Easy Homemade Dalia Khichdi /Dal Dalia Recipe for Babies

As in the previous recipe, “Dalia (broken wheat) porridge” you are being introduced to using the goodness of health and taste found in Dalia in the form of sweet porridge. Usually, all the mothers are more concerned as to how to introduce different nutritious grains to the babies that tastes salty. This is because usually, the babies are more fascinated by the sweet flavour over the salty taste.

Further, I am sharing the recipe to prepare the Dal Dalia or the Dalia Khichdi for the babies. This baby food recipe is one full meal to be served in breakfast/lunch for a healthy start of the day.

Recipe Time: 25 mins

Preparation time: 15 mins

Cooking time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Powered Dalia (broken wheat) – 1 ½ tbsp.
• Plain Moong dal (Yellow) – 1 ½ tbsp
• Turmeric – a pinch
• Roasted Cumin Seeds (powered) – a pinch
• Asafoetida (Hing) – a dash
• Salt – a pinch
• Homemade Ghee – 1 to 1½ tbsp
• Water – 240 ml

Note: Taking the moong dal and Dalia in equal proportion

How to Make

• Roast the Dalia until fragrant and is slightly brown (rust) colour. It takes around 7 to 8 mins for roasting being a broken whole wheat grain.
• Crush the roasted Dalia in the grinder.
• Soak the plain moong dal in warm water for around 15mins before starting with the recipe.
• Wash the moong dal two times in plain water.
• Take the pressure cooker and keep it on the gas flame.
• Add homemade ghee and after it gets hot add Hing, turmeric and cumin seeds to the cooker.
• Take the Dalia and add to the mixture and stir for 2 mins so that it absorbs the flavours of spices.
• Add moong dal to the mixture along with the water and salt. Thereafter, close the lid of the cooker.
• After 2 whistles simmer the flame and leave it for around 8 to 10 mins.
• Turn off the flame and keep it aside to cool down.
• The recipe is ready to serve to the baby. As per the liking of the baby mash/sieve the mixture.
• To be more precise keep the consistency of the recipe as given below:
• 6 to 9 months: Flowing consistency (crucial age as starting with solids)
• 10 to 12 months: Slightly thick consistency
• Thereafter: As per the liking of the baby
• Consistency should be easy to swallow, and this will increase the liking of the baby towards the food.

Useful Tips

• Do taste the recipe so prepared before feeding it to the baby.
• Dalia is a whole wheat grain, therefore, add water to the recipe if the mixture is too thick to serve.
• Try to serve it warm; otherwise, it will get thick.
• Spices should be introduced to babies after 1 year. Alternatively, since asafoetida (hing) helps in reducing colic, bloating and other stomach problems, add it in the baby food recipe.
• Cumin seeds helps in digestion and adds an aroma to the recipe.
• In the sieving process, the bran (fibre) of the grain left as a residue which goes waste. Therefore, using the Dalia in powdered form to add more fibre to the baby’s diet. Further, it is easy to chew and swallow for the baby.
• Powdered Dalia can be stored in an airtight container for longer use.
• The proportion of the ingredients can be altered gradually.

Always check with your paediatrician before giving any new food to the baby.