Ragi is such a nutritional food for babies. It has high level of protein,calcium and minerals. It has lots of iron and a good mix of amino acids. It is a complete wonder food..So as my second solid food after my Apple Sauce, i thought of introducing maha ragi. When i decided to start giving ragi for maha. I was totally confused whether to give homemade, storebought..Then i raised a question on facebook and This is what everyone suggested..So i soaked ragi overnight, ground it, cooked it and fed maha. But later i came across a homemade ragi powder for babies. So i made that and now i am feeding that for maha. I will share that recipe soon. And i am planning to start store bought baby ragi powder when she is 8+ months. But many of you asked me to share the recipe for ragi porridge which is made from fresh ragi, so here i am sharing it.
Ragi is very healthy for babies, it is filling and help your baby gain weight in a healthy way. Few things you have to remember before making this.
1)The consistency of the porridge which you make totally depends on you. You can make it too runnier and pour it bottles and feed your baby or make it little thicker and feed your baby using a spoon.
2) For this post, i have added sugar. But normally i use panakarkandu or karupatti as sweetner. This is how i do. I take a small piece of karupatti or a piece of panakarkandu in a saucepan, add some water in it and heat it up till it is melted. Then i strain that and add it to ragi milk and cook them together.
Karupatti strengthens your baby bones. Panakarkandu helps prevending cold for your babies. You can even mix up a small piece of both.
3)If you feed a good bowl of this for your baby. Your baby will sleep peacefully for a good 2 to 3 hours. It is that filling.
4)Cook ragi properly. If you didn't cook it properly, it may cause constipation.
5)Many people say ragi may cause constipation. But i am feeding the to my baby for 2 weeks now. And she is passing stool daily.
How to introduce solid food to your baby:
How to sterilize baby feeding bowls:
Start
by sterilizing the bowls and spoons which you are going to feed your
baby. Take the bowl and spoon in a large saucepan, cover it with water
and bring them to a boil. Boil it rapidly for 5 mins. Now you can turn
the heat off and leave them stay in the hot water till use.
How to do Ragi Porridge from Fresh Ragi:
I use ½ cup of ragi to make a good bowl of ragi porridge. I keep on increasing them as she days pass. You have to experiment on this measurement to know how much your baby can consume.
To make fresh ragi porridge. Start by washing fresh ragi by rubbing with your hands in lots and lots of water to get rid of dirt and other ucky stuff. Do this step atleast 4 to 5 times to make sure that your ragi is absolutely clean.
Now soak them in fresh clean water overnight.
Next Morning, drain them and take them in a blender. Add some boiled and cooled clean water to grind them to a smooth paste.
Take a clean saucepan, line them with a clean white cloth. Pour the pureed ragi over the cloth and let it drain. Squeeze with your hands so all the milk has been extracted from ragi.
Now take the sauce pan to stove and start cooking on low flame. if it is too thick you can add some water.
Cook them for 5 to 6 mins till the porridge is cooked and has become thick.
Now take them off the stove and add some sugar to taste. You can add whatever sweetner you use. I use Panakarkandu or Karupatti.
Now let them cool to warm, pour the porridge in sterilized bowl and feed your baby.
Pictorial:
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| Take ragi in a large bowl |
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| pour water over them |
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| Use your hands to rub the ragi to releaste the dirt from them |
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| Keep on rubbing |
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| Pour the ucky stuf out, and repeat the process for 4 to 5 times |
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| Cover it with water |
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| Cover with a lid |
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| Leave them to soak overnight..This is soaked ragi |
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| See the difference |
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| Now take some ragi in a mixer |
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| Grind them first |
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| Pour some water |
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| Grind them |
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| Now they are done |
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| Take a clean sauce pan |
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| cover with clean cloth |
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| Pour the ground ragi in |
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| Now let it drain |
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| You can help it a bit |
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| Once you have squeezed, |
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| This is left ragi milk |
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| Put it on stove |
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| Boil them |
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| Keep stiring |
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| It will get thick |
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| Now add some sugar or whatever sweetner you use, just a bit |
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| This is what it looks like |
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| Always sterilize your vessel |
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| Boil them well |
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| Remove them |
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| Pour the ragi in the bowl |
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| Now feed your fussy baby:) |
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Hi....cleaning ragi each time is a difficult process. Better one is to clean in a batch and dry it in the sunlight for three days and keep in a air tight container.
I have also made ragi porridge..see this link..http://oishirecipes.com/2013/11/ragifinger-millet-kurukku-muthari-kurukku-ragifinger-millet-porridge.html
Diviya
You can grind ragi in machine also ... After that remove unwanted things using dhoti.. place it in separate air tight container.. whenever s needed, you can take a sauce pan add some powder and some water/milk stirr continuously.. u then can feed babies
San
Sprouted ragi is even better as its easier to digest and much more nutritious..It can be done the same process as you have done, except roast the sprouted ragi and then powdering it to store for a long time..
Coral crue
awesome post. ragi is great for kids
shareatip
Hi. Great food for babies. As for karupatti vellam (blackstrap molasses), do you use palm jaggery (pana vellam) or sugarcane molasses jaggery? Cane jaggery is cooling while sugarcane jaggery causes heat, but both help release digestive enzymes.Which goes better with ragi?
Aarthi
@shareatipYou can use any, i used pana vellam
Madheeha Shanavas
Very useful ... Thanks for the detailed post 👍
resmi
Thanks for the detailed post
Anonymous
I am pediatrician... and we don't recommend sweeteners until the baby is atleast a year old!
Anonymous
But little jaggery or elachi can be used as sweetener na?
Unknown
Hi, i am feed my 6 month old baby witu mixed ragi,wheat,rice,roasted grAm,10 almonds in water. Is this good for my baby? Plz give reply?
Nandhini Raman
How many times a day you must feed this ragi I have a 6 month old baby. I started with first Rice kanji. Also please tell me how to Prepare that too. If u say add milk are u referring to breast milk?
Aarthi
@Nandhini Ramanyou can feed it 1 time a day..add cows milk for baby above 1 year
GM Dhand
Why do we need to strain the ragi after mixing in water?? Is it necessary to strain
Aarthi
@GM DhandYes straining is must, because it removes the grainy bits
!!Smita !!
Can I add formula to dis
Aarthi
@!!Smita !!U can add, but dont cook it..add after the ragi is cooled.
Nandhini Raman
Hi aarthi please post Rice kanji receipe..
!!Smita !!
When baby is having cold is it ok to feed ragi porridge
Aarthi
@!!Smita !!yes u can give
Revathipraveen
Thanks aarthi for your tips.... I have 5months old baby I used to give ragi porridge using lactogen and sugar for breakfast and dinner... After two weeks of using it, I thought giving natural and healthy diet so I dint mix lactogen in it.. I prepared it using water and panakarkandu.. But my baby got abdomen pain.. I don't know why.. Is there any reason for it?
Aarthi
@RevathipraveenDid u give something else other than ragi. it may be because of that.
Revathi praveen
is tat necessary to soak ragi overnight ?because I used to soak it only for 10min.. Is tat enough?
Aarthi
@Revathi praveenIf it grinds well then no issue, you can soak it for 10 mins.
Anonymous
Hello dear ones
my baby was born just starting on 9th month.she weights just 6 kg n is 8 months old.though she is active.bt very weak. Give me recipes to help her gain weight
Aarthi
@Anonymouscheck this link
https://www.yummytummyaarthi.com/2014/08/homemade-baby-food-recipes-weaning.html
Krupali Patel
Can we use direct ragi powder available in market ...for making porridge
Aarthi
@Krupali Patelyes u can
Sree Vinod
do we need to pour the ragi powder (bought it from market) after mixing it with water before cooking?
Aarthi
@Sree Vinodno need for straining
Gracy Joshua
Hi Aarthi my son 4 months old. Ragi powder or fresh Ragi which one is best?
Aarthi
@Gracy Joshuafresh ragi is always best
Anonymous
Ragi is gluten free hence good for babies from 5 months .they wil love it
Anonymous
Ragi is best for infants coz it's gluten free n easy to digest.
Anonymous
Thank you good recepie
Annapurna Sathineedi
Thank you for the post. Really nice one and my Kid love it. Please Post some more recipes with ragi for 2yrs kid
Thanks again
rekha
hi.
My baby is 6 months now.I want to know how much raggi I should take 4 soaking it.
Aarthi
@rekhayou can take 1/2 cup or so
Aarthi
@Anonymousyes u can use them
suba bharathi
Is there any other way to dry the ragi other than drying under the sun for 3 days.
Bcos I feel that's not safe and we can't keep on watching the drying ragi from insects
suba bharathi
.
Aarthi
@suba bharathiyou can dry it under fan
Anonymous
My baby is three and a half months old and my mother in law is feeding her ragi and wheat porridge...
Is it fine....please do reply....it's driving me crazy....
Aarthi
@Anonymousi dont suggest feeding solids to baby under 5 months atleast. Babies under 6 months should be given only breast milk.
Aarthi
@Anonymousi dont suggest feeding solids to baby under 5 months atleast. Babies under 6 months should be given only breast milk.
Aarthi
@Anonymousi dont suggest feeding solids to baby under 5 months atleast. Babies under 6 months should be given only breast milk.
jas
M6 baby is almost 6 months now .. got ready made ragi powder from d mart... so how do I cook it??with water or milk??
Also advise e me the frequency of formula milk,ragi and cereal please. I m a new mom...
Aarthi
@jascook it with water. check my feeding schedulehttp://mahamylife.blogspot.in/
shanthi
Hello ....my baby is 4 months and 3 days...what is the quantity I should give her? 1 spoon?
Aarthi
@shanthistart with just a tblspn..u just need few spoons
Shifa Shabeer
My son born on 31st May 2015 nw for him 5 months startd shall I give ragi for him as ur procedur pls help me
Aarthi
@Shifa Shabeerif u can you can wait for one more month and then give him ragi. else you can start it now itself. start with little portion
kasthuri inian
Hi akka can I give panam kalkand water to my three month baby?is it safe? He has a cold..:(
Anonymous
How much spoon ragi should I give for my 6 month old daughter.I juststarted external feeds.its been a week iam giving her other foods.
Aarthi
@kasthuri inianu can start giving those once your baby is above 5 or 6 months. 3 month is too early
Aarthi
@Anonymousjust a tblspn must be good..
Anonymous
My Kid is one year old and I used to mix formula milk(Lactogen) while cooking ragi. Now I heard that formula not added while cooking. Is it causes any problem to kid, plz reply me?
Aarthi
@Anonymousu should never cook formula. make ragi with water and once it cools down, add the prepared milk
dhara garg
Can I give rahi milk in the morning?
Aarthi
@dhara gargyes u can
Anonymous
Hi
Ragi and Jaggery is rich in iron and milk is rich in calcium. If you mix both it wont be utilised by the body.. So pls make sure not to add milk with ragi porridge...
Bharti Nalawade
Hey Aarti... Nice recipe but I m seeing it too late. My son will turn 2 yes. in may. Is there a way I can incorporate this in his meal. He eats rice n dal in lunch and roti mashed in milk in d evening
Aarthi
@Bharti Nalawadeu can give this in liquid form for breakfast
Unknown
Very nice... thanks a lot
Anonymous
Nice..thanks a lot aarthi
Anonymous
Thankyou sooooo much, recipe with picture helped me a lot, it cleared my confusion.
Unknown
Thank you so much for this recipe. My baby loved this recipe and its fresh making too.
anitha ykn
Hiii
I am a working mom with 6 months baby (in a week..she will turn 6).
Can I prepare ragi milk in the morning and cook them just before giving to baby..may be around 3PM??
Pls reply.
Aarthi
store in fridge then
Anonymous
Hi , am working mom - can we make Ragi milk in bulk n freeze it for later use
Aarthi
yes i think you can do that.
Diya
Thank you very much for this awesome recipe. I have tried this multiple times but I am yet to get the perfect consistency of the porridge like how you have shown. Either the final product is semi liquid. Or like jelly. Can you share your tip here pl
SJ
Thank you so much for the recipe. The details and the step by step pictures are very helpful for a beginner like me. I am working mom. Can I prepare this porridge in the morning, store it in fridge and warm after 3 hours to feed my baby. Please suggest.
Unknown
Pls tell me the recipe for making and storing it in bulk
Anonymous
Please don't add sugar.. Adding apple juice gives different taste. Also roast raagi add baadam popy seeds very little ajwain 10 pepper corns before making the powder
Anonymous
My daughter is 5 1/2 months now. I tried ragi porridge with karupatti added and she didn't like it. Shall I add salt instead of sugar.
Gayathri
Hi aarthi your recipes helps me a lot thank you so much.you said that if the ragi well cooked it will never cause constipation. But how to know ragi well cooked enough.plz reply.my son having constipation I m worried
Aarthi
it will take around 4 to 5 mins to cook ragi
Maheswari
How do you wash the cloth after filtering the kanji. Is washing with soap necessary or only hot water is enough?
Benita
Hello aarthi, once I take out the ragi milk, can I keep it in the fridge till the time I have to make it into a porridge for the baby ?
How much time can I keep in the fridge without it being spoiled?