Rice and moong dal khichdi powder is a nutritious homemade baby cereal mix. Adding vegetables to this makes it a complete meal for babies. It suits 6+ months babies. You can even use it till 1 year, whenever you wish to make quick food for your baby.. Also, refer to “Rice and Fried gram/pottukadalai khichdi mix for babies” by clicking here.
- White rice(Boiled)/Saappaattu pulungal arisi - ½ cup
- Moong dal / Paasiparuppu - ¼ cup
- Cumin seeds / Jeeragam - ⅛ tsp to ¼ tsp
- Asafoetida / Perungaayam - a generous pinch
- Take ½ cup rice, wash twice and soak for 20 to 30 mins. In the meanwhile, take ¼ cup moong dal and wash well with water by rubbing the lentils with fingers.
- After washing thrice, drain the water completely. Drain excess water using a sieve. Just leave the dal in the sieve with a bowl below for 5 mins. Transfer the moongdal to a cotton cloth placed on a plate. Spread it well over the cloth.
- After 20 mins, wash the soaked rice twice and drain the water completely. Drain excess water using a sieve. Just leave the rice in the sieve with a bowl below for 5 mins.
- Transfer the rice to a cotton cloth placed on a plate. Spread the rice well over the cloth. Dry rice and dal under fan for one hour or in sun for half an hour. No need to dry completely. It's ok if they have a little moisture in it. In a dry pan, fry rice in low flame.
- Keep stirring continuously for even roasting. Rice will puff up & start changing color. Once it is slightly golden color, switch off. Do not brown it. Immediately, transfer to a plate. Next, fry moong dal in low flame until it start to change color.
- Add ⅛ tsp cumin seeds to it and fry for a minute. By this time, moong dal would have completely changed to golden color. Do not brown it. Add a generous pinch(nearly ½ tsp) of asafoetida and switch off immediately.
- Give a quick stir and immediately transfer the moongdal to the rice plate. Let it cool down completely. Transfer the contents to a small mixie jar.
- Grind well to a smooth powder. When making first time for baby, you shall sieve it to get more fine powder. Discard the bigger particles.
- Transfer the powder to an air-tight container. Use a clean spoon, whenever you take the powder. If handled properly, it stays good for 6 months.
2.Do not brown moong dal. If it already fully changed to golden color before adding cumin seeds, transfer the dal to the rice plate and roast cumin seeds separately. Asafoetida can directly be added while grinding(as anyways it will be cooked in the porridge).
3.You can add ¼ tsp turmeric powder in it. I skipped it as I wish to add a pinch of turmeric powder everytime while making khichdi.
4.You shall replace white rice with matta rice or hand-pounded rice or semi-brown rice or brown rice.
5.For 8+ months babies, you shall replace white rice with red rice.
6.For 8+ months babies, you shall increase cumin seeds to ¼ tsp.
7.For 8+ months babies, you can grind little coarse and no need to sieve.
8.Warning! Mother’s milk is sufficient for babies till 6 months. Start this food after completing 6 months.
Preparation
1. Take 1/2 cup rice, wash twice and soak for 20 to 30 mins. In the meanwhile, take 1/4 cup moong dal and wash well with water by rubbing the lentils with fingers.
2.After washing thrice, drain the water completely. Drain excess water using a sieve. Just leave the dal in the sieve with a bowl below for 5 mins. Transfer the moongdal to a cotton cloth placed on a plate. Spread it well over the cloth.
3.After 20 mins, wash the soaked rice twice and drain the water completely. Drain excess water using a sieve. Just leave the rice in the sieve with a bowl below for 5 mins.
4. Transfer the rice to a cotton cloth placed on a plate. Spread the rice well over the cloth. Dry rice and dal under fan for one hour or in sun for half an hour. No need to dry completely. It’s ok if they have a little moisture in it. In a dry pan, fry rice in low flame.
5.Keep stirring continuously for even roasting. Rice will puff up & start changing color. Once it is slightly golden color, switch off. Do not brown it. Immediately, transfer to a plate. Next, fry moong dal in low flame until it start to change color.
6.Add 1/8 tsp cumin seeds to it and fry for a minute. By this time, moong dal would have completely changed to golden color. Do not brown it. Add a generous pinch(nearly 1/2 tsp) of asafoetida and switch off immediately.
7.Give a quick stir and immediately transfer the moongdal to the rice plate. Let it cool down completely. Transfer the contents to a small mixie jar.
8.Grind well to a smooth powder. When making first time for baby, you shall sieve it to get more fine powder. Discard the bigger particles.
9.Transfer the powder to an air-tight container. Use a clean spoon, whenever you take the powder. If handled properly, it stays good for 6 months.
After reading the tips below,
- Click here to know how to make the below Carrot khichdi using this powder ?
- Click here to know the making of “Rice and Fried gram/pottukadalai khichdi mix for babies”.
Tips/Tricks
- No need to add salt. Salt is not recommended for babies below one year. Click here to know the reason.
- Do not brown moong dal. If it already fully changed to golden color before adding cumin seeds, transfer the dal to the rice plate and roast cumin seeds separately. Asafoetida can directly be added while grinding(as anyways it will be cooked in the porridge).
- You can add 1/4 tsp turmeric powder in it. I skipped it as I wish to add a pinch of turmeric powder everytime while making khichdi.
- You shall replace white rice with matta rice or hand-pounded rice or semi-brown rice or brown rice.
- For 8+ months babies, you shall replace white rice with red rice.
- For 8+ months babies, you shall increase cumin seeds to 1/4 tsp.
- For 8+ months babies, you can grind little coarse and no need to sieve.
- Warning! Mother’s milk is sufficient for babies till 6 months. Start this food after completing 6 months.
Nutritional Benefits
Split yellow moong gram– Proteins, Dietary Fiber, vitamin B, Potassium, Calcium, Folates, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorous, Zinc, other minerals and essential amino acids
White Rice– Carbohydrates, Potassium, Fiber and lil of (Proteins, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium & Vit B6)
How long can I store this moong dal rice powder ?
I have mentioned it in the post – step number 9
How to use this powder? Can we mix in water/breast milk directly and feed or do we have to cook again?
You have to cook and give. Check this link https://www.myhealthykiddo.com/carrot-khichdi-for-babies-using-homemade-porridge-mix/