Top 13 Indian Food Recipes For Toddlers

It will be good to include some creative and delicious Indian food recipes for toddlers if you feel they are not eating properly. Eating healthy is essential for children’s proper growth and development. If they are fussy eaters, they might miss important nutrients. However, toddlers love exploring new things, and during their growth years, their taste evolves. So, if you feel your children have not been enjoying homemade meals recently, try giving a twist to traditional recipes and create something attractive and tasty by adding some Indian spices and flavors. This post gives you a list of different Indian foods that are easy to prepare and tempting for your toddlers.

In This Article

Top 13 Indian Food Recipes For Toddlers

Here are ten healthy recipes for kid-friendly meals that will be a sure shot hit with your little one:

1. Beetroot And Carrot Raita:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Curd
  • Beetroot (grated)
  • Carrot (grated)
  • Cumin seeds (roasted)
  • Salt
  • Sugar (optional)

How To:

  1. Add all the ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Whisk it well and serve.

If you’re looking for quick meals, this is a healthy recipe for your little vegetarian.

protip_icon Quick tip
Use small beets to prepare raita as they taste sweeter and have a soft texture, which helps accentuate its palatability and digestion for toddlers.

2. Bajra And Jowar Rotis With Paneer:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Bajra flour
  • Jowar flour
  • Paneer (grated)
  • Spinach (boiled and pureed)
  • Water
  • Ghee or oil
  • Salt

How To:

  1. Mix all the ingredients to make a soft dough.
  2. Now use the dough to make rotis. You can use a little ghee or oil while cooking to enhance its taste.
  3. You can serve it with Beetroot and Carrot Raita.

This is the perfect option if you are looking for a gluten-free recipe.

3. Moong Sprout Dosa:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

For Dosa:

  • Moong Dal (sprouted)
  • Rice flour
  • Salt
  • Oil

For Filling:

  • Oil
  • Mustard seeds
  • Curry leaves
  • Turmeric Powder
  • Asafetida
  • Potatoes (boiled, peeled and mashed)
  • Carrots (grated)
  • Beetroot (grated)
  • Cabbage (grated)
  • Coconut (grated)
  • Tomatoes (chopped)
  • Onions (chopped)
  • Coriander (chopped)
  • Salt

How To:

  1. Mix all the dosa ingredients and grind to make a smooth paste. Keep it aside for 15 to 20 minutes to ferment.
  2. Heat the oil in a pan on medium flame. Add the mustard seeds, curry leaves and turmeric powder. Sauté it and add all the other ingredients. Cook for two minutes.
  3. Grease and heat a pan on medium flame. Add a ladle of paste and spread it evenly to make a dosa. Add the filling in the center of the dosa. Fold it over and flip to cook the other side.

4. Amarkhand (Mango Shrikhand):

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Mango pulp
  • Yogurt
  • Sugar
  • Cardamom powder
  • Saffron strands
  • Dry Fruits

How To:

  1. In a muslin cloth, place the yogurt and hang overnight to drain it.
  2. Blend all ingredients except saffron and dry fruits into a smooth pulp.
  3. Garnish with saffron and your toddler’s favorite dry fruits.

This little sweet dish can quickly turn into your little one’s comfort food.

protip_icon Quick tip
Pour leftover Amarkhand into popsicle molds and freeze until set to prepare a treat for toddlers.

5. Ragi Halwa:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Ragi
  • Jaggery
  • Ghee
  • Cardamom powder
  • Coconut milk
  • Water
  • Cashew nuts

How To:

  1. Soak ragi overnight, wash and drain it in the morning. Put this in a blender and add water to make a smooth batter.
  2. In a pan, add the ragi batter, coconut milk, ghee, jaggery, and cardamom powder. Stir continuously.
  3. Once it starts thickening, you can remove it from the heat.
  4. In a dish, pour the halwa and add ghee.
  5. Garnish with cashew nuts.

This sweet dish might not be for your little one if you are looking for low-sugar recipes.

6. Potato Poha:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Poha
  • Onions (chopped)
  • Ginger (chopped)
  • Potatoes (chopped)
  • Coriander (chopped)
  • Turmeric Powder
  • Lemon juice
  • Salt
  • Oil
  • Mustard seeds
  • Urad dal
  • Curry leaves

How To:

  1. Wash and drain the poha. Keep it aside.
  2. Heat the oil in a pan on medium flame. Now add the mustard seeds, curry leaves, and urad dal. Sauté until the dal turns golden brown. Add the onions and fry it.
  3. Add the ginger and turmeric powder. Now add potatoes and cook until it becomes tender. Add the poha and salt. Mix it well and remove from the heat.
  4. Sprinkle lemon juice and garnish with coriander leaves.

7. Egg Curry:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Eggs (boiled)
  • Coconut (grated)
  • Onion (chopped)
  • Coriander seeds and leaves
  • Tamarind
  • Turmeric powder
  • Salt
  • Oil
  • Water

How To:

  1. Heat the oil in a pan. Fry the onions and coriander seeds. Remove the onions from the pan and put them into a blender. Add coconut and tamarind. Churn to make a fine paste.
  2. Add the oil to a pan and fry the remaining onions. Add the paste, turmeric powder and some water and bring it to a boil.
  3. Add the boiled eggs and let it simmer for a few minutes. Add a dash of salt and garnish with coriander leaves.

This simple curry is a great choice for high-energy meals since eggs are considered as protein-rich foods.

8. Bread Rolls:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Bread slices
  • Oil
  • Potatoes (boiled)
  • Carrots (boiled)
  • Onion (chopped)
  • Tomatoes (chopped)
  • Coriander leaves (chopped)
  • Coriander powder
  • Garam masala
  • Turmeric powder
  • Salt
  • Oil

How To:

  1. Heat the oil in a pan. Add onions and tomatoes and cook until tender. Add all the remaining ingredients except bread. Cook until dry.
  2. Now soak the bread in water and squeeze it. Place the stuffing on the bread and roll it to make round balls.
  3. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the bread rolls until it turns golden brown.

Bread rolls are a quick and option for finger foods if you want your baby to try Indian snacks

protip_icon Quick tip
Shallow fry bread rolls to avoid excess oil use in preparing this dish. Baking rolls at 400°F (204°C) for five minutes is another way to prepare this dish with lesser oil.

9. Tomato Rice With Paneer:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Rice (cooked)
  • Paneer (cubes)
  • Onions (chopped)
  • Tomato puree
  • Ginger paste
  • Garlic paste
  • Salt
  • Turmeric powder
  • Coriander powder
  • Cumin powder
  • Garam masala
  • Oil

How To:

  1. Heat the oil in a pan. Sauté paneer and keep it aside. Add the onions to the pan and fry until golden brown. Add the ginger and garlic paste. Let it cook for a few minutes.
  2. Now add the tomato puree along with the spices and salt. Let it simmer for a few minutes.
  3. Add the rice and stir well. Remove it from the heat. Add the paneer and garnish with coriander leaves.

10. Beaten Rice With Banana:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Beaten Rice
  • Banana (sliced)
  • Jaggery
  • Coconut (grated)

How To:

  1. Soak the beaten rice in water for ten minutes. Drain and keep it aside.
  2. Melt the jaggery in a pan on low heat. Boil until it has a smooth consistency. Remove it from the heat. Add the beaten rice and mix well.
  3. Now add the coconut and banana.

11. Stuffed Triangle Paranthas:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

How To:

  1. Heat the oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds. Now add the vegetables and cook until tender.
  2. Add the tomato sauce and salt. Cook for five minutes.
  3. Use the dough to roll out rotis. Cut to make two crescent pieces. Place the stuffing and close to make two triangles.
  4. Heat the oil in a flat pan and place the stuffed triangles. Cook each side until it turns golden brown.

Stuffed parathas are great vitamin-rich foods for your child, since you can add their favorite vegetables depending on the seasonal produce.

12. Paneer fried rice:

Paneer fried rice:
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Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Cooked rice
  • Paneer (cubed or grated)
  • Fresh coriander leaves
  • Grated carrot
  • Finely chopped French beans
  • Ghee
  • Black pepper powder

How To:

  1. Heat a pan and add ghee (medium flame).
  2. Once the ghee melts, toss in the grated carrot and chopped French beans and stir fry.
  3. Add the cooked rice and mix for one to two minutes over heat.
  4. Add the grated or cubed paneer and mix thoroughly.
  5. Season with black pepper. Remove from heat and garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.
  6. Serve warm.

13. Suji upma:

Suji upma:
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Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Suji or rava
  • Onion
  • Tomato
  • Mixed vegetables (French beans, capsicum, carrot)
  • Ginger
  • Turmeric powder
  • Cumin seeds
  • Salt
  • Water
  • Ghee

How To:

  1. Roast the suji with a little ghee until there’s a nice aroma.
  2. Finely chop onions, tomatoes, and mixed vegetables.
  3. Steam cook the vegetables, and set aside.
  4. Melt ghee in a pan, add cumin seeds, and let them crackle.
  5. Add onions and ginger and saute till slightly browned.
  6. Add tomatoes and cook till they are mushy.
  7. Now stir in the mixed vegetables & turmeric powder and saute for a minute.
  8. Boil water in a separate pan and add to the veggie mix carefully.
  9. Now add roasted suji while stirring continuously. Keep mixing until the suji absorbs all the water.
  10. Cover and cook for five more minutes on low heat.
  11. Serve warm.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which food is best for a two-year-old?

A two-year-old should eat from each of these primary four food groups (1).

  • Eggs, fish, poultry, meat
  • Milk, cheese, and other dairy products
  • Vegetables and fruits
  • Potatoes, rice, cereals, and flour products

2. How do I get my toddler to eat Indian food?

Once babies are 12 months old, you can offer them family food at the spice level they can tolerate. Add moderate amounts of spices, such as turmeric, cumin, coriander powder, chili powder, cardamom, and nutmeg, to their meals. You may add only one spice at a time to see how well they tolerate it. These practices may help them enjoy Indian food.

3. What can I feed to an Indian baby?

You can feed the usual Indian food such as curries, lentils, roti, paratha, rice preparations, dosa, idli, halwa, and poha at a spice level that your baby can tolerate.

Introducing some Indian food recipes for toddlers who hesitate to eat certain foods can be interesting. Beetroot and carrot raita, rotis with paneer, moong sprout dosa, Samarkand, and ragi halwa are some of the most nutritious meals and tasty Indian recipes for toddlers. Indian recipes are packed with flavors and various nutrients. You may make them less spicy for toddlers. You may also try beaten rice with banana or stuffed parathas to make your toddler eat healthy. Trying various recipes each day could help the child to get all the essential nutrients for a balanced diet.

Infographic: Flavorsome And Quick Indian Food Recipes For Toddlers

Toddlers should be fed nourishing and delicious foods that encourage them to try various flavors and textures and build their palate. To help you provide delicious and nutritious food to your toddler, we present simple recipes they will love. Explore!

healthy indian food recipes for your toddler (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

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Key Pointers

  • Healthy eating is crucial for children’s growth and development.
  • For toddlers, some delicious and nutritious Indian recipes include beetroot and carrot raita, rotis with paneer, and moong sprout dosa.
  • Mango shrikhand and ragi halwa are tasty and healthy dessert options for kids.
  • Indian recipes can be adapted to be less spicy for toddlers’ palates.
  • Offering a variety of recipes each day can ensure that children get all the necessary nutrients.
Indian Food Recipes For Toddlers_illustration

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Delight your toddlers with these delicious Indian breakfast recipes! Perfect for children aged 2-4 years, these recipes are sure to help them gain weight in a healthy way.

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Feeding & Nutrition Tips: Your 2-Year-Old
    https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/Feeding-and-Nutrition-Your-Two-Year-Old.aspx
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