Green Gram Puree for Baby/ Moong Dal Puree for Baby/Green Gram Recipe for Baby/ Pachai Payaru Recipe for Baby

Generally, we parents prefer feeding yellow moong dal to our babies. Because it is light and easy to digest. To add some more healthy food options in the baby’s diet chart, green gram beans are best. Green gram is a good source of vitamins, minerals, fibre and carbs. It is rich in protein and calories.

Sprouts give extra nutrients to the beans or dal. I am making this dal puree recipe using sprouted beans. You may even use normal green gram dal (without sprouts) for this recipe. Therefore, it is total upto your choice to which type of beans to use in the recipe.

This 5 mins healthy and tasty recipe makes the baby’s snack time stomach filling. Preferably, introduce the sprouted green gram beans to the babies from 1 year. Otherwise, the baby might suffer from indigestion and gas problem. Because the baby’s digestive system is immature for these type of high protein beans or dal.

Recipe Time: 5 mins

Preparation and Cooking time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• Sprouted green gram – ½ cup
• Turmeric – a pinch
• Salt – a pinch
• Water – 50 ml
• Homemade curd – 2 tbsp

Procedure to sprout the moong dal (whole)

• Clean the moong dal (whole).
• Take the required quantity of dal and thoroughly rinse it under the running water. Washing for two to three times is important.
• Soak dal in water for overnight. For this purpose use boiled and cooled water.
• In the morning drain the excess water and rinse it with plain water.
• Further, there are two methods to sprout the moong dal.

First: Tightly wraps the overnight soaked moong dal in a muslin cloth. Keep it in a cool dark place in the kitchen for one more day.

Second: Leave the soaked moong dal in the same container or box for one more day covered with a lid.

I have tried both the methods and are equally good. Go with the method that is more suitable to you.

• The sprouted moong dal is ready to use.

How to Make

• Wash thoroughly the sprouted beans under the running water.
• Put moong beans and water in the pressure cooker.
• Add turmeric and salt to the mixture and close the lid of the cooker.
• Take two whistles and simmer the flame.
• Leave it for 2mins and turn off the flame. Since the beans are sprouted and tender, they take less time to cook.
• Mash the mixture to get nice textured food.

Some babies find difficulty in chewing and swallowing the outer skin of the moong dal. Therefore, sieving the moong beans is preferred.

• To make the dal puree smooth and runny add water left out in the cooker. The leftover water is very nutritious for the baby’s health.
• The green gram bean recipe is ready to serve. Enjoy it warm as mostly liked by babies.
• Curd or salty lassi goes well with the recipe. This uplift the recipe taste and nutrients factor.

Useful Tips

• Do taste the recipe so prepared before feeding it to the baby.
• Serving the recipe with few drops of lime is also loved by the babies.
• If your baby is big enough, topping with veggies makes it a wholesome snack.

Procedure:

Mash the boiled beans in a bowl. Add finely grated carrot, cucumber and tomato. Few drops of lime go well with the mixture.

Choose the vegetables according to the choice of the baby. Precautionary avoid tomato if not suitable for the baby’s digestive system. Because the tomato is an acidic vegetable.

• Adding turmeric is optional. Spices are recommended after one year of age of the baby.
• Do not overcook the moong dal otherwise, it will lose its flavour.
• Serve the recipe warm otherwise it will get dry.
• Apply 3-day rule when starting with green gram beans. This rule says that feed the new food to the baby for continuous three days. This helps in judging any side effects of that food to the baby.

If your baby suffers from a colic problem or frequent bowel movements after introducing beans, stop feeding the new food. In that case, it is preferred to introduce that particular food after a few months. So that the digestive glands of the baby become adaptable to some more new solids.

• Easy to carry boiled mashed beans when travelling. Serve this recipe any time to satisfy the hunger of the baby.
• Always check with your paediatrician before giving any new food to the baby.