Banana idli for babies is a very important food that is a must try early solid foods for the babies. As it is very nutritious and filling meal for the baby. Banana is an important source of food for babies as it is smooth in texture and makes it easy to swallow.
In my current blog, i would like to share with you recipe of the idli batter and also the banana idli. Because it is important for you to understand how the idli batter is prepared for the banana idli. Best recipe to feed the banana to your baby or kids especially when they dont eat banana as a fruit.
Banana has so many health benefits for the baby. Most importantly it helps in development of the bones and immunity system amongst the many other health benefits. Banana idli is also liked by the kids as its a sweet recipe. Kids gets attracted to sweet dishes and banana idlis are also healthy at the same time.
How do I make the Banana idli for babies
Banana idli is a wholesome breakfast and this can started for the babies from seven months. Especially after weaning this is one of the best early food for the babies. It is very important to know the idli batter is made. When you get the right batter with this recipe. you can make the soft , sweet and fluffy breakfast. This makes easy to feed the baby or toddlers.
Utensils and time required for Banana idli for babies
I am sure you will enjoy the entire cooking of this recipe. Firstly it is not going to take much time. Secondly you need very simple utensils and will be available in all the indian kitchens.
| UTENSILS NEEDED
Mixer Grinder Idli Cooker 1 Bowl to mix the idli batter 4 small bowls to soak the ingredients |
| BATTER RESTING TIME
Over night – Rice Urad (Black lentil) , Fenugreek Seeds and Flattened rice |
| IDLI COOKING TIME IN IDLI COOKER
10 to 12 Minutes |
| TIME REQUIRED for Banana Puree
2 to 3 Minutes |
Ingredients needed to make the Banana idli for babies
Even for the simple recipes, you must be keep all the ingredients ready before you start cooking. This way it will make the cooking more effortless and you will have a fantastic cooking experience.
| EXACT QUANTITY OF INGREDIENTS EXPLAINED FOR IDLI BATTER
Idli rice – 1 Cups Urad dal (Black lentils) – 1/4 cup Water – 2 Cups Flattened Rice – 1/2 cup Fenugreek seeds – 1/2 teaspoon Salt – According to taste Banana – 2 Cane Sugar – 2 teaspoon |
Complete Procedure to make Banana Idli for babies
Banana idli recipe is so effortless and easy once you get the idli batter right. I would like to share the step by step recipe of the idli batter as well. This will help you get the soft and spongy idlis. Let us now get started with the complete recipe of the idli batter and the banana idli.
Soak the rice in a small bowl over night
In a large bowl , add 1 cup of rice and add enough the quantity of water. Rinse the rice twice in the water and clean the rice. You should then soak the rice in a bowl. Make sure you soak the rice in enough quantity of water and rest it overnight.
Soak the Urad dal (Black lentil) , Flattened rice and Fenugreek seeds in a separate bowls for two hours
Though we call it Black lenthil, the outer black cover is removed and sold in the market. So the lentil looks white inside.
In a bowl ,rinse the 1/4 cup of urad dal ( Black lentil) twice or thrice and soak it in the water. You should make sure you use thrice the quantity of water to soak or two hours. Reason being, the lentils swell up double the size.
Add required water in a another bowl and rinse 1/2 cup of flattened twice. Soak it for two hours with enough water as this will also swell up double. This is another important ingredient to make the idli soft.
In a small cup , add 1/2 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds and soak in water
Grind the Soaked Ingredients into a Batter
Add the each soaked ingredients to the mixer grinder. Grind each soaked ingredient speerately . Transfer the ground paste to separate bowls. You make sure to grind the urad dal or black lentil with fenugreek seeds together . Grind Flattened rice and idli rice seperately.
Nice and smooth idli batter will be ready
Add the ground flattened rice paste to the rice paste and mix well
Take the idli rice paste ta bowl and add the ground flattened rice paste and mix well
Add the ground urad dal paste to the rice paste and mix well
Now you must add the ground urad dal paste to the poha rice paste and mix well.
Add the salt to taste and mix well
Make sure there are no lumps in the batter. You must add salt and mix it well so that you clear all the lumps.
Transfer the batter to the large bowl and leave it for Fermentation
Now transfer the batter to a large bowl. You should make sure the batter is only filled half of the bowl. Because after the fermentation, the batter rises to the top. When you fill more than half, the batter might spill over.
Leave the idli batter covered overnight and fermented batter is ready. You will clearly see how much the batter has risen in the bowl.
Batter has swelled up and risen in the bowl and fermented
Once the batter is fermented , it swells and rises up in the bowl. You can add little water and adjust the consistency of the batter to make sure its not too thick or too runny. Now the batter is ready to be used.
Mash the banana with a fork to a smooth paste
Take 2 small bananas and poke with the fork. Make a smooth paste as much as possible. You can also add the banana to the mixer and make a smooth paste .
Add cane sugar to the banana paste and mix well
If you want to make the idli little more sweeter you can add the cane sugar. You can use add the healthy sugars like brown sugar, cane sugar or coconut sugar as you are feeding the babies or toddlers
Add the banana paste to the idli batter and mix well
Now the banana paste is ready. You can add it the idli batter which was fermented and mix well
Banana idli batter is ready to be used for making yummy idlis
You can make yummy banana idlis with this batter. You can add little water to adjust the consistency of the water if it is too thick.
Keep the idli cooker on the stove
Take the idli cooker and place it on the stove and keep it in the medium heat. Always maintain the flame in the medium heat not avoid over cooking.
Add one cup of water to the idli cooker
Take half cup of water and add it to the idli cooker. Its very important not to add too much water in the idli cooker. While cooking the water may be spill over the idlis and can make the idli soggy.
Grease the idli moulds
You must now grease the idli moulds. Please use ghee or any vegetable oil. Add few drops of oil in each idli mould and grease each of the moulds completely. In some traditional South indian house holds uses cloth to cover the moulds and add the batter on top of it.
Fill the banana idli batter in the moulds
Take the batter in the ladle and pout the batter to the idli moulds. You must now fill the idli moulds with idli batter. You must ensure not to fill the mould until the brim and the idli batter will rise when cooked.
Close the lid and cook for ten mins in the medium flame
Place the idli stand to the idli cooker, close the lid and turn on the stove.Place the idli cooker on the stove and cook for ten mins.
Check if the idlis are cooked well
After ten minutes, you can use a knife or fork to poke into the idlis to check if they are cooked well.With a well cooked idli, the knife or the fork will come out clean.
Remove the idli stand and let it cool on its own
When you are sure that the idlis are cooked well. Allow it to cool for sometime otherwise you will burn your hands while removing the idlis. When the idlis are cool, remove them and take it in a bowl
Drizzle honey on the banana idlis
You can drizzle honey on the banana idlis. Toddler would love to eat banana idlis this way as they taste yummy and healthy too.
Serve the banana idlis for the babies
The soft and spongy banana idlis are ready to serve. You can serve the white poha idlis to the babies the toddlers
Important Tips to follow for a flawless Banana idli for babies
In the process of cooking, it also very important to remember all the essential tips for cooking. I am sharing the necessary tips which follow to make flawless idlis.
1. Keep all the ingredients ready
Before you start cooking, keep all the ingredients in one place. This makes cooking more efficient and you won’t forget.
2. Remove all lumps from batter
If your batter has turned out to be lumpy, make sure you remove all the lumps using a whisk. If you do not have a whisk, use a spoon or fork to remove the lumps.
3. Do not overfill the idli moulds
Make sure that you do not fill the idli mould to the brim. After steaming, the idlis will rise, so, make sure you leave a little space for them to rise. Ideally, you should fill a little over three fourth of the idli mould.
4. Be watchful of the time
When using a cooker for making idlis, be very mindful of the time. Do not overcook the idlis or they will get hard.
5. Keep idli moulds greased before adding batter
Always grease up idli moulds before adding batter.
6. Smash the banana to smooth paste
You make sure the banana is mashed into a fine paste so that it will be easy for the babies to eat.
7. Remove the idlis carefully
Once the idli is cooked, don’t remove it from the mould instantly. If you try that, the idlis may break. Leave it for a minute or two before removing them from the moulds. If you have difficulty removing the idlis, use a sharp object to loosen it from the edges of the idli mould.
8. Prepare idlis on medium flame
Always prepare the idli on a medium flame. If you keep it at a high flame, so that the idli is cooked right.
9. Scooping the idlis easily off the idli mould
You must scoop the idlis carefully using a knife. Wet the knife if the idli is sticking to the knife.
10. Idli batter can be refrigerated
If there is excess batter made, You can always refrigerate them and reuse them whenever needed.
11. Healthy Sugars
You can use add the healthy sugars like brown sugar, cane sugar or coconut sugar as you are feeding the babies or toddlers
You must have had amazing experience learning the simplest recipe of banana idli. Please leave your comments and questions in the below section. I will be happy to answer them.