Baby and toddler recipes
🫕 Moong dal khichdi with courgette
A soft, comforting khichdi of split mung beans, rice and courgette, gently flavoured with ginger and cumin. A classic South Asian first food that offers plant iron and protein.
Makes about 6 baby portions
Ingredients
- 60g split and husked (moong dal) Mung beans (rinsed and soaked 20 minutes)
- 60g Basmati rice (rinsed)
- 1 small Courgette (diced)
- 1 small Carrot (diced)
- 1/2 tsp grated Ginger
- 1/4 tsp seeds Cumin
- a pinch Turmeric
- 1 tsp Ghee (or rapeseed oil)
- about 700ml Water
- 1 Tomato (chopped)
Method
- Warm the ghee and add the cumin seeds for a few seconds until they sizzle.
- Add the ginger, turmeric and tomato and stir for a minute.
- Add the dal, rice, courgette, carrot and water.
- Simmer, partly covered, for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring now and then, until everything is very soft and porridgy. Add more water if needed.
- Blend or mash to the right texture for baby.
Serving it to your baby
At 6 months blend smooth, since whole cumin seeds can be distracting, or use ground cumin instead. From 7 to 9 months mash for a lumpier texture. Toddlers can have it as is with a spoon of yoghurt.
For the rest of the family
Add salt, a tempering of ghee with cumin seeds, chilli and garlic, and serve with pickle and poppadoms.
Storing and reheating
Cool quickly (within an hour), then keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Freeze in small portions for up to 1 months and defrost overnight in the fridge. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through, stir, then let it cool before serving. Never reheat more than once. Rice needs extra care: cool within an hour, keep in the fridge for no more than 1 day, and reheat only once until steaming hot.
Weaning with OBubba
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Questions parents ask
Is khichdi good for babies?
Yes. It is soft, gentle and nourishing, combining a pulse with rice for protein, and is a traditional first food across South Asia.
What is moong dal?
Moong dal is split, husked mung beans. They cook quickly to a creamy texture and tend to be easy on little tummies.
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).