Thursday, April 23, 2009

Ragi ambli (Finger Millet Drink) : Amazing Summer Cooler

We always forget our very own, healthy thirst quenchers & get carried away by canned drinks or preserved juices. One such "not so popular, packed with umpteen health benefits" drink of Karnataka is ambli. Ragi ambli (Finger millet drink) is a wonderful drink that not only helps beat the temperature, but also gives a cooling effect to the body. My granny always used to say “Ragi ambli amrutha samana” (English: Ragi ambli is equivalent to amruth). This is also a staple drink for farmers during summer.

Me, not being an ardent fan of milkshake is currently relishing this drink 3 times a day on a weekend. Aint'I crazy? Yes, indeed, because I feel no cold drink can beat the health benefits of this drink & I always find this as the best drink ever. My hubby doesn't like it, but that isn't stopping me from preparing & drinking ambli ;)

Ingredients:
1 tbsp ragi flour/finger millet flour
2 tbsp warm water
2 cups water
1 cup buttermilk/skimmed yogurt
Salt according to taste
½ tsp cumin seeds powder
¼ tsp fenugreek seeds powder (optional)
A pinch of asafoetida
Finely chopped curry leaves (optional)

Method:
  • Bring the water to boil. Meantime, mix the ragi flour with the warm water. Ensure no lumps are formed.
  • When water starts boiling, add salt, ragi mixture to it & keep stirring to ensure no lumps.
  • Allow the water to boil again in a medium flame for 2-3 minutes.
  • Remove from flame & allow the ambli (porridge) to completely cool (to room temperature).
  • Mix butter milk, jeera powder, fenugreek powder, and asafoetida, curry leaves to the porridge prepared.
  • Mix well & enjoy the cool drink.

Blog Events:

  • I would like to send this to “ Village Special Recipes“ of Shama. I have seen this prepared by my grandmom, mom, aunties & I remember my great grand mom relishing it the most. All of them belonged to a village that was few kilometers away from Chikmagalur, Karntaka, India. My father becomes nostalgic as he has a lot of memories associated with this drink. My grand father was " Shanbhogru" (Village Accountant) & our family was the only Brahmin family in that village. So, we were given loads of respect. My grandparents had 12 children & only one cow to satify their dairy needs. Being a very orthodox family, my granny would not get milk from others & as a result my father used to walk for 5-6 miles everyday to a nearby village to get milk from another brahmin family. As my father says, life was very tough those days & my atthe (father's sisters) were the only girls studying in the school. I used to visit the village once in a bluemoon as nobody was staying there. My father also recalls the difficulty in getting vegetables & also proudly says he used to eat atleast a dozen mangoes/day during the mango season. My grandfather passed away even before my father got married & my grandmom was with us since then & she also passed away couple of years before.
  • Goes to “Refreshing Drinks” of Chandrabhaga
  • Comfort Food for Illness” of recipecenterforall
  • Also to Deesha for "South Indian Cuisine"

28 comments:

  1. Send this to Shama's Villege special event. I thought of making this too for her, I love it. My ajji adds little chopped onions to the ragi ambli to give it a crunch! :)

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  2. this is soo soo good esp when one is dieting .. good one

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  3. That was a very quick one Ashakka. Thanks a lot. I'll surely send it to her.

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  4. Never heard of it, but looks like really beneficial. I'll try it this summer.

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  5. Wat a healthy drink, my mom do similar but as sweet version..

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  6. wow! suhsma chenngide?
    elli siktu raagi ( whole ragi )? good .very healthy :)

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  7. Ha Our fav.. We drink this a lot for summer. Yummm.

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  8. love this one perfect for summer

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  9. Sushma,
    wonderful health drink ri, raagi ambli always good for health in any season.
    TC

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  10. Sushma avare,
    You have a nice blog with a great collection of recipes :)
    Ragi ambli looks so delicious, slurrrp!!! I knew about ambli made from rave/sooji. Didnt know about ragi ambli. will surely try it sometime.

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  11. Hey Sushma this is simply the best drink. with only good things I mean so many good things in it... Btw u can send this to

    http://recipecenterforall.blogspot.com/2009/04/announcing-comfort-food-for-illness.html - Comfort food for illness and

    http://chandrabhaga.blogspot.com/2009/04/refreshing-drinks-rd-research-and.html for Refreshing Drinks - RD for summer

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  12. My grandmother makes ragi ambli and also she adds jaggery and makes ragi juice.Tastes great and healthy too.

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  13. Hey sushma,
    I love milk shakes unlike u but I like them without sugar.I know that ragi drinks are really really healthy. So drink as much as u want:)
    Jus wanted to tell u that ambli in malayalam means the moon:)

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  14. I will make this soon a very healthy drink. Good One Sush

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  15. I hvae drunk this ages ago

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  16. I have bought some ready mix of this ragi ambli...i think it has the same flavour of methi..could not complete it bcoz of its slight bitter in taste...i will try your way reducing the methi seeds quantity...healthy.!!

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  17. Oh, I had almost forgotten about this recipe.. thank you! :) We called it something else, though... not able to recollect the name right now.

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  18. lovely healthy one..thank you for this yummy entry...can u please give some information about the village

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  19. healthy recipe dear..thank u for passing it to the event...can u please gv some information about the village

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  20. this is such a healthy refreshing drink. Looks great!

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  21. Sounds new and interesting. nice click.

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  22. @Ramya Vijaykumar,
    Thanks a lot for letting me know about these events. I have sent to them.

    @Mangala Bhat,
    We get ragi grains here in Singapore :) Thanks for your lovely comments

    @Smitha,
    Thanks for letting me know that ambli means moon in Malayalam. My vocabulary in Malayalam increased by one more word now :p

    @All,
    Thanks a lot ladies for your inspiring comments.

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  23. Ragi Ambli ..such a healthy refreshing drink for the hot summers. I have ragi flour in my fridge..will try it soon!

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  24. It was rather interesting for me to read this post. Thanks for it. I like such topics and anything that is connected to this matter. I would like to read more on that blog soon.

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  25. It is extremely interesting for me to read this blog. Thanx for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to them. I would like to read more soon.

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  26. Don't stop posting such articles. I like to read articles like this. BTW add more pics :)

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  27. Nice article you got here. It would be great to read something more concerning that topic. Thanx for sharing this data.

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