barley baby cereal recipe, make your own baby food
Barley Carrot Cereal / Payasam / kheer for babies and kids has been adapted from Pandit Elchuri’s Andariki Ayurvedam show that was telecasted on Maa Tv channel almost 2 yrs ago. Pandit Elchuri is an Ayurvedic expert based in Hyderabad and has been selflessly serving people thru his ayurvedic knowledge and pharmacy at a reasonable cost. I have made a small change to the original recipe by adding carrot puree to make it more nutritious.
Most of us do not like barley due to their chewy texture but using it in the powdered form gives a good texture to the payasam. So do try this for your loved ones. Absolutely delicious!
Barley is a wonder grain and a better source of fiber, iron, potassium and folate than white rice & brown rice and has numerous health benefits like protecting the intestine, lowering cholestral, lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes and many more.
Barley for babies (above 10 months baby, start with ½ tsp barley powder)
Barley is an easily digestible whole grain and makes a good nutritious baby food provided adequate care is taken towards preparing the cereal. Excess fiber in barley can lead to colic, so do moderate the quantity and cook thoroughly. Many say barley is cooling to the body, so always serve your baby warm barley to prevent colds. I started serving this to my son when he was 10 months old and it’s been 2 yrs both my kids cherish, no bloating and no indigestion.
Important notes:
Barley if not cooked thoroughly can upset the stomach. If you wish to consume whole barley, soak for 3 to 4 hrs before cooking and cook till barley turns mushy.
Always consume barley in moderation, it can lead to bloating due to the excess fiber in it.
How to make the barley cereal (dry cereal powder) mentioned in the notes in the recipe below
make your own baby food, barley cereal step by step pictures
barley baby cereal recipe
barley baby cereal
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 1 carrot medium , (about ½ cup of cubes) (pureed) (optional)
- 2 tbsp Barley coarse powder refer notes how to make
- 1 ½ cup water (can increase by another ¼ to ½ cup)
- ½ cup milk
- 1/8 tsp cardamom powder
- 1 ½ tbsps Coconut Palm sugar / jaggery / karupatti (adjust as per your taste)
- 1 tbsp ghee
Instructions
- Soak barley powder in water for at least 10 mins.
- Puree carrot with milk and set aside.
- Cook barley thoroughly till all the coarse grains become smooth. It took around 15 mins on a low flame for me. Keep stirring to prevent lumps.
- Once thoroughly cooked, pour the carrot pure. Mix well and cook on a low flame for 2 mins. If you do not wish to use carrot for this just skip and pour milk at this step and continue.
- Add the cardamom powder, palm sugar and mix well.
- Add ghee & Cook it for a min or 2 on a low flame and off the heat
- Serve warm with ghee (I have added nuts since my kids can chew them, if yours cannot do not add them).
Notes
Wash barley thoroughly in surplus water,
Fan dry for about an hr on a dry cloth
Roast them on a pan on a medium flame till they become crunchy
Make a coarse powder. Store in an airtight container, stays good for 6 months.
Tips
This tastes good only when consumed with in 45 mins to 1hr after preparation and tends to turn sticky later.
Do not use fine flour, the powder had to be like semolina, else the cereal / Payasam becomes very sticky
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
you can view a complete Indian baby food chart
for more homemade baby cereal recipes, check
dal khichdi
whole wheat baby cereal
carrot baby food
potato baby food
ragi malt
Neve says
Hi Swasthi,
Love your ideas, we eat a lot of asian flavors in our house and I lOVE barley! I hope this kids enjoy this as much as I will!
swasthi says
Thanks Neve
Yes do try it.
🙂
NP says
Hi swasthi,
Love ur blog, ur straightforward style, healthy, innovative awesome recipes…urs is one of my goto blogs
Which kind of barley did u use here? Pearl or hulled
swasthi says
Hi NP
Thanks for the compliments.
I used pearl barley.
Hope this helps
NP says
Thanks for the quick reply swasthi…ya that was helpful. I am impressed that you blog with such commitment.
swasthi says
🙂
Mamatha says
Hi mam ur recipes r so tasty…I tried many recipes by seeing this….mam I have 2 kids one is 4 yes old&another. 10 months olddd.. My 1omonths baby is not eating anythinggg..can u suggest any new recipiess
swasthi says
Hi Mamatha
Please check the baby recipes on the menu. You will find lot of baby food recipes.
Meena says
Thanks for sharing
teena says
Hey thanks for the immediate response…I’ll post if I face any issues.
teena says
Hi swastika,
liked ur blog for babies…i have a 1 yr old daughter n found really nice recipes out hr which i can look forward to prepare soon…had a query.., can i buy jau atta for the recipe mentioned above instead of making powder at home coz today i found at a store that they sell jau atta so thought of buying it…plus suggest if that’s OK.
Thanks,
teens george
swasthi says
Hi Teena,
Iam glad you like my recipes and blog. If you trust the brand i think you can use it. But i have always made barley flour at home since it is easy and we can wash the barley which is not done for store bought flours. using barley flour that is fine may make the cereal sticky. We need slight coarse powder to make the best barley cereal. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the visit
🙂
sangita says
Hi, you have such good collection for toddler food. Thank you. i am using it for my 2 yr child.
she still refuses to chew food, even when she has got teeth like crocodile.
I have to mash her food thouroghly 🙁
swasthi says
Hi sangita,
thanks for the compliment
vishali shankar says
Thanks swasthi, i will only try when i get some time..but a real nice recipe 🙂
vishali shankar says
Hi Swasthi, I have not tried, my baby does not eat anything in liquid form in sppon, it should only go to her stomach my Bottle…. so do you think this consistency can be given through bottle, if not ill not try this..May be your comment cld save my time/work:)
Swasthi says
Vishali, it really doesnt flow thru the teat in the feeding bottle, but you can try with a sipper. else you can try making it like a halwa. just begin with a spoonful each day enough. i know it is hard. But try. Good luck
Unknown says
Any substitute for milk? My 10 month old can't have cows milk yet
Swasthi says
Cook barley in water. Once cool, try adding formula milk to bring to the desired consistency.
Unknown says
My 10 month old is not having cows milk yet. Is there any substitute for milk in this recipe? Can I use water?
Deepu V says
Very interesting…..I never try payasam in barley…I'm going to try this one..thanks for sharing..it's good for health too…<br />
Phong Hong says
I actually like barley and I think this payasam will also appeal to adults.
Now Serving says
ooh! that looks fantastic! Love the shake!
Daksha says
Healthy one thanks for sharing….bookmarked….
Poorni says
very healthy.. bookmarked..
tamilsasikitchen says
Healthy one…
Julie says
Yummy healthy soup..nutritious!!<br />
Shailaja Reddy says
Very healthy.
Archana Potdar says
Payasam looks good.<br />
PT says
interesting swasthi 🙂 never tried payasam with barley..