🌟 Hey there, Cool Mama!

Who says baby food has to be bland?
If you're a modern mom who loves desi flavors and wants to raise a little foodie from day one, you’re in the right place.

This isn’t your grandma’s recipe book (though she’d totally approve).
It’s a modern mashup of culture + nutrition, made simple for busy moms like you. 💁‍♀️

Let’s spice things up (gently!) with these easy, baby-safe, Indian-inspired recipes for ages 6 to 12 months.

🔑 Before You Start:

• Introduce single foods first, following the 3-day rule.

• Start with mild spices only (like cumin, ajwain, or turmeric).

• Avoid salt, sugar, honey, cow's milk (before 1 year), and whole nuts.

🍌 1. Elaichi Banana Mash (6+ months)

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana

• A pinch of cardamom (elaichi) powder

How to make:
Mash banana with a fork, sprinkle a tiny pinch of elaichi, and mix well.

🧠 Why it's great: Soothing, iron-rich, and gut-friendly.

🍚 2. Moong Dal Khichdi (6+ months)

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp moong dal

• 1 tbsp rice

• A pinch of turmeric

• 1/4 tsp ghee (optional after 7 months)

How to make:
Wash and cook dal + rice with turmeric until soft. Mash or blend to desired consistency.

🥄 Pro tip: Add grated carrot or bottle gourd for extra nutrients!

🥬 3. Palak Moong Soup (7+ months)

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp moong dal

• A few spinach (palak) leaves

• A pinch of cumin seeds

How to make:
Cook dal and palak together with water. Blend smooth. Temper with a drop of ghee and crushed cumin (skip if baby is under 7 months).

🌱 Packed with iron & protein.

🥔 4. Jeera Aloo Mash (7+ months)

Ingredients:

• 1 small boiled potato

• A pinch of roasted cumin powder

How to make:
Mash potato, mix in cumin powder and warm water to adjust texture.

😋 Comfort food made baby-safe!

🥣 5. Ragi Porridge with Dates (8+ months)

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp ragi flour

• 1 soaked date (peeled & pureed)

• Water or expressed milk

How to make:
Cook ragi with water until smooth, stir in date puree. Cool before serving.

💪 Iron-rich + natural sweetness = win-win!

🍠 6. Sweet Potato Halwa (9+ months)

Ingredients:

• 1 boiled sweet potato

• A pinch of nutmeg or cardamom

• A tsp ghee (optional)

How to make:
Mash sweet potato, add ghee and spice. Heat gently to form a soft halwa.

🍬 Dessert-style without sugar. Yes, please.

🧄 7. Masoor Dal + Garlic Tadka (10+ months)

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp red lentils (masoor dal)

• 1 garlic clove

• A few curry leaves

How to make:
Cook dal. Lightly temper garlic and curry leaves in ghee, strain tadka, and mix into mashed dal.

🧄 Flavorful intro to family-style food.

🫓 8. Soft Veg Paratha Strips (10+ months)

Ingredients:

• Whole wheat flour

• Mashed carrot, spinach, or beetroot

• Ajwain (carom seeds)

How to make:
Knead flour with veg mash + ajwain. Cook soft parathas. Cut into strips for finger foods.

🖐 Perfect for self-feeding and teething!

🧁 9. Sooji Kheer with Apple (10–12 months)

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp suji (semolina)

• 1/2 grated apple

• Water or formula

How to make:
Roast suji in ghee, add grated apple and water, simmer till soft and thick.

🍏 Naturally sweet, easy on digestion.

🥥 10. Coconut Rice (11–12 months)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cooked rice

• Fresh grated coconut

• Pinch of hing (asafoetida) & mustard seeds

How to make:
Light tempering of hing + mustard in ghee, add to mashed coconut rice.

🌴 Tropical, aromatic, and toddler-approved!

🧘 Final Thoughts:

Introducing Indian flavors early helps babies build a lifelong love for nutritious, home-cooked food. Keep it simple, keep it safe, and most of all—keep it joyful.

Whether you're a working mom, chill mom, Pinterest mom, or figuring-it-out mom… You're doing amazing. 💕