ragi flour

What is ragi flour, nachni flour? glossary | benefits | uses | recipes | Viewed 164551 times

Also known as

finger millet flour, red millet flour, nachni flour, nachni ka atta, ragi ka atta.

What is ragi flour, nachni flour, nachni ka atta, red millet flour

Ragi is an annual plant widely grown as a cereal in the arid areas of Africa and Asia. In India, ragi is mostly grown and consumed in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Goa. As a crop and after harvesting, ragi keeps extremely well and is seldom attacked by pests. This eliminates the need for chemical fertilisers and pesticides making it a safe food. It is also a cost-effective source of protein, iron, calcium and fibre, which makes it the preferred food of many communities. Notably, it is a rare source of the amino acid methionine.

The whole grain of ragi may be ground into flour or decorticated before grinding to produce either a fine particle product or flour, which is then used in various traditional foods. The flour may be ground coarsely or finely, depending on individual preference and recipe requirement.

How to select ragi flour, nachni flour, nachni ka atta, red millet flour


• Ragi flour is commonly available in grocery stores in various pack sizes.
• The ragi flour should be clean, dust free and without any infestations or foul odour.

11 Uses of ragi flour, nachni flour, nachni ka atta, red millet flour

1. Ragi flour is made by grinding up the whole ragi grain (red millets) to get a fine powder. In today's growing health conscious world, the usage of ragi flour is increasing exponentially. It can be used to make everything from snacks and rotis to sweets and breads.

2. Ragi flour is mostly used in the southern parts of India. They use it to make Ragi Puttu, which is a breakfast dish and has a coconut flavor.

3. Porridge is perhaps the most common way of consuming ragi flour. A past of ragi flour in water is cooked till done, and then enhanced with buttermilk and salt, or milk and sugar.

4. This flour can also replace other flours to make other southern dishes like Multiflour Idli and Nachni dosa.

5. Ragi is considered a super grain because it is very nutritious and it is due to this it is used as a replacement to flour in baking. Crispy treats with hummus and Multigrain Bread are two of many things that can be baked using ragi flour.

6. It is also used to make an array of healthy snacks varying from Khakhras and Chaklis to Upma and Dosa.

7. Since Ragi is gluten free, it can be used in daily cooking for those who want to avoid gluten or are allergic to it.

8. One can even make nice rotis and parathas with Ragi flour. These parathas can also be stuffed with vegetables and proteins like paneer.

9. Surprisingly, ragi flour is also used to make sweets. A classic sheera can be made much healthier if made with ragi flour. Other sweets that can be are Ragi Sheera, Nachni ladoo (for pregnant women) and Golpapdi

10. In Maharashtra, bhakri, a type of flat bread is prepared using finger millet (ragi) flour.

11. Flour from malted ragi grains can be mixed with milk or yoghurt and had with sugar or salt.

How to store ragi flour, nachni flour, nachni ka atta, red millet flour

• Store ragi flour in an airtight container and keep it in a cool and dry place.

Nutritional Information for 1 cup ragi flour, nachni flour, nachni ka atta, red millet flour

One cup of Ragi Flour is 144 grams, which makes 6 rotis.
RDA stands for Recommended Daily Allowance.

472 Calories
10.5 grams of Protein
103 grams of Carbs
1.87 grams of Fat

407 mg of Phosphorus : 67.9% of RDA (about 600 mg for adult)

Full nutritional information of Ragi Flour here.


11 Health benefits of ragi flour, nachni flour, nachni ka atta, red millet flour

1. High in Protein: One cup of whole Ragi Flour (144grams) gives about 10.3 grams of protein. Very good source for Vegetarian.

2. High in Fiber : One cup of whole Ragi Flour gives about 16.1 grams of fibre. This fibre will keep you fuller for a longer time and avoid you from binge eating.


3. Gluten Free : Great healthy option for those who are intolerant to Gluten. Ragi flour, is far more healthier to use in Indian Breads like Whole Wheat Roti. Try Ragi Roti

4. Good for Diabetics : Ragi flour creates a much lower surge in sugar levels compared to wheat. Ragi is rich in Magnesium which improves insulin response by lowering insulin resistance. Having very low magnesium will result in the pancreas not secrete enough insulin to control our blood sugar.

Complete health benefits of Ragi Flour here.