Iron-Rich Drumstick, Carrot and Moong Dal Soup for Babies

Ingredients

• Drumstick (moringa pod) (Use the edible cooked pulp; strain out the fibrous portions before serving.)
• Carrot (Included for mild sweetness, flavor, and vitamin A.)
• Yellow moong dal (Wash thoroughly two or three times before cooking.)
• Water (Use enough to boil the vegetables and dal and to adjust the final soup consistency.)
• Tomato (Optional; provides vitamin C, which the source says may help iron absorption.)
• Ghee (A little, for cooking the strained pulp.)
• Turmeric (A little; no amount was specified.)
• Salt (Avoid salt for this baby preparation.)

Steps

1. 1

   Wash the yellow moong dal thoroughly two or three times in water.

2. 2

   Bring water to a boil in a pan.

3. 3

   Add the drumstick, carrot, and washed yellow moong dal to the boiling water. Tomato may also be added at this stage if using it.

4. 4

   Cover the pan and cook until the drumstick, carrot, and dal are completely soft. The source indicates that the soup components are cooked until tender, with approximately 2–3 minutes mentioned, although the surrounding text does not clearly establish the full cooking time.

5. 5

   Let the cooked mixture cool to room temperature.

6. 6

   Transfer the cooled mixture to a mixer-grinder and grind it well.

7. 7

   Strain the blended mixture carefully to remove the fibrous drumstick material. The source emphasizes that these fibers should not be given to children.

8. 8

   Heat a pan and add a little ghee.

9. 9

   Add the strained pulp to the ghee and cook it as soup.

10. 10

    Add a little turmeric. Do not add salt.

11. 11

    Adjust the soup with water to the baby's preferred consistency, making it thicker or thinner as appropriate.

12. 12

    Boil the soup for 1–2 minutes, then serve once it is at a safe temperature for the baby.

Notes

The source does not provide exact ingredient quantities, so they should be determined by the caregiver. Confirm suitability, texture, and portion size with the baby's pediatrician, especially when introducing new foods. Straining is essential to remove drumstick fibers, and the source specifically advises avoiding salt.

Nutrition per serving

• soup
• baby food
• 6+ months
• iron-rich
• protein-rich
• vegetarian
• South Asian
• moong dal