Ragi Sevai | Nachni Seviyan
So, what is Ragi ? Ragi is simply finger millet and has been an ancient millet. Apart from these health benefits, Ragi is also used extensively as a body coolant. Ragi flour is mixed with buttermilk and a pinch of salt, and had during summers both as a health drink as well as to cool the body.
Breakfast is something that’s defacto in my family – even on Sundays – by 7 or am (unless we prefer Brunch on a lazy weekend). Having said that, while Idlis and Dosas do make their friendly appearance every week, today’s dish is my personal favourite.
We like Ragi (finger millet) in most forms – Ragi Sankati (savouryflour based roundel), Ragi Rotti (flattened Indian bread) and even Ragi Besan Ladoo. Ragi Sevai (finger millet string hoppers) is the latest addition using this millet. Quite easy to make and loaded with calcium, its also completely gluten free. The Instant Ragi Oats Dosa is another family favourite where the Ragi is hidden for picky eaters :p
I couldn’t post the step by step pictures as mornings are quite rushed to take any pictures, but surely will update the next time I make this. Meanwhile, let’s hop over to the recipe. You can use store bought Ragi Sevai or make it from scratch. I have posted the recipe for the latter method.
Other Millet based Breakfast dishes you may like on the blog are:
Cuisine : South Indian Course: Breakfast or Tiffin (light snack)
Prep time – 15 mins : Cook time + steaming time – 20 mins ; Serves – 2
Let’s make Ragi Sevai | Ragi Semiya Upma | Finger Millet String Hoppers
Ingredients to make Ragi Sevai | Ragi Semiya Upma | Finger Millet String Hoppers
- 1 cup Finger millet flour (Ragi flour)
- 1/4 cup Rice Flour (homemade or storebought)
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1.5 cup Boiling water (adjust according to the quality of flours)
Tempering:
- 1 TBSP Oil
- 1 Onions (1/2 cup)
- 1/4 cup Mixed Vegetables (I used Peas, carrots and cabbage)
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
- 1/2 tsp Split Black Gram (Urad dal)
- 1 sprig Curry leaves
- 3 Green chillies
- 3 tsp Freshly grated coconut
- 1 tsp Lemon juice
PIN FOR LATER
How to make Ragi Sevai | Ragi Semiya Upma | Finger Millet String Hoppers
- Mix and sieve both the flours together in a large bowl along with salt. Add the boiling water little by little till it comes out to a glutinous mass. Mix slowly with a spoon as you pour water. Cover and rest for 3 -4 minutes till it has cooled. Then knead with oiled hands to a thickish dough. Make equal balls of this dough and cover with a wet cloth for 2 minutes
- Slightly grease the idiyappam press / murukku press and take one portion of this and press the idiyappam mould into fine sevai. Place directly into an Idli mould.
- Repeat with all the flour balls and steam for 10 – 14 minutes.
- Cool and fluff them a bit
- In another pan, heat oil. Temper mustard, curry leaves, chillies. Add chopped onions and blanched peas, salt and sautè well till onions turn pink. Now add the fluffed up idiyappam, grated coconut and lightly saute, taking care not to break the sevai (string hoppers).
- Switch off the stove. Add lemon juice, coriander leaves and serve with chilled yoghurt or any Chutney! We had it with Coconut Chutney
Ragi Sevai | Ragi Semiya Upma | Finger Millet String Hoppers
Equipment
- Steamer
- Ladle
- Knife
- pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup Finger millet flour Ragi flour
- 1/4 cup Rice flour homemade or storebought
- 1 tsp salt
- 1.5 cup Water (Use Boiing water) – adjust according to the quality of flours
Tempering
- 2 TBSP Oil
- 1 Onions 1/2 cup
- 1/4 cup Mixed vegetables I used Peas, carrots and cabbage
- 1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
- 1/2 tsp split black gram Urad dal
- 1 sprig Curry Leaves
- 3 Green Chillies
- 3 tsp Grated coconut
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice
Looks really healthy and tasty 🙂 never tried making this from scratch.
Looks healthy and delicious.
sevai is my most favorite dish ever! will try this healthy version! 🙂
Woosh! Ragi and sevai, what a fantastic combo! For sure healthy to its core and then the temptation of sevai…just too good. 🙂
Very yummy and healthy, and home-made sevai too..
healthy diet recipe
so healthy and delicious..nice one..
this is such ahealthy n yummy breakfast…lovely recipe kalyani!
Healthy breakfast!!!
kalyani, i love this and i eat it with loads of yoghurt you kicked the craving up for me!!
This sevai looks awesome and yummy
Healthy and delicious post…
Looks so delicious and colorful.
Healthy and delicious sevaiyaan. savoury version
Kalyani!!! I have my post of this very same dish ready to go 🙂 great minds thinking alike! Aren't they SUPER tasty?
A totally new dish that I would love to try, being a millet fan!
It looks like a very tasty and healthy breakfast 🙂
sevai Looks absolutely delicious and perfect.
Sevai looks fabulous. esp with that chutney on the side
Kalyani I'm a big fan of ragi sevai. Whenever I'm in India, I use the ready made one and here in Mombasa have to make it from scratch. Like how you've added rice flour too. hopefully that makes it easier to handle the steamed sevai.
This is great Kalyani. I have been wanting to try making this seviya but never thought of making them at home. Now that I have a good recipe will try.
I live in ragi land but the family simply doesn’t eat it. This is the only way I can get across to them. Love ragi sevai! And yours looks yum !!
I use ragi regularly in my diet and now your post is tempting me to try out this healthy and delicious looking ragi string hopper dish. Bookmarking it to try out soon. Thanks for the wonderful share Kalyani.
You have made the cumbersome process of pressing the sevai a breeze . I have been skeptical to make sevai at home and relied on the instant ones which are okayish. Now I will definitely try this method and make ragi sevai /idiyappam.
THanks pa, do try
Wow kalyani, ragi sevai from scratch looks tempting! We love a good veggie loaded sevai, i have always made them from readymade pack, sure will try this version of yours❤️
Thanks Priya.. Do try this, am sure you would like it a lot..