Ragi / Fingermillet Chocolate Milk Shake / Healthy Kids Recipe

Finger Millet , also known as Ragi or Nachni is  considered one of the most nutritious cereals. Ragi is a rich source of Calcium , Iron , Protein, Fiber and other minerals. The cereal has a low fat content and contains mainly unsaturated fat. It is easy to digest and does not contain gluten; people who are sensitive to gluten can easily consume Finger Millet.
Source: http://naturopathycure.com/Health-Benefits-of-Finger-Millet-%28Ragi%29.php

Ragi porridge is a very nutritious baby food . My son enjoyed the sweet Ragi porridge daily until the age of 2 yrs. But now that he is grown up, also have changed his likes and dislikes. I have already posted my Baked Fingermillet Crackers recipe earlier. This was a hit at my place and now it was a turn of some sweet drink , So thought of adding Ragi to his favourite Chocolate Milk shake. On browsing , I found a similar recipe here , where ragi flour and cocoa powder were cooked and then added to the milk shake. I liked the idea, added some of my twists to the recipe and my son enjoyed it happily.

Ragi Chocolate Milk shake is one of the best way to add this nutritious cereal to our diet. It can be served in the morning at the breakfast table or as a refreshing treat after school or work. In this recipe the Ragi flour is dry roasted in a pan to remove the raw taste and then as we do for porridge,  milk is added to this flour and cooked. Here I have added Cocoa powder to the milk before adding it to the Ragi flour. The whole mixture is cooked nicely until a solid mass is formed. On cooling this is added to the blender with chilled milk and sugar. I add some chocolate chips also to the milk shake just before serving to get the chocolaty bite.


Ingredients: Serves 2 tall glasses
Measurement - 1 cup = 200 ml

• 3 tbsp Ragi / Finger-millet flour
• 2 tbsp unsweetened Cocoa powder
• 2 cups Milk 
• 1 tbsp Chocolate Chips (optional)
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract (optional)
• Sugar to taste ( I have used 4 tbsp, as my son has a sweet tooth)

Method:

1. Mix the Cocoa powder in 1/2 cup milk and set aside. In a sauce pan dry roast the Ragi powder on a low flame for 1-2 minutes. This is to remove the raw taste. 

  2.  Add the Cocoa powder and milk mixture to this Ragi flour and stir very well , making sure no lumps are left and keep scrapping the edges and bottom of pan to avoid the mixture from burning . Cook on low flame until we get a semi solid mass.

  3. Put off the flame and let this mass cool down. Now in a blender, blend remaining chilled milk , Sugar , Vanilla extract and this Ragi Cocoa mass .

 4.   Add some Chocolate chips while serving the Ragi Chocolate Milk shake . Enjoy this healthy chocolaty treat with loved ones !!!

If you are looking for some more healthy beverages , check out my Strawberry Milk Shake , Rambutan and Banana Milk shake , Miracle Juice , Apple Mint Green Tea , Dragon fruit and Banana Smoothie