This Ragi Ambli is what I attain for on sizzling summer season days when water doesn’t really feel sufficient. It’s a tangy, spiced, summer season drink from South India that’s tremendous cooling on the within.

Ragi ambli, also called nachni ambil, is a standard South Indian drink constituted of finger millet flour and curd. It’s been a summer season staple in my husband’s Mangalorean house for generations, and when you strive it, you’ll perceive why. Historically, making ragi ambli is a two day course of, however this recipe is a shortcut model that’s simply as nutritious however sooner and simpler.

If chaas is already your go-to summer season drink, consider this because the extra filling and  nutritious model. Ragi is of course excessive in calcium, iron, and fibre, so this isn’t simply one thing that tastes good; it really does your physique a number of good, too. We make this virtually each week by means of the summer season, and it’s grow to be as a lot of a daily as our afternoon chai.

Substances for Ragi Ambli

• Ragi Flour: Additionally referred to as finger millet flour. That is the bottom of the drink and what provides it its earthy flavour and vitamin.
• Curd: Whisked clean. That is what makes the ambli tangy and cooling.
• Seasoning: Black salt and jeera powder. Black salt provides a definite tanginess that common salt can’t replicate.
• Recent Add-ins: Chopped onions, inexperienced chilli, curry leaves, and coriander. These give each sip a savoury, spiced kick.
• Water: Used to prepare dinner the ragi after which to skinny the ambli to your most well-liked consistency.

Regularly Requested Questions

Richa’s High Ideas

• Combine the ragi flour in chilly water first earlier than including to boiling water. This prevents lumps from forming. When you add the flour on to sizzling water, you’ll spend ages making an attempt to clean it out.
• Stir constantly whereas cooking the ragi. It thickens shortly and may stick with the underside of the pan if left unattended. Preserve stirring for these 3-4 minutes, and also you’ll get a wonderfully clean consistency.
• Let the ragi combination cool utterly earlier than including curd. When you add curd whereas the combination remains to be sizzling, it’ll break up, and the ambli can have a grainy, disagreeable texture.

Storage Ideas

• Within the fridge: Retailer ragi ambli in an hermetic container or a lined jug for as much as 2 days. It thickens because it sits, so add a splash of water and provides it stir earlier than ingesting.
• Freezing: Not advisable. The curd base separates as soon as thawed and the feel received’t be the identical.

Serving Concepts

Ragi ambli is a drink, but it surely’s filling sufficient to be a lightweight meal by itself. Listed here are just a few methods we get pleasure from it:

• As a day cooler: Pour it right into a tall glass and sip it chilly between lunch and dinner. It’s extra filling than chaas and retains you going by means of the most well liked a part of the day.
• With a easy lunch: Have it alongside some curd rice or lemon rice for a lightweight, cooling South Indian type meal.

Advantages of Ragi Ambli

Ragi is without doubt one of the most nutrient-dense grains accessible in India. It’s naturally excessive in calcium, which makes it particularly good for bone well being, and incorporates extra iron than most different cereals. The fibre content material helps with digestion and retains you full for longer with out feeling heavy. When blended with curd, you’re including probiotics to the combination, which is nice for intestine well being. Ragi additionally has a low glycemic index, that means it releases vitality slowly and doesn’t spike your blood sugar the best way refined grains do. For anybody wanting so as to add extra millets into their weight-reduction plan, this ambli is without doubt one of the best and most scrumptious methods to begin.

This ragi ambli has been a summer season common in our home for some time now, and I’ve a sense it’ll grow to be one in yours too. When you strive it, let me know what you assume on Instagram @my_foodstory. I’d love to listen to how you want yours. 

Watch Ragi Ambli Recipe Video

This text was researched and written by Harita Odedra.