Ragi Chocolate Pancake

These Ragi Chocolate Pancakes are utterly delicious and make a nutritious and soulful breakfast treat on weekends. Made with the healthy goodness of finger-millet, oats and bananas, these pancakes are fluffy and soft in texture and as jaggery is used to sweeten them, they are guilt-free as well. Unsweetened cocoa powder is used to get that chocolaty flavor which compliments very well with ragi and banana. The fruits and nuts toppings make the pancakes filling and delectable. The recipe is egg-less, gluten-free, vegan and requires just a blender jar to whip up all the ingredients into the pancake batter.

What are Pancakes?

A pancake is a flat, thin or thick flatbread, mostly round in shape, prepared from a starch-based batter that may contain eggs, milk, and butter and cooked on a hot surface such as frying pan in oil or butter. The shape and the structure of a pancake vary worldwide. In England, pancakes are often unleavened and resemble a crepe. In the North America, a leavening agent is used (typically baking powder) creating a thick fluffy pancake. when buttermilk is used instead of milk the pancakes develop a tart flavor and are called as buttermilk pancakes. Pancakes may be served at any time of the day with a variety of toppings or fillings but in America they are typically considered breakfast food.

If you are looking for more pancake recipes, do check out the following from this blog. Vegan Potato Pancakes, Carrot Oatmeal Pancakes, Beetroot Oats Pancakes, Msemen - Moroccan Square Pancakes, Sarva Pindi - Rice Flour Pancakes from the Telangana Cuisine, Whole wheat jaggery pancakes.

What is Ragi / Finger Millet ?

Finger millet is a nutritious cereal that resembles mustard seeds in appearance. It is called as Ragi in Hindi, Telugu and kannada, Nachani in Marathi, Kodra in Himachal Pradesh and Mandia in Oriya. Ragi is a super grain and has been a part of Indian diet, especially in the Southern Karnataka where it is eaten as a wholesome meal. Ragi is rich in calcium, protein, vitamin, fiber, and carbohydrate.

                                           

Health Benefits of Ragi Source

• Strengthens Bones: Ragi is a rich source of calcium. In fact, it is considered as one of the best non-dairy sources of calcium. Calcium is an essential mineral required for keeping our bones and teeth healthy and strong.
• Prevents Obesity: Ragi is rich in dietary fiber. This keeps you the feeling of fullness and prevents from overeating.
• Battles Anaemia: Ragi is an excellent source of iron. It is considered as a great food for anaemic patients and individuals with low hemoglobin levels.
• Manages Diabetes: Ragi is a low glycemic index food and helps in keeping the blood sugar levels stable. So diabetic patients are advised to incorporate ragi in their regular diet.
• Improves Digestion: The dietary fiber in ragi aids in smooth bowel movements, helps in proper digestion of food and prevents constipation.
• Good for Lactating Mothers: The presence of amino acids, calcium and iron in ragi enhances the milk production in lactating mothers.

If you are looking for more recipes using Ragi / Finger Millet, do check out the following links from this blog. Ragi Ladoo , Ragi Chocolate Milk Shake, Baked Finger Millet Crackers, Ragi Banana Chocolate Bundt Cake, Healthy Gingerbread Cookies using Ragi.

What goes into my Ragi Chocolate Pancake?

As mentioned above these ragi chocolate pancakes are egg-less, gluten-free and refined sugar free. Let's have a look at the ingredients one by one.

• Finger Millet / Ragi:  The first and the most obvious ingredients of these pancakes is Ragi or the Finger Millet. I have used it in the flour form. You may use plain or sprouted finger millet flour that is easily available in Indian grocery stores. I had some whole ragi so just powdered it using my grinder jar.
• Oatmeal: Apart from ragi flour i have used a small amount of oatmeal also. You may make it at home by simply grinding the instant oats in grinder jar.
• Ripe bananas: The pancakes are egg-less and the ripe bananas are the replacement to eggs in this recipe. You may use 2 small or 1 large overripe or ripe banana.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: The pancakes get the delectable chocolaty taste from the cocoa powder. Use good quality unsweetened cocoa powder.
• Jaggery Powder: Refined sugar is replaced with jaggery powder in this recipe which makes it a guilt-free affair.
• Milk: Use any plant based milk like almond milk, coconut milk or soy milk. If not following a vegan diet, you may use dairy milk as well.
• Vanilla Extract: I have flavored the pancakes with vanilla. You may use cinnamon powder instead.
• Baking Powder: I have used just a small pinch of baking powder to get the fluffy texture. It is purely optional and you may skip it f serving the pancakes to small kids and toddlers.
• Oil: Any neutral cooking oil can be used to cook the pancakes

Serving Suggestions:

• The pancakes taste best when served warm. Stack the pancakes and spread butter ( vegans may use coconut or nut butter) on it.
• You may drizzle, maple syrup or homemade chocolate syrup over the pancakes.
• Top the pancakes with dry fruits, nuts, chopped fresh fruits or berries just before serving.

Dietary Notes: The ragi chocolate pancakes are

• Vegetarian
• Gluten-free
• Vegan
• Healthy
• Toddler/Kid Friendly
• Satvik

 Related Event:

 It is month-end and time to post for my Facebook gourmet group, Shhhhh Cooking Secretly challenge. This group was started by Priya's versatile recipes and taken further to date by Mayuri di who blogs at Mayuri'sJikoni. Mayuri di is also our hostess for the month of August and she proposed Chocolate as the theme for the month. I have bookmarked her Chocolate Phirni and Chocolate dipped frozen bananas to try out soon.

In this group, each member takes turns to propose the theme for the month. All participating members are divided into pairs and both partners exchange a set of secret ingredients using which, both have to prepare a dish as per the theme. The other members of the group, take turns to guess the two secret ingredients just by looking at the picture of the dish. Doesn't all this sound interesting ! If you are a blogger and wish to join this group, do let us know in the comments section bellow. My partner for this month is Renu who blogs at . I gave Renu, dates and almonds as her secret ingredients and she prepared Chocolate Puffed Amaranth Bars using it. In return she gave me jaggery and vanilla essence and i made these delectable ragi chocolate pancakes. Meanwhile do check out Renu's space for some delicious recipes from around the globe. her Whole wheat chocolate crinkle cookies is next on my to-do list.

                                                 

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 5

Ingredients: Measurements used 1 cup = 240 ml

• 1 large or 2 small over ripe bananas
• 1 cup finger millet / ragi flour
• 1/2 cup milk or as required
• 1/4 cup oatmeal
• 1/4 cup jaggery powder
• 2-3 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• Pinch of baking powder (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Oil for cooking the pancakes

For serving

• Honey/ maple sugar or homemade chocolate syrup for drizzling over the panackes
• Fresh fruits of your choice to top the pancakes
• Dry fruits, slivered nuts or choco chips as toppings

Method:

1. To begin with making the ragi chocolate pancakes, take a grinder jar and add peeled banana to it. Pulse it. 

2. To this add the ragi flour, oatmeal, jaggery powder and cocoa powder and a pinch of baking powder if using. Blitz to get a semi solid mass. Add vanilla extract and milk to it and blitz again.

3. The pancake batter should be not very thick or free flowing. Add more milk if required to adjust the desired consistency.

4. Heat a pan. Grease it with oil. Add a ladle full of batter in the center and spread it a bit in circular motion. Drizzle some oil at the edges and cover cook the pancake on low to medium heat for a minute or two. Flip the pancake and cook the other side also.

5. Make all the pancakes similarly and allow them to cool a bit. Stack the pancakes. apply some butter on the top if using. Drizzle honey/ maple syrup or chocolate sauce and top the pancakes with chopped fresh fruits, nuts and dry fruits before serving .

6. Enjoy the healthy and delicious ragi chocolate pancakes with your loved ones for breakfast with a glass of milk or at any time of the day.

                        

Recipe Notes:

• Use good quality unsweetened cocoa powder for best results.
• Do not add baking powder if serving to toddlers.
• You may use choco chips or berries of your choice apart from fresh fruits and nuts as topping over the pancakes.
• Pancakes taste best when served warm. You may reheat the leftovers if any in a microwave before serving.

I hope a few of you would love to try out this recipe. If you do so, feel free to share your feedback with us in the form of likes and comments in the comment section below this post. All your suggestions are also more than welcome. If you like my work and feel it is worth following, do hit the follow button at the top right corner of this blog. Your appreciation means a lot to me. For more recipes and new updates follow us on social media.

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