RAGI DOSE/ KELVARAGU DOSAI/FINGER MILLET CREPE

Ragi - finger millet is an under rated wonder grain. Has all the qualities to be a very good staple. Discover how well ragi gets transformed into a tasty, healthy snack.. The crisp reddish brown delight leaves you yearning for more. Without a doubt an excellent breakfast option.
Preparation time

• Soaking methi and urad dal (Black gram Dal)- 5 minutes
• Grinding and mixing -- 10 minutes
• Cooking time (crepes) - 30 minutes (for 12 dosas)

Ingredients

• Methi - 2 table spoons
• Beaten Rice (poha/avalakki) - 2 table spoons
• Black gram Dal - 1/2 cup
• Ragi Flour - 3 cups
• salt to taste
• Oil for drizzling on the dosas

Quantity enough for 4 people (3 medium sized dosas each)

I prefer filtered peanut (ground nut) oil because of its health benefits.

Preparation

• Wash urad dal, poha and fenugreek (methi) and soak for 4- 6 hrs in about 2 cups of water.
• Grind all soaked ingredients to a smooth paste in a mixer /wet grinder.
• In a container mix ragi flour with 3 cups of water thoroughly so that there are no lumps.
• Add ground paste to ragi mix
• Add salt to taste and leave it overnight to ferment. Container should be big enough - the batter rises because of fermentation overnight.
• Heat a griddle/tava on medium heat*
• Smear the hot tava with oil/ghee
• Take a ladleful of batter and spread it evenly in circular motion on the griddle (tava)
• Drizzle oil/ghee and roast to light golden hue.
• Flip the dosa and allow the batter to cook (see tips)
• Flip the dosa to the original position leave it on for a few seconds and remove
• Your crispy dosa is ready to be savored. Serve the dosa hot with chutney podi/ghee and/or peanut chutny, onion peanut chutney and curd.

Tips

• Check if the tava is hot enough by sprinkling water (water disappears!!! if tava is sufficiently hot. If water stays on to boil you need to wait for tava to heat up little more)
• If tava is too hot and smoking dosa batter will stick to the tava and burn
• Flip dosa for only for  a few seconds- other wise dosa will become hard and lose porosity
• Always maintain uniform medium heat - too much heat will burn dosas, too low heat will turn them rubbery.

Nutrition and Health benefits

• High amount of dietary fiber compared to white rice and other grains richest source of calcium among plant foods.
• Regular consumption of finger millet is known to reduce the risk of diabetes mellitus and gastrointestinal tract disorders.
• Ragi is an excellent plant source of natural Iron. of essential amino acids helps to manage cholesterol problems.
• It is found to be beneficial in conditions of anxiety, depression, migraine and insomnia.