Kids/Adults Multigrain Powder – Sathumaavu

Multigrain powder or Oota sathu maavu is a healthy mix that is traditionally given to babies from 1 to 8 years of age. It can still be taken for the whole life but it is mandated till 8 years as to support the rapid development of the sprouting mind and body. Click here(link) to goto Babies sathumavu/Multigrains powder recipe.

There are lots of brands available in the stores, yet none can compete with the one prepared by mom/granny with lots of care and loads of love. I swear that you could harvest harmony & satisfaction when your baby enjoys this healthy food. Do try and share me your feeling!

This is highly recommended for Pregnant Ladies and Lactating moms too as they eat for two and needed more healthy compositions..

Preparation

Day 1

1. Remove specks if any. Rinse well in water for 2-3 times. Do this step for all 3 items to be sprouted(Green gram,Pearl & Finger Millets). 2.  Soak these 3 items in water before 9AM in the morning. In the same day night, by 9PM, drain the water completely and tie each item separately in a cotton cloth. Hang them in a rope in a dark room.Day 2

3.  In the next day morning by 6AM, sprinkle some water over the cloth just to maintain moisture.

4.  In the same day by 10AM, green moong gram would have sprouted well. Spread them in a wide plate and keep it in sun. Moong gram sprouts quickly but dries slowly and so starting its dryness process sooner than others. I usually keep them covered to be away from pests and dusts. No worries as Sun can easily penetrate through the soft cloth cover;)

5.  In the same day night, by 9PM, sprinkle some water over the cloth of hanging Millets just to maintain moisture. Wait till next day as Millets take time to sprout.Day 3

6.  In the next day morning by 9AM, wash all other ingredients except Cardamom, Cashews & Fried chana dal. I prefer washing Almonds too. By this time, Millets would have been sprouted well.7.    Spread the washed items and the sprouted millets, each item in a separate plate. Keep them covered with soft cotton and mildly netted cloth. Let them dry in the sun along with Moong gram. It will take 2-3 days to dry depending on the sun. If you chew a Moong gram, it should be hard and thats the check!Day 5

8.   Once dried completely, fry each item in a pan without oil. Do not burn it, but fry them until browned  when nice aroma arises. Fry cashews and cardamoms too. Lastly, put fried chana dal in the hot pan and switch off the stove. Let it be in the hotness for 3 mins.

9.    On frying each item, just transfer to a wide plate. Mix all items with a ladle and let it cool completely. Transfer it to the container to be carried to the Flour Mill for grinding.10.   Grind it in the mill and spread it in a wide plate to cool completely.11.    Sieve the flour in small batches and discard the remaining particles from the sieve. Transfer the sieved multigrain powder to 2-3 air-tight containers. Keep 1 out for use and put the remaining containers in your fridge door.That’s it! Homemade healthy Mutigrain powder is ready for 6 months 😉 Enjoy by making easy-peasy porridge(link), lovely laddoos(link) & delicious dumplings/kozhukkattai(link)!

Tips/Tricks

• Actually, people advice not to fry the sprouted ones to use the nutrients to the fullest, but I do fry them for a minute as it gives a raw taste if not fried.
• Use blanched(without skin) Almonds, if available. Else remove the skin of each almond using knife, especially for babies under 2 years. Do not soak to remove almond skin as it might lessen the shelf life of the whole powder.
• Grind cashews and Almonds in a clean dry mixie jar and add it to the mix before giving it to mill as some nuts might get stuck in the machine bends.
• Adding roasted peanuts is optional. Omit this if you/your baby have any allergies or even if not given peanuts already. Check with the Mill owner as some do not accept grinding with peanuts. Also, adding peanuts gives moisture(oil) to the flour which will considerably lessen the shelf life.
• Adding sukku(dry ginger powder) is optional. This is usually added for good digestion similar to cardamom.
• Though adding boiled rice/pulungal arisi is optional, I do recommend adding it as it enhances the taste.
• Get some extra in each ingredient. On day 3, just wash them together and dry it in sun. This need not be fried. Grind this in mill just before grinding Mutigrain powder as this collects other’s stuffs from the machine. You shall mix 2-3 spoons of this powder in your dosa batter and make healthy dosa without changing the taste of your dosa 😉
• After grinding in the mill, keep it loosely covered on the way back to home. If you close it tightly, it would sweat!
• If you can’t afford 5 days to prepare, you can skip sprouting and save 2 days!
• Click here(link) to goto Babies sathumavu/Multigrains powder recipe.