Dal Ka Paani is one of the popular first food for babies. According to recent studies, plain dal ka paani does not have any nutrition and so always add a spoon of mashed dal to it.
I have added a clove of garlic to the dal ka paani.
Benefits of Garlic in Dal ka Paani
1. Helps the body to fight against infection due to the presence of a compound called allicin, It has been researched that garlic is very effective against life-threatening infection in critically ill infants.
(see reference 5) It has antibacterial and antiviral properties.
2. Garlic has anti-inflammatory properties.
3. The Allicin in garlic acts as a powerful antioxidant.
4. It is rich in Vitamin C, it also contains good amount of selenium, manganese, vitamin B6.<
How to cook Garlic
1. Always chop or crush garlic for its maximum effect.
2. After chopping or crushing, allow it to stand for 10 minutes before cooking as it helps the compound Allicin to attain its maximum concentration.
Please don’t forget the3 Day Rule
before introducing any new food.
Now on to the Recipe
How to make Dal Ka Paani for Babies?
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp of Toor Dal or Moong Dal.
- Half a piece of 1 garlic clove.
- Turmeric (optional)
- 8 Tbsp of Water.
Method
Sterilize the utensils either using a Sterilizer or by boiling them in hot water.
1. Soak the dal for 15 minutes and wash well in running water.
2.Add water and the half clove of garlic to dal. I have added a pinch of turmeric, it is optional.
3. Place it on the stove and cook, either with or without the lid.
4. After the dal is nicely cooked as shown in the below picture, switch off the flame.
5. Mash the contents with a masher or thick spoon.
6. Remove little water with a spoon of mashed Dal (updated on 23.1.2015, see below for explanation)
7. “Garlic Lentil Soup is ready”
Check out our recipe video here for more instructions:
Studies have shown that plain dal ka paani does not have any nutrition as the supernatant fluid is devoid of carbohydrates, fats or proteins, except maybe for heat stable proteins.
So while feeding dal ka paani, always mash some dal along with it and feed the baby.
Nutritional Information
100gm of Toordal yields 343 kcal
Toor Dal is rich in proteins and aminoacids like methionine, lysine, and tryptophan.
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References
1.;http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/114/Supplement_3/1146.full#sec-4
2.http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/106/Supplement_4/1278.1.full
3.The effects of repeated exposure to garlic-flavored milk on the nursling’s behavior.Mennella JA1Beauchamp GK
4.Mother’s milk: a medium for early flavor experiences.Mennella JA
5.Trial of garlic as an adjunct therapy for multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia in a critically illinfantYalindag-Ozturk N 1
Ozdamar M, Cengiz P

Dal Ka Paani for Babies
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp of Toor Dal.
- Half a piece of 1 garlic clove.
- Turmeric (optional)
- 8 Tbsp of Water.
Instructions
- Soak the toor dal for 15 minutes and wash well in running water.
- Add water and the half clove of garlic to dal. I have added a pinch of turmeric, it is optional.
- Place it over the stove and cook, either with or without the lid.
- After the dal is nicely cooked as shown in the below picture, switch off the flame.
- Mash the contents with a masher or thick spoon.
- Remove little water with mashed Dal (updated on 23.1.2015, see notes for explanation) as shown in the below picture.
How much should I give to my 6 month old son..I am introducing him solids for the first time next week…
Hi Anamika,
You can follow the 3 day rule while introducing any new food dear.
I have tried moong daal pani without salt..just as u told..
But my baby is not liking it at all..she spits at every spoon.
You can also add little rice,ghee,dhal and dhal paani, mash well and feed the baby as dhal rice. That is also a healthy option.
For 6th months babys food no salt will be added?
Hi Marina,
Salt and sugar has to be avoided till baby turns 1 year of age.
Can I give it to my 5th month baby?
Best is to breastfeed the baby for first 6 months.
Will cooking in pressure cooker compromise nutrition in any way? Pressure cooker cooks the dal and rice much better for baby for easy digestion, isn’t it?
You can pressure cook it if that helps.
What does three day rule means
Three day rule means, that any new food should be given for three days in small quantities to see there is no allergy.
Hi HemaPriya,
While answering to query, you had mention, not to use pressure cooker to prepare rice water or dal ka pani. Is there any reason?
Thanks !!
Hi Can I use steamer to prepare Dal ka pani or Rice? Thank you in advance
Hi Dr. Hema!
I have just started the weaning of my 5.5 month old baby and your blog has really helped me. I wanted to ask do we need to follow the three day rule every time we introduce a new dal? Like I started with dehusked green moong dal and now if I want to start with toor dal, again the three day rule has to be followed? Thanks in advance!
Dear Akansha,
Yes better follow the three day rule
My baby poops a little after having “daal ka paani” and the doctor says we only have to worry about constipation and not baby bowel movement. Is this true ?
I feel my baby is not digesting the food and hence his bowel movement, anything I can do about it ?
Hi Padma,
It is a normal physiological process , so you don’t have to worry about that as long as he does not cry during potty or pass blood. As soon as the food reaches the stomach, it starts a peristaltic wave which pushes the stools in the rectum, the food what she eats will be in the stomach and will be expelled as stools only after digestion.
Hi Hema,
Can I cook the rice in the cooker the same way and extract the water to feed my lil one? Can I use the same procedure for Dhall Pani also?
Hi Kalpana,
No it will not be good for the baby, you can cook as directed above
Hi Dr Hema,
Our baby is simply keeping her mouth shut with any solids. She only takes a piece of apple that she will gnaw with great interest, at times avacado. I tried dal ka paani today with no luck, mix vegetables puree without any luck, apple puree if I am lucky, no banana. He is going to be 10 months old next week. he started really well on solids at 6 months for 2.5 weeks and then caught an infection that caused him to throw up on 3 days and that was the end of his love for solids. At 6 months he would be coming after seeing the spoon but after throwups, he will simply keep his mouth shut.
Any advice?
Thanks,
Bosky
Hi Bosky,
Maybe he likes finger foods, as he is showing interest in apple and avacado, try introducing different types of Finger Foods
Hi Dr Hema,
Thanks for this – he just gags, chokes and then has a little throw up everytime he takes a small chunk of any food that is iffered as finger food. Then he refuses the same item – this happed with steamed carrot pieces- he was taking it yesterday until he gagged on one piece and had a mini throwup and that was it. I then tired with mushy piece of steamed beetroot and he was very interedted until it went to his mouth and then he started making funny sounds and moved his mouth away. Its really frustrating – the only thing he likes is gnawing on raw carrot and raw apple.
Worried mom…
Hi Bosky,
Give him some time, he will slowly start eating 🙂
Thanks Dr Hema. I really hope so. BTW
All the best 🙂
Shall i add nutmeg in sathumavu while grain?
Hi Abinaya, please do not add while grinding sathumaavu, you can grate nutmeg and add a pinch to the porridge
can we use garlic in rainy season? Older people says that don't have garlic in rainy season.
I use for my son in all seasons, we are using only very little piece, so I don't think so, it will harm the baby…..