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If nutritious snacks are your thing, then Ragi cookies should be on your list. They are made from finger millet, also known as ragi. Ragi is a superfood with great delicacy, and jaggery adds some of nature's sweetness to the ragi cookies.
As promised, the cookies are healthy. Ragi is packed with fiber, calcium, and iron, while jaggery provides antioxidants and other beneficial minerals, making it a great source of nutrition.
Healthy ragi biscuits are easy to make, and in this article, we will show you how to make them step by step. These cookies tick all the boxes, are gluten-free, and put your sweet cravings to rest. There is no refined sugar in the mix with these cookies, so this recipe is ideal if you are looking for a healthy vegetarian snack.
Ingredients for Ragi Biscuits Recipe
Here's what you will need! Not to fret! The ingredients are both nutritious and easy to come by! To prepare a healthy ragi biscuit that's crispy, you are required to have these:
Basic Ingredients:
Ragi Flour—the Recipe's Base: Ragi is a rich source of fiber, calcium, iron, and other amino acids, making it an ideal wheat alternative.
Whole Wheat Flour – Optional Ingredient to Better the Texture: It is a bit supportive and helps off the heaviness of the ragi's flour, but not wholly; the mixture with some solids will enhance the texture of the biscuits.
Jaggery – For Richer Flavoured cookies: Jaggery is an excellent alternative to sugar as it is full of vitamins and minerals like magnesium and iron, and whether in powdered or grated form, it works perfectly for making biscuits as it gives them an excellent taste and sweetness.
Ghee or Butter – For Richer cookies: For a more prosperous and crispier texture of the biscuits, we tend to add fats; ghee is for a traditional approach, while butter is a good substitute.
Baking Powder & Soda – These Are Necessary Agents: These agents are needed as they allow the biscuits to expand while cooking; they aim to achieve light and spongy weight.
A Dash of Salt – It Creates A Balance To The Sweetness of the Jaggery And Increases The Overall Taste.
Cardamom Powder – To Enhance The Taste: Cardamom Powder is optional for its enticing scent and taste added to the cookies.
Milk – The amount can be altered to the desired thickness as it holds the dough afterward. Use milk or use a non-milk substitution for vegan versions.
Nuts or Dried Fruits (Optional) – Adding almonds, cashew nuts, and raisins to the icing aid gives the biscuit additional crunch and sweetness.
Notes for Special Diets:
Vegan Alternatives: For this variation, vegan butter or coconut oil can be used instead of butter, and almond, soy, or coconut milk can replace the non-vegan milk.
Gluten Free: Ragi flour can be used alone instead of whole wheat flour to make gluten-free biscuits.
Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Make Ragi Biscuits
Compared to other cookies, making ragi biscuits is simple, and the procedures are easy to grasp. After following these, if you do not get a batch of delightful and crisp ragi cookies, this guide will guarantee you do.
1) Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) for biscuits. After preheating, place the tray lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
2) Prepare the Dry Ingredients: Place ragi flour, whole wheat flour (if utilizing it), baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl using a fine metal sieve. Sifting ensures consistent mixing of the ingredients and does away with any lumps.
3) Prepare the Wet Ingredients: Start by grinding the jaggery pieces into a fine powder using a blender. While doing this, keep butter or ghee melting in a small iron pan. When you combine these ingredients in the blender, add enough water to help achieve a smooth mixture.
4) Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: At this stage, sprinkle some cardamom powder as an added feature. Next, add the melted butter (or ghee) to the grated jaggery, then pour it into the dry ingredients. Now, continue mixing until the mixture appears chunky.
5) Add Milk and Form the Dough: Incrementally introduce milk to the combination to create a smooth dough. Ensure you don't add too much milk, as the batter may become sticky. The texture of the dough can be dry to wet but should be easy to mold. If it feels too wet, add a bit more flour.
6) Shape the cookies: When the dough is mixed, it is put on the counter, which has minimal flour spread and is rolled to half-inch thickness. A round shape is then cut with a cookie cutter or the edge of a glass. If a cookie cutter isn't available, small balls are made with the hands and flattened slightly.
7) Bake the Biscuits: When the dough is mixed, it is put on the counter, which has minimal flour spread and is rolled to half-inch thickness. A round shape is then cut with a cookie cutter or the edge of a glass. If a cookie cutter isn't available, small balls are made with the hands and flattened slightly.
8) Cooling and Serving: After removing the biscuits from the oven, place them on a cooling rack, guaranteeing they are crispy and perfectly uphold their texture. Pair them with coffee or tea, or enjoy them alone.
How to Serve and Store Ragi Biscuits
Ragi cookies are versatile and can be enjoyed in many ways!
Best Ways to Enjoy:
With Tea or Coffee— For delectable enjoyment, consider serving the biscuits alongside a steaming cup of tea or coffee.
On Their Own – Feel free to munch on them multiple times daily as an incredibly healthy snack between meals.
For Breakfast – Crumble them on the delicious yogurt in the morning or have them along with a smoothie of your choice.
How to Store Ragi Cookies:
Airtight Storage: It is possible to store biscuits at room temperature, which is sometimes even ideal because it can help dry them out, but to keep them longer, they must be stored in an airtight container.
Refrigerating: You can refrigerate the biscuits and prolong the time they last, but the flavor can be compromised due to moisture and humidity. Hence, a sealed container is a must.
Why Choose Ragi Biscuits?
Health Benefits of Ragi:
Ragi has numerous health benefits. A few distinctive include:
High Fiber: Ragi has a large amount of fiber content, which helps with digestion and maintaining cholesterol levels.
Gluten Free: Good in case of gluten sensitivity or celiac disease.
Abundance of Calcium: On consuming, Ragi boosts up calcium in the body, which, in turn, helps strengthen bone density and keeps osteoporosis at bay.
Rich in Iron: Iron deficiency and anemia are no longer significant issues when consuming Ragi.
Why Jaggery Over Sugar?
Jaggery is a healthier sweetener choice for your ragi biscuits:
Abundance of Nutritional Value: Jaggery doesn't lose mineral contents like potassium, magnesium, or iron as opposed to refined sugar.
Enhanced Body Breakdown: Jaggery helps the body to digest correctly and is also a natural detox.
Traditional Sweetener: It offers a strong and earthy flavor, which goes well with the nutty flavor of ragi.
Health Benefits of Ragi Biscuits with Jaggery
These biscuits are much more delicious and healthy for you due to the addition of ragi with jaggery. The visits made out of the two become nutrient-dense as the combination allows you to get calcium, fiber, and iron while also getting vitamins that assist digestion and provide antioxidants.
If you are on a diet or enjoying a healthier lifestyle, this will be the perfect snack for you as it perfectly complements those goals.
FAQs About Ragi Biscuits Recipe
Is it possible to prepare these biscuits in the absence of jaggery?
Not a problem! If jaggery is unavailable, maple syrup or honey can be used instead as a natural sweetener.
Can I make these biscuits vegan?
Substituting the butter with dairy-free varieties like coconut oil or vegan butter would work fine; plant-based milk would work fine.
Do I have the option to prepare the dough beforehand?
The answer is yes; it can be put inside a fridge for 2 days. Allow it to warm up slightly before rolling it out.
Why is my dough sticky, and how do I solve it?
If your dough seems sticky, add more flour until the batter appears optimal. Make sure you add a little amount of flour at once.
Can I make the biscuits crunchy or soft?
Roll the dough thinner for crispy biscuits and bake for a little longer. On the other hand, roll the dough thicker if you like softer cookies and cut the baking time.
Conclusion
Ragi biscuits made with jaggery are nutritious and very easy to prepare. Combined with jaggery, ragi enables these cookies to act as a healthy replacement for market-bought cookies. Anyone searching for a great gluten-free treat who may also be cutting down on sugar should strongly consider this dish; they won't be disappointed.
These healthy biscuits can pair well with any drink without cause for regret, so I recommend them. Please don't forget to recommend the recipe to your friends, be it on social networks, and tell us how the sale went. Happy baking!
To learn more about ragi and its amazing health benefits, read our blog 'What Is Ragi Biscuits