Sooji is an easily digestible grain; hence, it is ideal for babies and small children. Sooji is also rich in fibre and gives instant energy; a meal of upma a day keeps the child active throughout the day. Sooji also acts as an additional source of iron for the little ones.
When preparing upma for infants, it's important to ensure that the ingredients are suitable for their age and that the texture is appropriate. Here's a simple vegetable upma recipe for infants:
Ingredients:
- Sooji or Rava
- Ghee
- Jeera/cumin seeds
- Water
- Coriander leaves/dhaniya
Optional Ingredients
- Vegetables – very finely chopped carrots, peas, beans, capsicum, corn – you may also steam them and mash for a very fine texture
- Curd
Cooking Time: 5-7mins
Instructions:
- Roast Sooji: Lightly roast sooji in low heat until it turns golden brown, stir it occasionally to avoid any over-roasting.
- Prepare Base: Heat ghee, add jeera to the pan and sauté for some time.
- Add Sooji: Add the roasted sooji to the pan and sauté for a couple of minutes on low heat.
- Add Water: Slowly add water to the sooji while stirring continuously to avoid lump formation. Cook until sooji is soft and the mixture reaches a porridge-like consistency.
- Garnish: Garnish with very finely chopped coriander leaves for enhancing taste.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the upma to cool to a suitable temperature for your infant and serve in a baby-friendly bowl.
Use of optional ingredients
- Add Vegetables: Roast the finely chopped vegetables in the ghee after you add jeera/cumin and then continue with the recipe above.
- Curd: Add curd once upma reaches porridge-like consistency and mix it properly, now you may go ahead and add coriander.
My husband enjoys Upma in all meal forms, whether breakfast, lunch, snack or dinner as well. It is a very soothing and comforting food for him. He prefers adding a tinge of lemon or curd for tanginess and then sprinkling mixture or spicy sev in the upma for garnishing (definitely NOT for infants). Our daughter enjoys tanginess and hence we would mix curd if she was being choosy in her food.
Important Points
- Ensure that the vegetables if being used are very finely chopped, if possible steam and mash them before use. Also, introduce the vegetables one at a time to test if your little one has any allergies.
- Always consult with your paediatrician before introducing new foods to your baby's diet, especially if they are less than six months old.