Ragi Porridge Recipe for Babies (2 Methods)

Ragi porridge for babies is one of those very simple and gentle foods many moms like to start when baby begins solids. I have given 2 ways to make ragi porridge for babies one is with sprouted ragi flour which is instant when you have the flour in hand, another is with whole ragi which takes time. The taste is very mild, so babies usually have it without much trouble.

This porridge is mostly given for babies after six months because it keeps them little full for longer time and gives steady energy. This millet which has natural fiber, calcium and iron, so it is a good choice for growing babies. When cooked properly, it turns smooth and easy to swallow, which makes it very comforting as first food.

Jump to:

• About Ragi Porridge for Babies
• Ragi Porridge for Babies Ingredients
• How to make Ragi Porridge for Babies Step by Step
• Expert Tips
• Serving and Storage
• FAQS
• 📖 Recipe Card

About Ragi Porridge for Babies

Ragi porridge for babies is a very common traditional food made in many homes for years now. It is made using sprouted ragi flour or by taking out milk from soaked ragi grains. The flavor stays very light, and the porridge becomes thick nicely while cooking. The taste is plain, and still feels very nutritious and filling for the little ones.

The texture of this porridge is according to how much water you add and the time you cook the porridge. Some prefer it thin in the beginning, while others make it little thick when the baby gets used to solids. You can serve it plain, or add a little jaggery syrup later if the baby is above one year. Both ways gives smooth and gentle porridge.

There are two common variations of this porridge. One is sprouted ragi flour porridge, which is easier and gets done in shorter time. The other one is ragi milk porridge, where milk is extracted from whole ragi grains and this gives a more mild taste. Both ways give soft and creamy porridge, very suitable for early feeding.

I usually make the sprouted flour version on normal days since it is faster, and the ragi milk version only when I have few extra minutes. Small batch works best because this porridge becomes more thick as it cools down.

Ragi Porridge for Babies Ingredients

• Sprouted ragi flour - I have used this to make porridge smooth and give natural flavor. You can use regular ragi flour also if sprouted not available.
• Whole ragi grains - I have used this for ragi milk porridge when I want fresher flavor. Finger millet works same too.
• Water - I use water to get right flowing consistency, and add little more if it looks too thick.
• Jaggery syrup - I have added this only for babies above one year, it gives slight sweetness. You can skip or use any mild sweetener.
• Ghee - I add few drops as it helps digestion and gives soft taste, you can leave it out also.

Similar Recipes

• Cereals for Babies
• Baby Purees
• Baby Porridges
• Baby Soups
• Others

How to make Ragi Porridge for Babies Step by Step

Method 1

1.Add ¾ to 1 cup of water in a pan. Add sprouted ragi powder (I used homemade) to the pan.

2.It should be very watery like this. Whisk well so that there are no lumps. Add ghee to it and start cooking.

3.Let it cook in low flame, It will start to thicken, at this stage add your sweetener. I used palm sugar candy powder.

4.Keep cooking until it starts to coat the ladle as shown. At this stage switch off. The whole process will take 5-7 minutes in low flame.

Feed warm along with few drops of ghee or as such.

Method 2

1.Take ragi, rinse it well and soak it overnight. Rinse again and drain water. Take it in a mixer jar.

2.First give a quick blend 2-3 times then add water and pulse it again.

3.Take a muslin cloth, transfer and extract milk. Squeeze the cloth till milk is extracted well. The milk will be thick.

4.You can add little more water and pulse it again ,you will get thin milk. You can even use a strainer if you don't have cloth. Press it with a spoon and extract milk.

5.If you  find the milk too thick then add little water and then cook.Transfer the extracted milk to a pan and heat it up. Keep mixing with a ladle else it will form lumps if you leave it unattended. It will slowly get thick as you can see.

6.The milk will thicken,at this stage add ghee and cook for few more mins. If you are adding any sweetener add it at this stage.

7.Cook for few more minutes till its thick as shown. Cook in low flame.

8.When it gets thick, it will leave the sides of the pan more like pudding consistency, as shown below, switch off. As it cool down it may bet more thicker. Let it cool for few minutes, then feed.

Serve ragi porridge warm to babies.

Expert Tips

• Consistency - I usually keep porridge slightly watery at first, thicker porridge can be harder for tiny babies to handle.
• Sweetener - I have added jaggery syrup only after one year, you can skip completely if baby is below 1 year.
• Stirring - I usually keep mixing ragi while cooking, because it forms lumps very fast if left unattended.
• Cooking time - I have seen ragi takes time to cook well, slow cooking helps it get smoother.
• Cooling - I noticed porridge becomes more thick after cooling, so I switch off little earlier.

Serving and Storage

Serve ragi porridge for babies warm with few drops of ghee or plain if you want. This goes well as morning feed or small evening meal when weather is little cool. Leftover porridge gets very thick, so I don't recommend storing long. If needed, keep few hours in fridge and add warm water while reheating.

FAQS

1.Can I use regular ragi flour instead of sprouted?

Yes you can use regular ragi flour too, it just won't be as light as sprouted but still works fine.

2.Can I give it to under six months babies?

No its better to wait till six months, younger babies may not digest solids well.

3.Can I skip ghee?

Yes you can skip ghee, but few drops helps reduce dryness and makes it easier to digest.

4.Can I make this porridge in advance?

You can make little earlier, but it gets thicker while cooling, so you may need to add warm water.

5.Can I use sweetener for small babies?

For babies below one year it is better not to add jaggery or honey, you can give plain.

If you have any more questions about this Ragi Porridge for Babies do mail me at sharmispassions@gmail.com. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook,  Pinterest, Youtube and Twitter .

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