Preparing Nachani/Ragi/Finger Millet Rava.

"Preparing Nachani/ Ragi/ Finger Millet Rava” ... A simple method of preparing the nutritious calcium loaded nachani into rava consistency for addition of the same into various dishes like bhakri, vadas, idlies, ladoos, sweet khichidi, pejja (poridge), halwa etc. ..... Yummilicious ... 

** From the day I came to know the immense health benefits of Nachani/ Ragi/ Finger Millet it has been a regular ingredient used frequently in my dishes. As you all know it is high in calcium and you should add them and consume in some form, the Dr. always advice calcium is def. necessary for aging bodies. I will not run into details about it health benefits as there is enough of it on net and I myself too have written a lot about it. Again, under the present quarantine condition it become that much more difficult to do posting, so please do excuse. However, I have given the method, do try it out and enjoy adding them while preparing different dishes and reap in the health benefits. 

** A little bit about Nachani rava/ Ragi rava/ Finger Millet Rava : Nachani Rava is fine nachani granules the size of Mumbai rava that can be used in many dishes. There was a time when this was available to me in a super store run by Gujarati Brothers. However, they do not do the same now unless ordered in Bulk as there are no buyers. I had come across this about 3 decades back as then I used to stay in that particular locality which was close by to this stores, that is how I came to know about this rava. Well, a decade back I missed it so much that I decided to give it a try on mixer grinder and it worked. I would not call it perfectly like store bought once, but it served the purpose, now until I find some other stores where this is available freely, I will be preparing it using mixer grinder, you can check out the picture attached on collage for reference. 

** Here is my own method of "Preparing Nachani/ Ragi/ Finger Millet Rava” … Pick and clean the nachani/ ragi/ finger millet to remove stone or any other sticks or unwanted particles if any. Take a clean cotton cloth, soak it in water and squeeze out as much water as possible. Now add the nachani into the cloth and rub vigorously so that the nachani is brushed clean. 

** Now spread a few sheets of paper and top it with a clean dry cotton cloth and put the cleanly rubbed nachani on it and spread into a thin layer and allow to dry in a dry place for a few hours. You can also keep it in sunlight area, taking care to see that there is no dust. Now the nachani is cleaned and ready to be ground in the mixer grinder. 

** Add in two handful of nachani into mixer grinder (use the smallest utensil of mixer grinder) and using pulse mode grind the nachani carefully for few seconds, mix, repeat, till you see rava consistency nachani in the mixer. It will take about 3-4 pulse grinding of 3 seconds. Now remove the same into a plate and continue with the rest in same method till done.

** Now sieve the prepared rava through a very fine sieve if need be to get the loose flour separated from the rava granules. You can use the flour in preparation of roti/ chapati/ poori or bhajias too or you can retain the mixture as it is and use in preparation of bhakri, it does not make much of a difference. However, for biscuits/ cookies the grainy rava texture is prefered.

** “Nachani Rava/ Ragi Rava/ Finger Millet Rava” is done and ready for use and this can be used as and when necessary, for preparation of bhakri, vadas, idlies etc. There are many dishes that can be prepared using this rava and I have already included a few of them, to which you can use the search option and go across too. Store it in an air tight container, it remains good for long time.