Here's a wonderful Ayurveda-inspired recipe, specially crafted for children. These mini uttapams are a hit with my kids - soft, fluffy, and packed with nutrition. They provide an excellent blend of protein, calcium, digestive support, fiber, and essential nutrients.
“Mini Uttappam." Kids special.
Uttappam is a popular South Indian dish made from fermented rice and lentil batter, similar to dosa but thicker and with various toppings. To make it a “Mini Uttapams” kids version, we can add some protein-rich ingredients to the traditional Uttappam recipe. Here's a simple recipe for you:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup idli rice
- 1 cup whole urad dal (black gram-protein)
- 1/2 cup sorghum(for extra protein)
- 1/4 cup little/kodo millet
- 1/2 cup yellow moong dal (split mung beans-Protein)
- 1/4 cup paneer (cottage cheese), crumbled as needed. (Its not used in the image here, as I had finished the batch of panner I made in another recipe for kids)
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
- 1/2 thinly sliced kobacha squash and cabbage.
- Salt to taste
- Water, as needed
- Ghee for cooking
Instructions:
- Rinse rice, urad dal, sorghum, moong dal, sorghum, little millet in water separately. Soak them together in water for about 8 hours. (You can also soak them all day for convenience and grind it in the night, so batter is ready for next day use)
- Drain the water and grind the soaked ingredients into a smooth batter using a wet grinder or a high-speed blender. Add water as needed to achieve a slightly thick batter consistency. The batter should be smooth and without any coarse grains.
- Transfer the batter to a large bowl. Mix well, cover the bowl, and let it ferment in a warm place for 8-12 hours or until the batter doubles in volume and becomes slightly airy.
- After fermentation, add 1 tsp salt, 1/2 cup of water and gently stir the batter.
- Heat a cast-iron skillet (tawa) over medium heat. Once hot, spread a small ladleful of the batter on the tawa in a circular motion to make a thick pancake, yet small(Uttappam). Drizzle a little ghee on top and around the edges.
- Quickly sprinkle some thin slices of kabocha squash, cabbage and cilantro on the top of the Uttappam. You can also add some small, thinly sliced crushed (homemade) panner too. Adding extra rich source of calcium as children need through the growing stages.
- Press the toppings slightly into the batter with a spatula(with very less pressure). Cook the Uttappam on medium-low heat until the bottom side turns golden brown and slightly crisp.
- Flip the Uttappam gently using a spatula and cook the other side for a few more minutes until it's cooked through.
- Repeat the process for the remaining batter to make more Uttappams.
- Serve the Mini Uttappam hot with sambar, or any chutney of your choice.
This recipe combines the traditional goodness of Uttappam with the added protein punch of moong dal and millets like sorghum and little/kodo, making it the best recipe for kids lunch.
For the sambar recipe: check out the link of another blog below. (My kids can sometimes skip the sambar, as the fluffy tasty Uttapams fills all their tastebuds. I pack it as snack for park and hikes as well.
https://foodforthesoul.net/blogs/news/super-poterin-uttappam-dosa-gluten-free
Sorghum is considered tridoshic, meaning it is suitable for all dosha types (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha). It provides a harmonious balance to the body. It is a good source of essential nutrients, including protein, fiber, B-vitamins, iron, and antioxidants.It also contains plant compounds like polyphenols and antioxidants that will contribute to heart health. When it comes to thermal potency, Sorghums SHITA, meaning it has a cooling effect on the body, making it beneficial during hot weather or for those with Pitta imbalances.
Give it a try and let us know how you like it. The combination of moong and sorghum brings a cooling effect to the mind and body, while urad dal acts as a powerhouse of protein. It's a wholesome and delicious treat that nourishes both the body and soul.
I don't want to forget to say, for the picky eater, start with plain mini uttappams.
Enjoy these nutritious mini uttapams and watch your kids relish the goodness of Ayurvedic flavors. Happy cooking and nourishing your little ones!
Certified Ayurveda Consultant
Sundari Dasi
signing off now and the next recipe is all about SHAKE lovers and how it can be made as per Ayurvedic understanding.
