Madua: Known as a superfood, you'll be surprised to know its benefits, specially for women

Madua or Ragi is known by different names in different parts of India. In the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, it is known as Madua. In most other places it is known as Ragi. Ragi or Madua is a cereal filled with nutrients.

It is very important to eat according to the seasons. During the winters, foods like Ragi keep the body warm during the cold and should be consumed. For this reason, Nutritionists recommend foods that help during the winters and is good for the body. In this regard, Ragi or Madua is very beneficial. Most people are unaware of its benefits. But in Ayurveda, it is known to have many benefits. Now, even dieticians and nutritionists recommend this gluten-free cereal.

Ragi is known by different names in different parts of India

Madua or Ragi is known by different names in different parts of the country. In the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, it is known as Madua. At the same time, in Telegu, Kannada and many other languages, this cereal is known as Ragi. Ragi or Madua is a nutrient rich gluten free cereal that is used in Rotis, Upma, Dosa, Cakes, Chocolates, Biscuits, Momo, Desserts and Chips. In most village households in Kumaon, Madua is mixed with wheat flour to make Rotis. This cereal has Calcium, Protein, Tryptophan, Iron, Metheonene, Fiber, Lecithin and other nutrients.

Some delicious Madua Recipes

Madua Momos

Mix some Ragi Flour with refined wheat flour, some salt (according to taste) and water and knead into a dough.

Use a filling of your choice. We mix minced cabbage, carrot, soya granules and beans along with some salt and pepper. Try adding as little spices as possible so that the Madua momo retains the Madua colour. We do not use any spice in the filling.

Fill the momos and close the ends.

Fill the bottom tray of your momo steamer with water. Coat the perforated middle layers with vegetable oil and place the momos carefully on them. Close the steamer and set it on the stove.

Enjoy your Ragi Momos once steamed.

Lehsu Roti

Knead your wheat flour into a dough. Separately, knead your madua flour into a dough but with lesser water. Roll out balls from your wheat dough. Make a depression inside these balls and fill in with portions of madua flour dough. Close the depression and roll it out with a rolling pin into a flatbread. Bake the roti on the tawa and enjoy it with a dal makhni or chicken curry.

Madua Halwa

Heat a table spoon of ghee in a sauce pan and roast the madua flour in it. Once the flour is fragrant, pour in some hot water and add in the sugar. Keep stirring till the the Halwa has a thick consistency. Serve hot with slivered almonds on top.