HEALTHY & DELICIOUS FINGER MILLET / RAGI HALWA

Ragi is a super wonder millet grain and is also called as nachni or red millet. Karnataka is the leading producer of finger millet .... here it is generally consumed in the form of Ragi Mudhe (balls). This steamed dish is served with spicy meat gravies. Ragi is a whole grain that is gluten-free and is rich in fiber that helps with weight loss and diabetes ... it is packed with calcium, good carbs, ammino acids and Vitamin D. It is also rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent excessive oxidation, which could otherwise cause cancer and ageing because of cell damage. Despite many health benefits, Ragi remains absent in our diets and we haven't really embraced it. This is probably due to its bland taste that many may not appreciate. It's nice to roast some Ragi before using it which gives it a great nutty flavour. Ragi is all encompassing. It takes on the flavour of the dish. When baking with it, you can use different types of sugars like brown sugar or palm sugar to give it a kick and enhance the taste. The brownish hue resembles like that of chocolate when cooked. This recipe of halwa is truly a delicacy.

Ingredients :

3/4 cup finger millet/ Ragi flour
2 tblsp semolina/ rava
6-7 tblsp sugar
1 & 1/2 cup warm/ hot milk
1-2 tsp cardamom powder
4-5 tblsp Ghee
6-7 halves of cashewnuts roasted in ghee

Method :

1. Melt the ghee in a kadai ... add the rava and roast for few seconds. Now add the ragi flour and keep stirring on medium flame till you get a nice nutty aroma ( around 5 minutes).
2. Add sugar and mix well.
3. Now add the hot milk and continue stirring till it start thickening.
4. Lower the heat .... add the cardamom powder and roasted cashewnuts.
5. Switch off the flame. Your super wonder millet halwa is ready to be served.