BABY FRIENDLY MOONG DAL GRAVY

Ingredients:

Moong dal - 2 tbsp

Shallots  - 2 small (finely chop)

Turmeric powder  - a pinch

Cumin seeds  - a few

Ghee  - few drops (at first don't add ghee. Once the gravy is used to the baby after 4 days add ghee)

Salt a bit is enough or no salt too is good

Preparation:

Pressure cook all the ingredients together with water for 5 minutes after first whistle. 

Mash with a spoon.

Serve with idly, dosa or rice.

FOOD THAT CAN BE ADDED AT 8 MONTHS

After the baby completes 8 months we can add the following ingredients.

1. Moong dal

2. Schallots

3.Rice (Raw rice as Pongal;at 8 months and white rice with parboiled rice when the baby turns 8 1/2 months)

4.Coconut milk

5.Ghee / coconut oil

6. Fine samolina

7. Yoghurt

8. Spices like turmeric powder, cumin, coriander powder, whole black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom (remove pepper cardamom and cinnamon before feeding the baby).

9.Hard boiled egg yolks

Spices too must be given four days apart. Do not introduce at a time to find allergies.

Using these ingredients we can prepare varieties of baby friendly food of a particular cuisine. I will post a few south Indian recipes one by one.  

BEANS SAUCE FOR BABY

Ingredients:

Tender green beans - 4 to 5

Green gram cooked water- as needed

Preparation:

Steam or pressure cook beans. Meantime cook dehusked green gram and strain the water and set aside to cool. When cooled down grind both in a blender to get a smooth sauce. Add dal water little by little to get a smooth saucy texture and not runny.

Serve with soft and spongy dosa and boiled potatoes. Babies love the taste of this sauce. No need to add salt. Don't add salt until baby is 8 months old.