Ragi is an age-old grain that is a powerhouse of nutrients, especially calcium. This millet is not only great for boosting bone health but also promotes overall well-being. Read on to learn how to include this nutritious grain into your diet.

Did you know that Calcium (Ca) is one of the essential minerals required for maintaining bone and teeth health? Insufficient calcium levels can lead to calcium deficiency, which particularly affects growing children and teenagers as well as the elderly. Fortunately, you can manage this condition with the right nutrition, by consuming different foods loaded with this mineral! One such food is ragi, also known as finger millet. The high content of calcium in ragi (364 mg/100 g) can naturally boost levels, boasting three times more calcium than milk (113 mg/100g). Read on to discover ragi’s calcium content per 100g, as well as delightful calcium-rich millets recipes you can prepare at home.

What is Ragi?

Ragi, is a highly nutritious millet crop and a staple food in India. The calcium content in finger millet is high, providing you an impressive amount of this mineral. Additionally, it is a rich source of other nutrients such as polyphenols, iron, zinc, fiber, and essential amino acids. In addition to its various health benefits, including anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties, finger millet is utilised in creating a diverse array of products such as rotis, porridge, and much more.

Calcium Content of Ragi per 100 gm

Ever pondered the question “Is ragi rich in calcium?” Finger millet is a powerhouse of calcium that can do wonders for your health! Listed below is ragi’s calcium content per 100g, along with its other nutrients:

Nutrient

Amount per 100g

Calcium

364 mg

Energy

320.74 kcal

Carbohydrates

66.82 g

Protein

7.16 g

Dietary Fiber

11.18 g

Iron

4.62 mg

Ragi is rich in calcium and has the highest calcium content among all cereals. Ragi’s calcium content per 100g is approximately 365 mg, making it an excellent choice for boosting calcium intake. Apart from playing a major role in bone and teeth health, it also helps facilitate muscle movement, nerve functioning, blood circulation, and hormone release.

How to Include Ragi Into Your Daily Diet


Take advantage of finger millet’s calcium content with these simple preparation methods:

  • Soaking: Soaking ragi in water not only aids digestion for those with digestion issues but also significantly reduces the cooking time.
  • Sprouting: To sprout ragi, begin by soaking it in water overnight. After draining off the excess water, spread the ragi on a damp cloth and let it sprout for approximately 4-5 hours.
  • Popping: Simply fry a spoonful or two of wet ragi on a hot pan until it starts popping. Sprinkle your preferred seasoning and savour the deliciousness!

Ragi Recipes

Finger millet’s calcium content makes it a remarkable dietary source for supporting bone and teeth health, as well as facilitating other important bodily functions. The following recipes take advantage of ragi’s calcium content and are a delightful way to boost calcium intake and support bone strength.

Meal

Dish

Recipe

Breakfast

Ragi idli with coconut chutney

Ferment ragi flour, rice, and urad dal overnight, steam in idli moulds, and serve with a tasty coconut chutney.

Ragi dosa with sambhar

Spread the batter on a hot tawa and serve with hot sambar for a delicious treat!

Ragi porridge with vegetables

Saute onions and kadi patta in hot oil. Add ragi flour and vegetables and cook in water. Garnish with coriander and serve hot.

Lunch

Ragi carrot paratha

Knead ragi, wheat flour, and grated carrot into a dough, roll into parathas, and cook on a hot tawa. Serve this hot with chutney.

Ragi vegetable cutlet

Combine ragi flour, mashed veggies, spices, and breadcrumbs, shape, and fry them in oil. Enjoy with curd or chutney.

 

Ragi paneer paratha

Saute onions, jeera and spices in hot oil. Add boiled potatoes and mix well. Ladle batter on to a tawa, cook and add potatoes. Fold the dosa and serve hot.

Snack

Ragi dhokla

Mix ragi flour, ginger, salt and pumpkin seeds with water to form a thick batter. Steam in a mould for 10 mins.

Ragi appam

Mix ragi flour, suji curds and sesame seeds with water to form a batter. Steam this batter in moulds and serve hot with chutney.

Dinner

Sprouted ragi spinach khichdi

Saute onions, ragi, spices, and vegetables, then pressure cook with water, and garnish with curry leaves.

Chikoo ragi milk porridge recipe

Just blend chopped chickoo with ragi flour and milk, mix well, and serve!

Ragi onion dosa

Mix ragi flour, urad dal and salt with water to form a batter. Ladle this batter onto a hot tawa, add chopped onions and allow it to cook. Fry evenly on both sides and serve hot.

Conclusion

If you’ve wondered “Is ragi rich in calcium?”, we hope this article gives you a better insight into this. Ragi truly lives up to its reputation as a calcium powerhouse among other grains. The remarkable content of calcium in ragi, along with other essential nutrients, makes it an invaluable addition to any balanced diet. However, it is important to maintain a balanced consumption of this millet and practice portion control. If you have a medical condition, make sure you first consult a healthcare practitioner before making any changes to your diet. So why not get creative in the kitchen and give ragi finger millet a chance? Whether it’s incorporated into main courses or snacks, a healthier you awaits with this superfood!