A delicious, simple and easy to make dalia recipe for babies

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, physicians recommend mothers to introduce solid food to their infants only after 6 months of age. Other sources support the idea of feeding babies meals that consist of broken wheat (Dalia) between 10-12 months of age. Because this is the age that infants are able to digest solids and obtain full benefits of such meals.

By feeding infants organic food such as Dalia, they are bound to be exposed to better nutrition that is rich in antioxidants into their diet.

But what is Dalia and why is it good for your baby?

Dalia, also known as broken wheat, Bulgar, cracked wheat, and couscous is prepared by coarsely milling wheat grains that are whole and raw. The method involves wheat being husked and cleaned soon after which it is processed to the desired size.

It is a wholesome meal both for babies and adults alike.

It is aromatic and delicious and has a rich, nutty flavour to it. A popular dish across India, Dalia is reputed as comfort food that can be eaten on any occasion.  Owing to it’s warm and grainy texture, Dalia makes for a hearty, scrumptious, meal. This is perhaps why babies love it as much as the adults do!

How is a Dalia Recipe for Babies Prepared?

Although Dalia is prepared in a variety of ways (for adults, children and infants), the recipe used for babies is delectable and well suited for their palate. For one, the consistency in the dalia recipe for babies is significantly thinner so that it is easy to swallow and digest.

Packed with nutritious vegetables and other ingredients that provide nourishment, a dalia recipe for babies involves the following ingredients:

Source 

Ingredients Required :

1. Dalia – 1 cup
2. Finely chopped carrot – 1
3. Finely chopped onion – ½ a cup
4. Peas – ½ a cup
5. Urad dal – ¼ of a cup
6. Medium-sized potato cut into small bits –  1
7. Curry leaves – between 4 to 8
8. Mustard seeds – ½ a teaspoon
9. Cumin seeds – ¼ of a teaspoon
10. Finely chopped coriander leaves – 2 tablespoons
11. Oil – 1 tablespoon
12. Turmeric – ½ a teaspoon
13. Salt to taste
14. Water as required

Steps and Method: 
Now let’s look at the steps and the method involved in making a quick, easy and simple dalia recipe for babies.

1. Before you start mixing in all the ingredients, saute the Dalia in a pan or any other shallow dish until you see the Dalia turn golden brown. You will also notice a change in the aroma as well. Transfer the contents to a plate and set it aside.
2. Heat oil in a different pan. Add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds to it and wait for it to splutter.
3. You can now add the curry leaves, the chopped onions, the urad dal and saute them all for a good few minutes.
4. Now you can add all the vegetables, coriander leaves, the turmeric powder and mix them all thoroughly.
5. Add a pinch of salt to the mixture and then cover the pan with a lid. Let it all cook for 2 – 3 minutes.
6. Finally, add a little bit of water and the roasted Dalia into the pan and stir the contents continuously to prevent the formation of lumps.
7. You can now wait for the Dalia to simmer (i.e., until most of the water has been absorbed).
8. Wait for the Dalia to reach room temperature or until it cools down so that it’s warm enough to feed your baby.

As mentioned earlier, there are several variations of Dalia, each unique in its flavour, taste and consistency (and it can all be enjoyed by your baby to varying degrees). There is the Dalia Kheer, the Dalia Lapsi (a modification of Dalia that consists of jaggery and other ingredients), Dalia Halwa, Broken wheat porridge, and broken wheat milk porridge.

Dalia – Nutrition Facts

Source

One of the many reasons why mothers prefer a dalia recipe for babies is to do with its nutrition factor. The meal is brimming with goodness consisting of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Aside from the nutritional content of the vegetables, the coriander leaves and the cumin seeds, ½ a cup of Dalia (broken wheat) consists of:

Source 

Conclusion

A dalia recipe for babies is ideal for mothers looking for a quick and easy meal to prepare. It’s packed with nutritious ingredients, vitamins and minerals, – basically, everything that is essential to an infant’s growth.

By introducing organic food like Dalia into your baby’s diet, you ca adios to chemicals and cancer-causing pesticides that would have otherwise made its way into your child’s stomach.

There is also the fact that Dalia is delicious to consume, so the question of your baby not taking a liking to it is highly improbable.

Try 24 Mantra Organic’s Wheat Daliya and feel the goodness inside!