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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
6. Drain off the water completely from the broken wheat and dal. Add it to the cooker.
7. Saute on a medium high heat for about 2 to 3 mins.
8. Pour 2 cups water, mix well and taste test to adjust salt.
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.
Serve Daliya hot with pickle or papad.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
2. To the same pot, add drained daliya and moong dal.
3. Saute and fry until dalia turns golden and aromatic. Keep stirring to avoid burning or browning the dalia.
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.
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.
6. It will absorb all the water.
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.
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.
Add cashews and raisins. Serve sweet dalia warm.
Sweet daliya in Instant pot
- Press SAUTE button on the Instant pot and pour 2 tablespoons ghee to the steel insert.
- Fry 10 split cashews until light golden and stir in 15 sweet raisins. Quickly the raisins will become plump. Immediately remove them.
- Add half cup rinsed dalia and 2 tbsps moong dal. Saute for 2 mins.
- Then pour 1 ½ cups water and 1 ½ cups milk.
- Deglaze the pot by scrubbing the bottom with a wooden spatula.
- Press CANCEL button. Secure the Instant pot with the lid and position the steam release handle to sealing.
- Press PORRIDGE button & set the timer to 12 mins. If you use the larger cuts of dalia then it takes upto 16 mins.
- 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.
- Add cardamom powder and sugar.
- If using jaggery, remove the inner pot out and cool down for a while.
- 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 (Daliya)
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
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
Video
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© 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.
About Swasthi
Iโm 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 Swasthiโs Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me
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Comments
Have made this in a pressure cooker. Turned out excellent. Will definitely make kichadi with Dalia instead of rice. Thank you.
First time made this in the Instant pot and it was very nice. Thank you
Glad you like it Sunitha.
Can we add hing?
yes if you want you can add a pinch to the tempering
Hi, thank you so much for this recipe, we are all trying to reduce sugar and this was very helpful and tasty.
Hi Rachel,
Glad you like it
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?
Hi Anusha,
So glad to read this. Thank you. If you are using a stovetop pressure cooker soaking gives softer results. If using a instant pot, you don’t need to soak.
So easy and convenient for a busy week lunch!!! I prepare it every now and then and always comforting ๐
Yes so comforting! Thank you Shruti
So happy to know!
This recipe is so perfect, my family is so happy after eating.
Thanks for letting me know!
Dalia Khichdi was excellent! both is taste and texture. Almost tasted like a bisi bele bhaat. We loved it. Quick and easy dinner.
Glad to know Divya
Thank you
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 โtwo whistlesโ? I live in the US and we pressure cook by time.
Hi Elsi
If you want to cook in instant pot, go with porridge mode – 12 mins. If the consistency is too thick, pour another half cup hot water after the pressure releases.
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?
Hi Sridevi,
You can serve 2 to 3 times in a week. Soak dal and wheat rava both when you wake up in the morning. Rinse them well and then cook around 12 noon. This avoids gas. Yes you can also reduce dal to 1 portion and rava to 2. Avoid incompatible combinations, give more fruits (not acidic), avoid feeding solids after 8 pm and always soak lentils. This will help to manage colic better. Hope this helps
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
Hi Zarri,
I am really sorry I took so long to reply you. If giving dal to small kids for dinner then you must feed before 7.30 pm. Eating dal late in the night creates lot of gas. We usually give the dal rasam for kids during dinner which is like thin dal not so thick. If you cannot feed early then soak the grains well for 2 hours and then discard the water then cook. Actually stomach gas or indigestion creates mucus especially in kids. So it is good to focus on the digestion to stop mucus. Actually mucus is not due to excessive use of rice or oats but it is because he has the tummy problem. Stop all processed foods including cookies etc & focus more of fresh fruits and veggies. Early dinner & lot of fruits & veggies should reduce the stomach gas. Also take him for a good walk in the evening. Hope this helps
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
Hi Zarri,
For 3 to 4 days, try to keep him only on khichdi, vegetable porridges, soups, boiled veggies & 3 servings of fruits per day. Avoid any difficult to digest foods. Sometimes even milk, meat, cold foods & high fiber diet can cause digestive issues. Try to stop all of these for 7 to 10 days and check. You can give him yogurt (with cumin powder to avoid phlegm). Also try with a good probiotic powder or capsule for a month. Hope this helps. I am quite slow in replying comments. Sorry to keep you waiting.
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.
Hi Sunjula
Thanks for trying. I am so happy your little one liked it.
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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
Welcome Meg
Glad to know it turned out good. Thanks for the comment. Yes will surely keep sharing.
I will be making this for my 15 month old. Can I add grated lauki to this recipe?
yes Nisha you can add lauki, carrots, peas, green capsicum a small piece, palak or methi
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
Hi Lakshmi
Yes you can give dalia regularly for lunch. If you give her early dinner, then you can also give for dinner. But only wheat rawa constipates so do add a bit of dal and more veggies. For jowar and bajra only dosas are better or you can give in the form of porridge. You can try this jowar dosa. You can just replace jowar with bajra in the recipe.
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 ?
Welcome Lakshmi
You can buy organic jowar flour and make the porridge. It is very hard to make the powder at home. I usually dont consider potato to be a veggie. So other than that 1/2 to 1 cup of cooked veggies (cubes) you can serve.
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.
Hi Sushma
You can try this dalia upma recipe. If any recipe has potato, tomato etc, just skip them and make.If any recipe has potato , you can replace with suran or sweet potato. Chana is also very good for ppl with diabetes. Hope this helps.
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
Welcome Niveditha,
Yes you can have it several times. You can also make it with mixed veggies and even with different kinds of dal.
Tried this today..It was awesome..I never had dalia before , but looks like I can have it everyday.
Thanks for trying
Yes it can be had everyday
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Thankyou for all the recipes
Welcome Ajisha