. When the flour reaches this stage, stop adding water.
4. In the Idli pot, pour water and bring it to boil.
5. Take the idli plate, spread a wet muslin cloth or kada cloth and evenly spread the wet ragi flour over the idli plate.
6. Place the idli plate inside the idli pot and steam the puttu for about 10 minutes.
7. Transfer the puttu to a bowl, add coconut gratings, ghee, sugar and cardamom powder and mix everything well.

Your yummy, sweet ragi puttu is ready for serving!

Note:

• The recipe is very simple except for the step(3). We need to take extra care while mixing the puttu flour with water.
• You can also mix nuts of your choice with this puttu  to make it healthier for kids.
• You need not worry about the cooking time, the aroma of ragi flour itself will tell you that your ragi puttu is ready. The entire house will get filled with nice aroma of Ragi! Try it & enjoy!!

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