VEGETABLE BIRIYANI-(With brown rice & fresh masala)

Biriyani is one of my favourites for three reasons-An one pot meal,loaded with veggies and a royal treat.You can make it in n number of ways and my all time favourite is the way my mother makes.I have always wanted try it like the restaurants and with freshly ground masala powder.Fortunately there was an exclusively TV show on biriyani and I had noted the recipe.I am giving below the recipe for 4 servings with all ingredients whereas the images might not have the same quantity.I skipped few ingredients as my family members prefer a lesser spice version.This recipe is yet another one which can be added to my blog’s purpose.Yes,no whites…Check in detail about it here and let me know if you like the PURPOSE OF MY BLOG. I made it with brown basmati rice 🙂

CARROT RECIPE COLLECTION

Carrot is my LO’s favourite. Even I prefer carrot carrot in any form from raw salads to halwa. I just thought of collecting my recipes with carrot under one roof because I started this blog with a carrot based recipe. I am sure this is not a great collection. Hope to add more. You can bookmark this page if you wish or Stay tuned with me by following by blog here or liking my facebook page at www.facebook.com/KitchenKathukutty.  Click the hyperlink for the recipe.

Carrot Halwa

Carrot Puree

Ragi Carrot Halwa ,

Carrot Bath.

Carrot Kheer

ABC Puree 

ABC Juice

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CARROT PUREE FOR BABIES

Carrot is one of the highly recommended first foods for babies.They are the best sources of beta-carotene, and it turns into Vitamin A helping in vision development. The phytochemicals build a good immune system and the high fiber content helps in bowel movements.Check out my other recipes with carrot: Carrot Halwa,Carrot Kheer, ABC Puree , ABC Juice , Ragi Carrot Halwa , Carrot Bath.

Ingredients:

Carrot-1 small

Procedure:

1.Wash carrot well and peel skin.

2.Chop the end and cut into 4 pieces.

3.In a pressure cooker,add 1/2 cup of water to the bottom and place the carrot in a vessel in the cooker or use a idly pot to steam cook.

4.When they soft,use a mixer to blend into a smooth puree.

5.Feed immediately using a sterlised spoon and bowl.

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Note:

Always have a word with your doctor before introducing any new food to baby.

This can be given for babies above 6 months.

When baby completes seven months switch to mashed carrot and when baby eight months offer carrot as finger foods.

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CARROT KHEER|CARROT PAYASAM

A very quick and easy dessert/snack/sweet/baby meal/festive recipe which is extremely nutritious and 100% tempting you to have more and more is CARROT KHEER/CARROT PAYASAM. I just attempted this recipe for my guests today and I thought if sharing it for Ganesh Chaturthi special. Yet another recipe where I have replaced the whites(milk & white sugar) making it baby friendly and health friendly for the entire family just like my recent ragi milk carrot halwa and daliya kheer  .

I am providing the recipe with and without white sugar & milk here below.For babies below one year I would suggest you to please choose the recipe without sugar and milk and also avoid saffron & dryfruits. Visit my collection of healthy home made baby foods with few insights on weaning,sample diet chart(6 months to 12 months) here.

Ingredients:

Serves 5

• Carrot – 5
• Powdered sugar/Palm sugar-4 or 6 tbsp
• Coconut milk(Thin)/Thick Milk-1.5 cups
• Saffron-10 strands
• Dry fruits-Handful
• Ghee-4 tbsp

Procedure:

1.Wash and peel skin of carrots.

2.Steam cook them after roughly chopping or pressure cook without water.

3.After cooling,add the cooked carrots and powdered sugar/palm sugar to a blender.

4.Make a fine puree of carrot and set it aside.

5.Add saffron to 2 tbsp of lukewarm milk or water.

6.Add 2 tbsp of ghee in a thick bottom pan and roast the dry fruits.

7.Set them aside.

8.Add the remaining ghee and saute the carrot puree in it.

9.When it just begins to boil add the saffron and dry fruits and mix well.

10.Switch off and cool it well.

11.Add milk/coconut milk and serve chilled.

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P.S:

You can also add milk when the kheer is on stove top. But be sure to stir well continuously and switch off the gas in two minutes.

If you prefer coconut milk,do not add when it is hot . It might curdle.

The consistency is purely your choice. Add milk accordingly. But don’t make it too thick or too runny.

I saved few dry fruits to garnish.

You can also deep freeze to make ice cream/popsicle. I accidentally did it and it was too yummy.

Adjust sugar according to your taste.

You can skip sugar/palm sugar if carrots are sweet in taste and also for babies below 1 year.

For babies below 1 year avoid dry fruits and saffron.

Coconut milk can be given for babies. If you doubt its usage you can skip or reduce quantity or use diluted version. Have a word with your doctor and consider your family history of allergy.

If you using palm sugar,be sure to have powdered and sieved well before use.

Always have a word with your pediatrician before introducing a new food to your baby.

If you use cow’s milk,use after boiling it well.

Prefer a thickened version for babies below one year.

I had used milk for soaking saffron and coconut milk to mix with the kheer in the above images.

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Do try and let me know the outcome. Please follow my blog at www.kitchenkathukutty.wordpress.com and like my page at www.facebook.com/KitchenKathukutty to receive regular updates.

RAGI CARROT HALWA/FINGER MILLET CARROT HALWA

I am so excited about this recipe. You know why? This is a recipe which I tried randomly replacing the whites(milk and sugar) with our own traditional and extremely nutritious ragi and palm sugar.I have been avoiding these whites in my cooking since I started my kitchen entry and the purpose of my blog is also to spread the word of healthy cooking and eating. You can find them here. I have received many queries on how to cook avoiding these. Here is an evident proof recipe. You won’t believe the taste of this recipe. It bet the original carrot halwa and stood far ahead in flavor and taste. This is ideal for babies from 6 months. Skip dry fruits and palm sugar for babies below 1 year. Ragi milk is extremely nutritious and it tastes yummmm with palm sugar. It can beat any pudding in taste. I prefer making ragi porridge with whole ragi milk for my son as it helped him some healthy weight gain.

Ingredients:

• Carrot-1.5 cups(Grated)
• Ragi-1 cup
• Palm sugar-1 cup(Powdered)
• Ghee-2 tbsp
• Cashews,raisins,almonds-To garnish

Procedure:

1.Wash and soak ragi for 3 hours in hot water.

2.Wash and peel carrot skin.

3.Grate carrots and set aside.

4.Drain water from soaked ragi and add it to an blender.

5.Add few spoons of water and extract milk.

6.Add the powdered palm sugar to this milk and filter thrice.

7.Add ghee in a pan and roast the dry fruits.

8.When they turn golden brown,set them aside.

9.In the same pan add the carrots, and saute well in medium flame.

10.Saute until raw smell of carrot vanishes.

11.Now add the ragi milk and keep stirring.

12.Keep stirring until the milk thickens and the carrot gets mixed well.

14.Switch off and add dry fruits and serve.

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P.S:

Adjust palm sugar level based on your sweetness.

The colour depends on the variety of palm sugar.

ABC Juice|Apple Beet Carrot Juice|The miracle drink

I believe my recipes of ABC puree for babies and ABC smoothie for infants were useful to you. Here I am with ABC juice(Apple,Beet root,Carrot). This is called miracle drink / liver tonic / anti-aging drink. I would dedicate this to the lovely mommies. Having this juice twice week rejuvenates your body. ABC juice is a miracle drink/wonder juice and it is said to have been invented by the Chinese and they found it cured lung cancer in 3 months when consumed daily.It is recommended for cancer cure,heart diseases and perfect complexion. It supplements brain functioning and lung functioning. The combination of apple ,beet and carrot gives a long term health . The power of two vegetables and one fruit is like a super power. It gives you Vitamin A, B1, B2, B6,B3 C, E ,K, Folate, Niacin, Zinc, Copper, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Selenium, beta-carotene and Manganese.Let us first have a look at the recipe and then take a detailed glance on its benefits.

Ingredients:

• Apple-1
• Beet root-1/2(medium sized)
• Carrot-1(medium sized)

Procedure:

1.Wash all the ingredients well.

2.Peel the skin of beet and carrot.

3.Grate them and add to a blender.

4.When you are about to add everything to blender peel apple and grate.

5.Just blend them together with some water.

6. Filter it and transfer to a serving glass

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P.S:

You can also steam cook carrot and beet root.

You can add chilled water while blending.

Do not add too much water.

You can skip filtering too and have it in a thick consistency.

You can also add a piece of ginger/a drop of lemon juice.

If you wish a sweetened version add honey.I generally prefer juices plain.

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The Miracle Drink/The wonder juice:

• This drink is hope for cancer patients. It is known for slowing down cancer cells growth.
• The drink helps in proper functioning of the liver,heart,kidney and pancreas.
• It helps in reduction of cholesterol and there by shields the heart. This is aided by components like alpha and beta carotene which is present in the drink.
• It provides all nutrients essential for your brain development,boosting your memory and proper functioning of brain.
• Women who suffer from menstrual cramps must have this juice to witness a remarkable difference.
• It prevents your from spots of skin,pimples and helps in anti aging. It definitely results in glowing of skin.
• This drink helps in boosting the immunity system and there by keeps you away from allergies.
• This fights anemia and improves your hemoglobin.
• It is a natural detox drink and hence it makes you glow just like a pink rose.(You become what you eat/drink).
• This can be your regular drink if you are trying to hit the gym to shed some pounds. (With the right nutritionist’s advice)
• It aids in digestion and relieves you of all digestive tract issues.
• It works great for your eyes and totally cures dryness of eyes,irritation,itching. For people who indulge in works with their eyes glued to screens this drink is a must have atleast once in a week.

Reference-Healthtips.com,naturalnews.com

CARROT BATH|CARROT RICE

When you are super bored of cooking and you still want to make your lunch nutritious you can go ahead with one pot meals. Here is one yummy,sweet and spicy version of one pot meal and it doesn’t require much time for cooking. This can be an easy way to include veggies to your toddlers menu. They will love it because of the colours and taste of carrot. If your baby is weaned by BLW method I am sure you will get an empty bowl back. My aunt had made this when we visited them 2 months back and we were totally loving it.

Ingredients:

• Carrot-1.5 cups
• Basmati Rice-1 cup
• Onion-1/2 cup(Sliced)
• Capsicum-1/4 cup(sliced)
• GGG paste-1 tbsp
• Ghee-To cook
• Coriander leaves-To garnish
• Cashew nut-7
• Salt-To taste

(GGG -Ginger Garlic Green chilly)

Procedure:

1.Wash and soak basmati rice for 20 minutes in luke warm water.

2.Add 1.5 cups of water and pressure cook the rice or open cook the rice and strain excess water.

3.Fluff the rice with a fork and set it aside.

4.In a pan,add ghee and roast cashews and set them aside.

5.In the same pan,add sliced onions,capsicum,grated carrots and GGG paste and saute well

6.Keep tossing until onions turn golden brown.

7.Now add the rice and mix well.

8.Add salt to taste.

9.Garnish with coriander leaves and cashews.

10.A rich but simple to cook carrot bath awaits to tangle in your tongues 🙂

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P.S:

This is very suitable for kids who love colours in their foods.

Take care to fluff the rice well with a fork and ensure they don’t stick together.

You can also replace carrot by beet root.

You can use the normal rice instead of basmati rice too.

Ensure not to stir many times after step 7. Otherwise the rice will turn mushy.

This is suitable for babies above 9 months of age. Avoid salt and replace basmati rice with usual rice if required.

You can serve with any raitha of your choice.

Adjust the spice level by adding or reducing the GGG paste.

You can also add other seasoning elements like aniseeds,cinnamon,baby leaf and clove.

ABC Puree/Apple Beetroot Carrot Puree for babies

How did you like my ABC smoothie? I do make ABC juice,ABC soups often,hence gave a thought about ABC puree for babies. I shall soon post ABC juice and soups which I learnt from few friends. This is ideal for babies above 6 months after having tried apple,beet root and carrot individually. I am not for purees for babies. I feel babies can have mashed foods from 6 months at the worst by 8 months. And too many purees spoil them and they mix textures. This is the reason behind not having given many puree recipes in baby food although I found mommies too keen on puree recipes. ABC juice is a miracle drink and it recommended for cancer cure,heart diseases and perfect complexion. It supplements brain functioning and lung functioning. The combination of apple ,beet and carrot gives a long term health . The power of two vegetables and one fruit is like a super power. It gives you Vitamin A, B1, B2, B6,B3 C, E ,K, Folate, Niacin, Zinc, Copper, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Selenium, beta-carotene and Manganese. No storing of this combo.Consume immediately after making. I make it with raw fruit and veggies. But here I suggest you to steam vegetables as it is for 6 m baby.

Ingredients:

• Apple-1
• Beet root-1/2(medium sized)
• Carrot-1(medium sized)

Procedure:

1.Wash all well.

2.Peel the skin of beet and carrot.

3.Grate them and steam cook.

4.When you are about to add everything to blender peel apple and grate.

5.Just blend them together and serve

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P.S:

Always consult your pediatrician before trying any new food.

Prefer this for afternoon time.

You can also just mash these together and offer your baby if you don’t prefer blending baby food(I hardly use blender for my baby).

Consider family history of allergy.

Use sterilzed bowls for baby.

I recommend you to go for puree with steamed veggies for 6 months old,move to mashed (steamed veggies) for 7 months to 9 months ,move to just mixing grated and steamed ingredients for 10 months and above one year just give it raw. This is just a suggestion.

The quantity and ratio depends on your taste.