Apple ragi halwa is one of the easiest and healthy ragi recipes that one can include in the diet. It makes a good breakfast not only for babies & toddlers but to everyone. Ragi being rich in iron, the iron levels are absorbed well by our body when accompanied with a vitamin C food like apple or pear. This apple ragi halwa is one of the best health food that is easy to make and convince your loved ones to enjoy it since it tastes very good.
This ragi halwa can also be made to a thin porridge consistency. This is suitable to babies over 6 months. If you intend to introduce solids to your baby please consult your pediatrician first. You can also check this post on Introducing solids to babies.
If you haven’t introduced apple and ragi earlier, then you will have to introduce them as 2 separate foods following a 3 day test rule. If both of these go well they you can try apple ragi.
You can also find more information on how to introduce ragi to babies here. It is a detailed post on how to tackle problems related to ragi for babies. you can also check this post on how to make sprouted ragi flour.
Preparation for apple ragi halwa
1. Wash apple, peel and core it. Chop and add them to a blender.
2. For babies below 1 year old make a smooth puree. Set this aside. For toddlers you can try making it slightly chunky. They may love to bite the chunks.
3. Add 3 tbsp flour to a pan or pot.
Making apple ragi halwa
4. Stir in 1 cup water. The mixture should be lump free. If using jaggery or palm jaggery, melt it in 1 cup warm water and filter to the pot. (refer the notes for details). But this halwa can be made without any sweetener, just use sweet variety apples.
5. Cook till it thickens, constantly stirring to prevent formation of lumps. Cook covered for another 2 mins on a low flame.
6. Switch off the stove. Cover and leave it for 2 minutes.
7. Add apple puree and ghee. Since my kid is already 4, i used organic brown sugar and little cinnamon powder. Read the notes for details on sweetener.
8. Mix it and stir. I added the ghee now since i forgot at the previous step.
Ragi apple halwa is ready. For toddlers who can chew nuts, few roasted and chopped cashews can be added.
How much apple ragi porridge for babies?
This is one of the question that most of you ask, What is the right amount to serve for my baby? All babies are not the same, some can eat solids really well while some don’t. The below measurements are just rough guidelines.
1 tsp ragi flour with 1/4 small apple for 6 and 7 months old babies. (may not finish full if 6 months old)
1 tbsp flour with 1/2 small apple for 8 month (if your baby can finish, next increase the quantity of apple to 3/4, next attempt to increase the quantity of flour to 1.5 tbsps)
2 tbsp. for 10 months plus
3 tbsp. for 1 year plus with one large apple
4 tbsp for 18 months to 4 years old with a large apple
suggestion : make the quantity mentioned in the recipe card. Snce it is very hard to cook small portions of food like a tsp and it may also get burnt if you are not careful. The excess food can be had by a older kid or by the mother, after making your own adjustments to it.
The measures i gave above are just for you to know if you have fed a good quantity. Once cooked the quantity of porridge will be almost 3 to 4 times the amount of dry flour Plus the quantity of apple puree. So you can scale the cooked portion easily and feed.
Recipe card
Apple ragi
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 3 to 4 tbsp ragi flour or finger millet flour
- 1 cup water or more water if needed
- 1 apple , small to large . (large apple for toddlers)
- 0.5 tsp ghee
- organic jaggery as needed (avoid for babies under 1 year, refer notes)
Instructions
- Wash and peel the skin of apple. Core and chop to pieces and add them to a blender and puree. You can blend it coarsely for toddlers. Set this aside.
- Stir in 1 cup of water with flour in a pan. Cook on a low to medium flame stirring continuously until the mixture thickens and turns glossy.
- Cover the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Turn off the stove. Rest for another 2 mins.
- Add the apple puree, ghee and sweetener if using. Stir to mix well.
- Cool down and serve apple ragi when it is warm.
Notes
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
Really super to c all the dishes in what way u r portrait…. I need weight gain food for after one year baby much… Thanks a lot for lot of dishes and there information about it
You are welcome!
Is it ok to feed jaggery sweet to babies 6 month old or below one year..?
I loved the fact that you have measurements as per baby age which lots of people don’t give. Thank you for this post.
Welcome Priya
Hi dear…
What should I say about your blog.? It’s really good and helpful. Your recipes helped me a lot, when I got married. My husband loves andhra food though he is a malayalee and believe me every day because of your recipes I was praised by my husband.. And now I’m using your recipes for my baby. Baby s just 6 month old now. Your help is very much appreciated.
Hi Archana,
Thank you so much! So glad you found the blog helpful. Please check this link for introducing solids to your baby. Hope this helps. Feel free to post any queries on the baby food.
🙂
1. What all fruits can be added instead of apple? Can we add mango in this recipe
2. Can we add milk with fruit in this recipe.
Hi Sandya
Instead of apple you can add banana or sapota. Mango and papaya when combined with ragi sometimes causes diarrhea in babies & toddlers. You can experiment with small quantity. Avoid feeding or mixing milk & fruit anytime.This causes stomach upset and hampers the digestion.
I am a mother of a one-year old and your food recipes for baby are such a great revelation to me! Thanks so much for penning them down and sharing them.. Such a wonderful contribution to society and a huge help for moms who are clueless about what to cook and how to cook for their babies. Great job!!
Hi Sunjula,
You are welcome. Thanks a lot for the motivating words. They mean a lot to me. Hope your baby enjoys the food.
🙂
Between 11 to 12 she need milk at night. Now what to give in This place in diaherria.
Hi swasthi,
I give her milk 3 times a day. What can be given at night in place of milk in diaherria. As soon as I stop antibiotic she again looses her stomach and gets diaherria. Don’t know what is wrong. Pl reply asap
Hi Kajal
Looks like she has a totally disturbed tummy. I guess suggestion from a doctor is best
Hi swasthi
Hope you have received my mail on your Gmail account.
Again her stomach has gone bad. Is it ok if I am giving her kansar lot khichadi or I should give only broken wheat. I am trying to figure out what is going wrong. Pl help.
Hi Kajal, i haven’t checked today’s mails yet. Will reply tonight. But it is better to avoid wheat products during stomach upset as they are hard to digest. I will give u a detailed plan in the mail.
Also pl specify the quantity and time gap between each feed. Cause that also could be the culprit. What the actual pproblem is whatever she eats within few mins her stomach.looks empty like she has had nothing. And so keeps on eating and eating. And also note I give her one boiled apple and one banana evening daily. No other fes
Dear kajal
I replied your mail the same day. Just waiting for your reply so that i can tell you the details for both of them. I guess she gets bloated. Does she walk and play enough. For a good digestion even physical activity is very much needed. Meanwhile try giving her roasted and powdered jeera with jaggery. Add jaggery to a blender and make a fine powder. Add some grated jaggery and blend well. Both come together, then make small balls. Each ball can be approximately 3/4 tsp powder. Give this three times in a day 30 mins before food. After 15 mins little warm water to drink. Both jeera and jaggery to be used in equal quantities. You can give upto 7 days continuously, stop for 7 days then start again. You can also add some elaichi and roasted saunf/ fennel for flavor if she doesn’t like. Will wait for ur mail
Still awaiting your reply. thanks.
Hey Kajal
I am sorry to keep you waiting. Was unwell for quite sometime, so I guess i didn’t reply the comments in order. Firstly do you give her haldi milk regularly? if yes, pls stop it.
Turmeric is a medical rhizome and must be used only as needed. even in cooking a tiny pinch is enough. Using turmeric regularly can cause stomach problems and also burns fat. It is not good to give that to kids especially to fussy eaters . If you are giving haldi doodh , do not give for more than 5 days.
Some Toddlers love to eat from the family members plates. So try to give her food along with all of you in a separate plate. Within no time she will learn to eat on her own. Then you will have to feed her later when she is unable to finish.
I highly recommend you to give her some probiotics for sometime.
Compared to what my kids ate, I feel she is eating less. Here is a brief schedule of what my kids ate at her age:
wakeup 6 – milk -150 to 240 ml
breakfast- 8 – 2 to 3 idli with rasam or sambar. A 3/4 to 1 cup of vegetable daliya khichdi,
vegetable oats, ragi etc (prorridge consistency) or sometimes 1 1/2 dosa or moong dal dosa
10.30 to 11 – fruit
12 – lunch
3 milk
4.30 – ragi or oats or ragi or any soup etc
6.30 – fruit
7.30 dinner
10 pm milk – 150 to 240 ml
milk in the night as needed.
I feel very guilty to keep you waiting every time. For further queries you can email me. Will reply you
Love you swasthi as a great helper dear. Pl don’t feel sorry. Take care of your health first only then can our kids will remain healthy.
Hi Swasthi,
My kid is 7 years who is very poor eater.
Can you plz suggest me the recipes, so that I can gradually increase his appetite.
He frequently suffers from cold.
Thank you
Hi Usha
Frequent colds and coughs are due to lack of immunity. Pls follow these tips,
1. early morning on empty stomach – one and a half tsp of honey with 2 tsps of lemon juice and pinch of pepper for 3 months. No food for at least 15 mins after the honey lemon.
2. Completely avoid sugar, biscuits, cakes, deep fried foods and junk etc , instead give dry fruits ladoos for snacks and boiled and cooled milk.
3. Boiled egg regularly, lightly sauteed 1 carrot in 1 tsp ghee for dinner along with lot of tomato rasam and other vegetables.
4. Evening walk for about 15 mins regularly.
5. Ragi porridge regularly after school or for breakfast.
These tips have worked very well for my kids.
Hi Swasthi,
Thanks a lot for the reply.
We are vegetarians. Can you suggest me any food item other than egg.
Thank you
Usha
You can try chana/ chickpeas, rajma, green gram etc either curry or just boiled and made like a salad.
Hi Swasthi,
Thank you a lot.
May be cause have increase the quantity or cause I am giving more of whole food or may be cause even after eating she eats from others plates. Don’t know. Pl help. Now am tryto follow this
Morning
Milk roti/rice
Mid morning
Unboiled apple
Afternoon
Dal rice/dal roti/ khichadi
Evening
Banana
Dinner
Khichadi/dal rice/broken wheat khichadi
Night
Haldi milk
Is it ok
Swasthi pl help. Mr daughter’s routine is as such
830 milk rice/roti
12 boiled apple
130 khichadi
530 banana
800 khichadi
And milk at night or mid night
Pl correct the routine cause I feel she still remains hungry and sometimes if I add milk after banana. I dont know her stomach is going bad very frequently now a days. Am not able to set the time gap and right quantity for food and milk. Pl help me in detail. ASAP
Kajal how old is she now
She is 1.8 years. Swasthi actually she got lot of loose motions recently and on and off it took 15 days. She lost weight. But still she is not perfectly fine. I don’t know where am I going wrong. She was fine with this routine but she spoils her stomach with this routine.
Hi swasthi, i tried the grated apple but it starts becoming dark as soon as i start grating.
Hi swasthi,
Need you help again.
My 1.5 years daughter does not it raw apple. She still prefers boiled one. Secondly can V give tur Dal mix Dal in dinner. Also guide me on food texture. Thick or mashed or whole. Thank you.
Hi Kajal
Hope you are doing good. Did you try grated apple? At 16 to 18 months it is good if a toodler can have raw apple. Raw apples boost appetite and immunity. If she doesn’t like, you can also try apple juice. You ca check this post on how to make apple juice. Dinner must be light always, soupy and thin dal with veggies is good. The food can be thick and mashed.No pureed foods.
Hope these help
Lovely. Thanks
Very helpful reply. But swasthi let me know whether Dal with veggies only and no roti or rice. And also swasthi quantity guide pl. As the same way u did for milk. Thanks.
You can give rice with dal and veggies. She should be able to eat about 250 ml cup serving
Hi swasthi
Need your guidance for food, timing and quantity to be feed to 18 months baby
Hi Kajal
The food chart I posted for over 8 months babies can be continued till the completion of 3 years. Only change is to increase the quantity of foods.
Hi swasthi,can I give this apple ragi halwa as evening snack for my 2 year boy..how many times in a week??
Yes leela you can give daily. No problem
Awesome recipes i love all recipes
Thanks Laiba
Hello mam thanks for all ur recipes. Its very useful. How can I introduce badam for my 17 month old baby. Or any other nuts. Till now I didn’t gave any nuts
Hi swasthi,
Actually I feel what ever I fed her when she finishes her stomch is tight but say after 2 to 3 hours it’s empty like ate nothing. So I follow it this way.
8:30 milk roti
11:30 boiled apple
1:00 mix veg khichadi (tur dal)
4:00 banana
6;30 milk
8:30 plain khichadi ( mung dal)
11:30 milk
Is this ok?
Sometime if not banana milk then raab/cerelac.
Pl reply Asap
Awaiting your reply swasthi.
Sorry missed ur comment, replied it now