Dalia Recipe (Daliya in 2 ways)

Updated: July 15, 2024, By Swasthi

Make Dalia Recipe in 2 ways – savory or sweet, to your preference. Dalia is simply cracked wheat – meaning broken wheat, made from the whole wheat grain. It is a staple in many Indian homes and is often used to make khichdi, porridge, upma, pongal and pulao. Since it is minimally processed, keeping most of the bran intact, dalia is considered nourishing and filling.

While daliya is the Hindi name for broken wheat, it is also known as fada (in Gujarati), samba rava or godhuma rava in South India. It is mostly used in South Indian kitchens to make upma and pongal. In Gujarati cuisine it is used to make lapsi and khichdi. In this post I share 2 recipes to make the dalia khichdi & sweet daliya.

Dalia - Daliya served in a white bowl

Recipe Comments

The first recipe is made much the same way as the traditional rice khichdi using lentils, spices and quick cook veggies. The second recipe is a sweet one made with milk, jaggery, cardamom powder and an optional ingredient – moong dal. At home I cook with this grain a lot not only because it is filling but it is also easier to make. I can say, a well-made daliya tastes better than any other grain.

Both these – savory and sweet versions can be had anytime of the day for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Sometimes when the cravings kick-in for a sweet dish I make the sweet version without guilt because it uses jaggery. For a protein boost I also add a little moong dal which also adds a great texture.

In North India, dalia is mostly eaten during winters & monsoon as wheat helps to keep the body warm. However it makes a great food to enjoy through out the year. It makes a great food even for toddlers. Both my boys have grown up enjoying it. I have also shared a recipe for babies and toddlers at the end of this post.

I have included the instructions to make in a regular pot, pressure cooker & Instant pot.

More Khichdi recipes
Dal khichdi recipe
Oats khichdi
Sabudana khichdi

Photo Guide

Step by Step Photos Instructions

1. Rinse ¼ cup dalia and ¼ cup moong dal thrice. Soak them for at least 30 mins. If you are using the large size broken wheat, I suggest soaking for at least an hour. You can also dry roast dal and daliya first separately, then cool down and rinse.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon ghee or oil in a cooker on a medium to low heat. Add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds. When they begin to splutter, add a pinch of hing and 1 teaspoon grated ginger. You can also add bay leaf if you like the flavor.

frying ginger bay leaf to make dalia recipe

3. Add ½ cup chopped tomatoes, 1 slit green chili (optional), ¼ teaspoon turmeric and ½ teaspoon salt. Saute until the tomatoes turn soft. If using onions, saute onions first until slightly golden, then add tomatoes. You can also skip tomatoes and just use onions.

frying tomatoes with salt to make dalia recipe

4. Add ½ teaspoon red chili powder and saute just for a min. You can omit chili powder if using green chili or cut down the powder if making for kids. You can also add ¼ teaspoon garam masala if you like.

adding spice powders to make dalia khichdi recipe

5. Add ½ to 1 cup mix veggies like carrots, green beans or peas. I had only capsicum so used that. Saute for 2 to 3 mins.

frying veggies to make dalia recipe

6. Drain off the water completely from the broken wheat and dal. Add it to the cooker.

adding dalia to cooker to make dalia khichdi

7. Saute on a medium high heat for about 2 to 3 mins.

frying dalia to make khichdi

8. Pour 2 cups water, mix well and taste test to adjust salt.

adding water and salt to make dalia recipe

9. Cover and pressure cook on a medium to low flame for 2 whistles. Off the stove and leave it on the stove for a while. When the pressure drops, open the lid and stir. If you want stir in lemon juice and add black pepper.

To cook in the instant pot, set to porridge mode and set the timer to 14 mins. Alternately set to pressure cook mode and timer to 12 mins.

pressure cooked dalia

Serve Daliya hot with pickle or papad.

Dalia Recipe

Recipe 2 – Sweet dalia recipe

I also have the Instant pot instructions below.

Ingredients

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons ghee
  • ½ cup daliya
  • 2 tablespoons moong dal (optional)
  • ½ cup grated jaggery or 3 to 4 tbsps sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cardamom powder
  • 2 cups water (1 ½ cups for Instant pot)
  • 1 ½ cups milk (can use almond milk)
  • 8 cashewnuts split or chopped
  • 15 sweet raisins

Preparation

  1. This recipe is healthy if you use jaggery. There are 2 ways you can use them here. One is to add it directly to the slightly cooled dalia. The other way is to dissolve it first and boil for a few minutes. Then cool it completely, filter and stir it with your cooked sweet dalia.
  2. If your jaggery is not clean then, you have to melt it first with 3 tbsps of water, bring it to a good boil and cool completely. Set aside and use it later at the last step. Adding hot jiggery to hot dalia will split the milk or curdle it. So ensure it is cooled completely before adding.
  3. Add ½ cup dalia and 2 tablespoons moong dal (optional) to a bowl and rinse them very well a few times. Drain the water completely and keep aside.

How to make sweet dalia (stovetop)

1. Pour 2 tbsps ghee to a pot and heat it. Add 8 split cashews and fry until golden. Stir in 15 raisins too. When they turn plumpy, remove all of these to a plate. Set aside.

frying cashews in ghee

2. To the same pot, add drained daliya and moong dal.

roasting daliya and moong dal in ghee

3. Saute and fry until dalia turns golden and aromatic. Keep stirring to avoid burning or browning the dalia.

golden roasted daliya in a pan

4. When you begin to get a nice smell, pour 2 cups water and bring it to a boil. To quicken this process, you can also pour hot water to the dalia.

pouring water to cook

5. Give a good mix. Cover and cook on a low to medium heat until all the water is absorbed and dalia is soft cooked.

cook covered

6. It will absorb all the water.

Water in the pot evaporates

7. Pour 1 ½ cups of milk and give a good stir. Mix well and cook until the dalia turns slightly thicker yet is of pouring consistency.

adding sweetener and cardamom powder

8. When it reaches a desired consistency, add cardamom powder. If using sugar, add it as well and give a good mix until it dissolves. Turn off the stove. To know the consistency, you may check the video above in the recipe card.

If using jaggery, remove the pot from the stove and cool down a bit, then stir in the jaggery. I used jaggery here.

daliya cooked with milk and jaggery

Add cashews and raisins. Serve sweet dalia warm.

sweet daliya

Sweet daliya in Instant pot

  1. Press SAUTE button on the Instant pot and pour 2 tablespoons ghee to the steel insert.
  2. Fry 10 split cashews until light golden and stir in 15 sweet raisins. Quickly the raisins will become plump. Immediately remove them.
  3. Add half cup rinsed dalia and 2 tbsps moong dal. Saute for 2 mins.
  4. Then pour 1 ½ cups water and 1 ½ cups milk.
  5. Deglaze the pot by scrubbing the bottom with a wooden spatula.
  6. Press CANCEL button. Secure the Instant pot with the lid and position the steam release handle to sealing.
  7. Press PORRIDGE button & set the timer to 12 mins. If you use the larger cuts of dalia then it takes upto 16 mins.
  8. When the pressure release naturally give a good stir and cook on saute mode for a few minutes to bring it to the consistency you desire.
  9. Add cardamom powder and sugar.
  10. If using jaggery, remove the inner pot out and cool down for a while.
  11. Stir in the grated jaggery or cooled jaggery syrup. Serve sweet dalia hot.

Notes: I have tested this recipe in a 6 QT instant pot with the above mentioned quantities of water and milk. You can also skip the dal from the recipe. Using only milk may give a burn notice.

Tips (savory version – dalia khichdi)

Lentils: I prefer to use some moong dal to make dalia. Apart from adding some protein, it also gives a better texture & flavour to the dish. You may substitute moong dal with red lentils (masoor dal), toor dal or even pancharatan dal.

Veggies: You can use veggies like tomatoes, peas, carrots, beans, potatoes and bell peppers. You can also use any one of the veggies too. If you do not have any veggies, you can also just make it with dalia, moong dal and spices. Just squeeze in some lemon juice while serving.

Spices: Apart from cumin, chili powder and ginger I haven’t used any spices but still it tastes delicious. However you can also add more whole spices like bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves and cardamoms. Alternately you may also add some garam masala. But I really don’t feel the need.

Consistency: For a runny, porridge like consistency you may add more water.

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

Dalia Recipe

Dalia Recipe (Daliya)

4.99 from 100 votes
Dalia khichdi recipe – One of the most nutritious and whole some dish made with broken wheat, spices & herbs. Instructions included to make in pot, pressure cooker & Instant pot.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Servings1
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • ¼ cup broken wheat (dalia)
  • ¼ cup moong dal (skinned mung beans)
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
  • 1 green chilli slit (optional)
  • ½ cup tomatoes (deseeded & chopped)
  • ½ to 1 cup mix veggies (carrots, peas, beans) chopped optional
  • ½ teaspoon red chili powder (use less for low heat)
  • 1 tablespoon ghee or oil (adjust)
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
  • 1 pinch hing (asafetida, optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric or as needed
  • ½ teaspoon salt (adjust as needed)
  • 2 cups water


Instructions

Stovetop

  • Preparation: Wash and soak broken wheat and moong dal together for 30 mins. Meanwhile prep up the veggies and begin to cook.
  • Temper: Heat ghee in a pressure cooker or pot. and add cumin seeds. When they begin to sizzle, add hing and ginger. Saute for a minute until aromatic. Stir in the tomatoes, salt and turmeric.
  • Saute until mushy and stir in the chili powder. You can also add little garam masala if you like. Stir in the veggies and saute for 2 to 3 mins.
  • Drain water completely from dal and broken wheat. Add to the pot and saute for 2 to 3 mins on a medium high flame.
  • Make Dalia: Pour 2 cups water & mix well. Cover and cook on a medium to low flame for 2 whistles. If cooking in a pot, keep adding more hot water as and when needed until the dalia is soft cooked.
  • When the pressure releases naturally, open the lid and stir well. If you find the dalia to be too thick you may pour little boiling water and mix. Adjust salt to your taste.
  • Serve dalia khichdi hot or warm.

Instant pot Instructions

  • Press the SAUTE button (medium) on the Instant pot and pour ghee or oil to the steel insert. Add cumin. When they begin to splutter, add ginger. Then stir in the tomatoes and salt.
  • Saute for 1 to 2 mins until the tomatoes turn mushy. Add red chilli powder and turmeric.
  • Mix and then add the vegetables. Saute for 30 to 60 seconds. Add the drained dalia and moong dal. Saute for 1 to 2 mins.
  • Then pour water and add salt. Deglaze by scrubbing the bottom of the pot with a spatula to release any bits of food stuck there.
  • Press CANCEL button. Secure the Instant pot with the lid and position the steam release value to sealing.
  • Press PORRIDGE button and set the timer to 14 mins. Alternately you can cook for 12 mins on pressure cook mode. If you are using the fine dalia, it only takes 10 mins in both porridge mode and pressure cook mode.
  • Let the pressure release naturally for 8 to 10 mins. Then release the rest manually. Give a good mix. If you like the porridge like consistency, you may add ½ cup hot water and mix the dalia.


Notes

You can find the sweet dalia recipe towards the end of this post.

Video

Recipe 2 – Sweet dalia ingredients towards the end of the post

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Dalia Recipe (Daliya)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 466 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 25mg8%
Sodium 358mg16%
Potassium 882mg25%
Carbohydrates 72g24%
Fiber 20g83%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin A 655IU13%
Vitamin C 18.4mg22%
Calcium 82mg8%
Iron 7.9mg44%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

This post was first published in November 2015, Republished in June 2020

Dalia recipe for babies

I had few requests for a good dalia recipe for babies, so sharing it. My kids refused to eat dalia until they completed 2 years, the reason – the texture was not liked as it is not very smooth like the mashed rice.

When they turned 2, i started to pressure cook dalia and moong dal together with veggies. Then season with ghee, ginger, hing, turmeric and pepper cumin.

Over the years, the recipe under went so many changes and now i make it the way i described above in step by step pictures. Here are the proportions i used to make for them. Do try and share if your little one likes it.

The below quantity makes dalia khichdi good enough for the mum and toddler. For babies under 18 months, i do not suggest feeding this for dinner.

Avoid feeding this late in the night after 7.30 pm even to normal babies. Moong dal is not suitable to some babies during winters, so you can try with toor dal. Avoid using potatoes, tomatoes if your baby has colic.

Ingredients for dalia

  • ¼ cup broken wheat
  • ¼ cup moong dal or toor dal (can reduce to 2 tbsp)
  • 2 cups of water
  • ¼ to ½ cup veggies

for seasoning

  • ghee 1 tbsp
  • cumin or jeera powder as needed
  • 1 tsp ginger paste
  • pinch of turmeric
  • pepper powder/ajwain (avoid in summer)

Steps

  • You can dry roast dal and dalia separately in large quantity. Cool them and store in steel or glass jars. This step is optional but lends a good aroma.
  • Soak them together for at least 1 hour. If your baby has colic i suggest soaking for 2 hours. Soaking helps to cook the dalia soft and baby will like the texture. It also helps to digest better.
  • Drain off the dal and dalia. Add 2 cups fresh water and pressure cook on medium to low flame for 2 whistles.
  • When you open the lid, you will find it gooey. The texture we often feed the babies. If you like to mash it further, you can. But for 2 whistles mine gets cooked very soft.
  • Add salt and stir. You can skip the seasoning and add turmeric, ghee, cumin directly to the cooked dalia. Feed when it comes down to warm temperature. During winters you can also add a pinch of ajwain powder, dry ginger powder (saunt/sonti). Avoid if baby has constipation.
  • I used to feed my toddlers without seasoning. You can make seasoning to the mum’s portion of dalia khichdi.

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About Swasthi

Iโ€™m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthiโ€™s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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5 stars
Have made this in a pressure cooker. Turned out excellent. Will definitely make kichadi with Dalia instead of rice. Thank you.

5 stars
First time made this in the Instant pot and it was very nice. Thank you

Can we add hing?

5 stars
Hi, thank you so much for this recipe, we are all trying to reduce sugar and this was very helpful and tasty.

5 stars
Thank you for the recipe! You’re my go to page for any dish.
Q: Does dry roasted dalia and Moong dal need to be soaked for 30mins aswell?

5 stars
So easy and convenient for a busy week lunch!!! I prepare it every now and then and always comforting ๐Ÿ™‚

5 stars
This recipe is so perfect, my family is so happy after eating.

5 stars
Dalia Khichdi was excellent! both is taste and texture. Almost tasted like a bisi bele bhaat. We loved it. Quick and easy dinner.

5 stars
Dalia kichidi recipe- very helpful today as I didn’t plan the breakfast menu yesterday

Lovely recipe, Swasthi! Nutritious and wholesome, not to mention, super easy. Thank you!

How long is โ€œtwo whistlesโ€? I live in the US and we pressure cook by time.

Hi mam, how many times can we feed this in a week? my baby is 10 months and often she is having colic so can i take daal 1 portion and dalia 2 portions?

5 stars
hello,
i hv 2 yr old boy he still have gastric problem whenever i feed daal at dinner.i usually gave him rice n oats khichdi at dinner..will u please guide me what should i give him other then rice n oats at dinner because excessive use of these two grains are mucus producing.plz help me

thnx alot for sharing such a valuable info
actually he takes dinner at 7 till 7:45.i usually avoid all kind of bakery stuff for him..i gave him sooji n u told me its processed so i usually gave him just twice in week or should i completely avoid
he has alot of digestion issue somtimes loose stools n smtimes constipation.most of the time he feel very uncomfortable n make faces like he will vomit although he dont vomit but i feel soo depressed as he grow up now that digestion issue must go now.i am following right timings as u mention in baby chart n giving him homemade food but still i hate to watch him suffer.i dont know where i am wrong

thnxx alot i will try this.hope it will work .thnx alot for guidance

The seasoning in this recipe is unbelievably yummy! My little boy literally gulped it down in minutes.

5 stars
Hey Swasthi a big thank you for this wonderful recipe, i am not a cook, but with your step by step instruction i could well manage it and it came out finger licking good, keep posting more for us, thank you once again

5 stars
I will be making this for my 15 month old. Can I add grated lauki to this recipe?

5 stars
Can i give dalia daily for lunch or dinner( without dal) to my 1 year baby. Will u plz give jowar n bajra recipes for babies. Thank u for ur worderful recipes

Thanku swasthi. Porridge means wash jowar then dry n make the powder, make porridge r8 ? How much of veg (qty) in a day have to give to 1 year old baby ?

4 stars
Hello,
My brother is on diet suggested by doctor as he is a pateint.dietitian have suggested him to have Dalia bt spices any type of dal tomato potatoes is restricted so can u suggest me wid recipe which I can offer him.
Waiting for reply
Thank you.

5 stars
Hi, I tried this for Lunch today, it turned out awesome…I think I can repeat this several times a week. Till now I was using Dalia only to make the sweet version, which my 2 yo doesn’t like much. This khichdi is a hit!! Thanks for sharing Swati

5 stars
Tried this today..It was awesome..I never had dalia before , but looks like I can have it everyday.

5 stars
Thankyou for all the recipes