Indian baby food recipes often include ingredients such as suji, dal, dahlia, coconut oil and ghee and spices such as cumin, mustards seeds and curry leaves, to mention some.
These ingredients are nothing new if you live in South Asia, of course, but for the average Western baby these tastes are new and can be welcome or viewed with great suspicion from your baby.
If you have a relatively picky baby, introduce these dishes in combination with some foods that your baby really likes. Most children need to taste something quite a few times before appreciating a new taste. So don’t give up, but also never turn the meals into power struggles.
For tips on how to help your picky eater, read this article.
If you are not familiar with the ingredients mentioned above, here are some brief explanations.
Suji – The same as semolina, which is a high quality, coarse wheat product, made from the wheat kernels. For being wheat, it is relatively high in protein. Compared to wheat flower it is also high in dietary fiber. It contains several vitamins and minerals, such as B1, B3, B9 and phosphorus. (To learn about the benefits for your baby of different vitamins, click here.)
Dal (also spelled Daal, Dhal or Dahl) – Dried lentils of different kinds, often used in countries like India, Pakistan and Nepal. For being a vegetable, the protein content is high, which is particularly important in cultures where a vegetarian diet is common. There are many different types of dal.
Dahlia – Broken Wheat or Bulgur. More coarse than semolina, but similar content, i.e. high in fiber, B-vitamins and some minerals.
Ghee – Clarified butter. Ghee is commonly used in India, and several other countries in South Asia. It is made from regular butter, by slowly heating it up and getting rid of the foam that floats to the top of the pan, as well as the milk solids that will appear (brown) at the bottom of the pan. Ghee stays fresh longer than regular butter doesn’t need refrigeration. Ghee is usually unsalted, which is good for babies. It is also rich in short fatty acids and several vitamins, such as A, D and E.
Now to the recipes… (Most of these recipes have been shared by our wonderful visitors. If you would like to share an indian baby dish too, simply add your recipe in Comments Section at the bottom of this page.
If you need instruction on how to make baby food, you’ll find that here.
Indian Baby Food Recipes Stage 2 to Toddler
- Mixed Dal Rice
- Suji Ki Kheer For Toddler
- Pal Satham (Milk Rice) For Toddler
- Rice With Dhal And Vegetables
- Dalia (Broken Wheat) Porridge
- Pumpkin Rice
- Pulav For Toddlers
Mixed Dal Rice
(Shared by Madhumeeta Chandge, Chicago)
- 1/2 cup of rice
- 1/2 cup of mixed mung dal, masur dal, udad dal, tuar dal (i.e. mung beans, red lentils, yellow split peas or other beans and lentils of your choice)
- 2 table spoon of butter or Ghee
- some Jeera (powdered cummin)
- some mustard seeds (powdered)
- 2 curry leave
- A little bit if salt (if your baby is older than 1 year)
- 3 cups of water
Instructions:
- Add a ghee or butter in to the Cooker.
- Add some jeera, same mustard seed, some curry leaves.
- Then add all the dals and rice in to the cooker. (Wash them all before you put them into the cooker.)
- Add a little bit of salt if your baby is older than 1 year.
- Add a 3 cups of water to it.
- Cook it well.
- Puree the food the consistency you want. Add more water if needed
Suji Ki Kheer For Toddler
(Shared by Ridhima Awasthi, Bhopal,mp, India)
- Suji (semolina)
- Whole Milk
- Sugar (just a little bit)
- Salt (just a little bit)
- Ghee or butter
Instructions:
- Fry some suji in a small amount of ghee or butter until light brown
- Add some milk and boil slowly.
- Add sugar and a very small amount of salt.
- Since this dish contains both cow’s milk, sugar and salt, it is only appropriate for babies older than one year. Also remember, that sugar can easily give your baby cavities, so use as little as possible.
Pal Satham (Milk Rice) For Toddler
(Shared by Rathi, India)
2 baby portions
- 1/2 cup Rice
- 4 cups Milk
- 1/2 tsp Salt
Instructions:
- Boil the milk in a vessel.
- When the milk boils add the washed rice.
- Cook the rice till it becomes soft and fully cooked.
- When the contents becomes thick and soft, add salt.
- A little bit of sugar can be added if the baby prefers a sweeter taste.
- Add the corn, the stock and the water.
- Pal satham is ready.
- Cool the rice and serve to the baby.
This simple recipe can be varied in several ways. For younger babies, instead of salt, you can add a spoon or two of rasam (an Indian soupy mixture made of tamarind water, dhal powders and tomato) to season the rice. You can also mix with vegetables or other herbs or spices.
A simply way to make milk rice is also to simply mix cooked rice with boiled milk.
Rice With Dhal And Vegetables
This is at least 2 baby portions
- 1/2 cup of rice
- 1 spoon thoor dhal (yellow Pigeon peas)
- 1/2 carrot
- 2 green beans
- A small piece of garlic
- A pinch of turmeric powder
- A pinch of salt (if your baby is older than 1 year)
- 3 cups of water
Instructions:
- Wash the rice and dhal
- Cut the vegetables in small pieces
- Add everything into a sauce pan and boil until ready and tender
- Puree the food the consistency you want. Add more water if needed.
Dalia (Broken Wheat) Porridge
(Shared by Rasmy, Bangalore, India)
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tbp spoon broken wheat
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp sugar (if desired)
- 1 pinch of salt (if baby is older than 1 year)
- A spoon of grated almonds (if desired)
Instructions:
- Heat water in a pan, add the broken wheat, bring to boil.
- Now add the milk, keep on a low heat, continue to stir til the milk boils.
- Add the sugar (optional)and the salt (optional) to the boiling mixture.
- In addition you can also add grated almonds.
- Turn off the heat. Let it cool and don’t forget to taste it before feeding.
Pumpkin Rice
(Shared by Vishmita Suvarna, Columbus, Ohio,U.S.A)
This is 1 baby portion
- 1/4 cup rice
- 1 teaspoon moong dal (yellow lentil)
- 1 small piece red pumpkin
- 1 pinch of salt (if baby is older than 1 year)
- 1 pinch of pepper (optional)
- 1.5 cups of water
Instructions:
- Wash the rice and dhal
- Clean and cut the pumpkin into thin slices.
- Add in 1.5 cups of water in the cooker or sauce pan.
- Add all the ingredients and cook slowly for 5 minutes or until the rice and dal are soft.
- Puree or mash to the consistency you like
Pulav For Toddlers
(Shared by Mahipal Rawat, Mumbai, India)
This is 1 baby portion
- Boiled rice
- Finely chopped onion
- Some cumin and mustard seeds
- Coconut oil to fry in
- Chopped potatoes, peas, carrots and other vegetables of your choice
Instructions:
- Saute onions, cumin and mustard seeds in oil. Preferably coconut oil.
- Then add onions, potatoes, peas, carrots and any other vegetables and cook them with a little water until they are tender.
- Once the vegetables are cooked, add boiled rice and heat mixture for a couple of minutes. Let it be cool off and now it is ready to be served.
- Puree or mash to the consistency you like, or simply serve as is.
What is your baby’s favorite Indian baby dish? Please share some of your own baby recipes! Use the Comments Section below, or for other than Indian baby food recipes, please share them here.
More Yummy Baby Food and Feeding Tips
- More Baby Food Recipes From 8 Months Old And Up
- Baby Food Recipes To Start With (4-6 Months)
- Foods To Avoid For Babies Younger Than 1 Year Old
- Safe And Healthy Finger Foods
Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.
Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.
