Samai Payasam/Sama Kheer/Little Millet Porridge

Made with our traditional millet, this Samai Payasam/Sama Kheer/Little Millet Porridge is full of essential nutrients that promote growth and development. We all know that samai is one of the ancient grains of India and also one of the most nutritious. This millet porridge makes for a very healthy and tasty breakfast or dessert for babies. If you are looking for something sweet and packed with nutrition, then our samai payasam is what you need to have on your table. Samai Payasam/Sama Kheer/Little Millet Porridge is also a great source of iron and magnesium, making it a perfect breakfast for growing kids!

Little Millet is known by the following names in other Indian languages:

• English – Little Millet
• Tamil – Samai
• Hindi – Kutki or Shavan
• Telegu – Samalu
• Kannada – Same
• Malayalam – Chama
• Gujarthi – Gajro, Kuri
• Punjabi – Swank
• Marathi – Sava, Halvi, Vari

Nutritional Benefits of Little Millet

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• Little millet is a cereal grain that is high in fiber and has a low glycemic index.
• It is a good source of thiamin, niacin, zinc and magnesium.
• It also contains vitamin E, and selenium.
• It can help to regulate blood sugar levels.
• Little millet is a great source of protein has no cholesterol.
• Little millet is a good source of dietary fiber which helps in preventing constipation in kids.
• It is also a good source of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and pantothenic acid.
• It provides you with a good amount of potassium, and phosphorus.

Overall, little millet is extremely good for heart health, body detoxification, gut health, immunity and provides good energy. And hence the right choice for growing kids.

When Can I give my baby Little Millet /Samai/Sama?

Exclusive breast feeding or formula feeding is only recommended till the baby completes 6 months. Your baby can be fed Samai after 6 months. It is recommended to introduce it after having introduced other basic weaning foods. While introducing any new food, please give little and then gradually increase the quantity. Read more here.

Samai Payasam/Sama Kheer/Little Millet Porridge

Ingredients

• Little millet / sama /samai – 1 cup
• Cardamom/elaichi powder – 1/4 teaspoon
• Saffron – 2-3 strands
• Coconut sugar (optional) – 2 tbsp

Instructions

1. Soak the millet for at least 2 to 3 hours.

2. Boil water in a deep sauce pan or kadai and once boiling, add the millet.

3. NOTE: Milk can be added instead of water for babies above 1 year.
4. Cover with a lid and cook on a low flame.

5. Let it cook for least 20 minutes for the millet to cook completely, stir in between if required.
6. Add coconut sugar, elachi powder and stir.

7. NOTE: Skip coconut sugar for babies below 1 year.
8. Garnish with saffron stands.

9. Samai Payasam/Sama Kheer/Little Millet Porridge is now ready.

10. To add on the nutritional benefits of Samai Payasam/Sama Kheer/Little Millet Porridge, just add some fruits like banana and mango into the ingredients list. It will also make your desserts taste amazing!

Age Recommendation: 8 Months

Now that you have read this recipe, are you excited about Samai Payasam/Sama Kheer/Little Millet Porridge? Then why don’t you try it out today? Your baby’s health is more important than anything else, so make sure to treat them to a cup of this delicious porridge! Kids generally take to sweet dishes more easily than savory ones, so a kheer or payasam is a great way to get them to eat grains like sama, which aren’t served as regularly as perhaps wheat or rice. Let your baby enjoy a different kind of kheer this season!

Frequently Asked Questions

Samai Payasam/Sama Kheer/Little Millet Porridge

Kids generally take to sweet dishes more easily than savory ones, so dessert is a great way to get them to eat grains like sama or little millet. Instead of rice or ragi, let your baby enjoy a different kind of kheer this season!

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Indian

Prep Time: 2 hours hours

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 2

Author: Hemapriya

Ingredients

• 1 cup little millet / sama /samai
• 2 cups of water if using milk then 3 cups of milk
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom/elaichi powder
• 2-3 strands of saffron
• 2 tbsp Coconut sugar Optional

Instructions

• Soak the millet for at least 2 to 3 hours or else it won't cook properly.
• Boil water in a deep saucepan or kadai and once boiling, add the millet.
• Cover with a lid and cook on a low flame, stirring throughout, to prevent the millet from sticking to the pan.
• It will take at least 20 minutes for the millet to cook completely, so let it cook till it looks like the picture shown here.
• Before turning off the stove, add coconut sugar, elachi powder and stir. If you like, formula or breast milk can be added for babies below 1 year.
• Garnish with saffron stands.

Notes

For babies over 1 year of age, you can use milk instead of water. Follow step 2 as mentioned above, and when the milk comes to a boil, add the sama and let it cook through till completely done.