Daliya is a wholesome cereal form made up of crushed wheat. It is made by grinding the wheat into pieces of size 0.5 mm or less while keeping the husk intact.
Hence, it carries all the nutritional wealth including B Vitamins, Proteins, Fibre, and Minerals.
In India, Daliya is considered to be one of the best wheat forms for children. With its high fiber content and hence benefits such as low GI value and digestive function improvement, it has gained attention as a health food for Diabetics and for people looking to Lose Weight.
Daliya – Wheat Porridge – Modes of Consumption
Daliya blends well with milk or veggies and it can be turned into a dessert or a savory meal per your choice. It does not require a lot of cooking, hence meal preparation time with it is often short and easy. Here are some ideas.
- For children, it is often mixed with little jaggery, milk, and spices such as cardamom, saffron, or fennel seeds and offered to them as breakfast.
- To make a savory meal, add vegetables or lentils to the daliya along with spices and herbs of your choice.
- Similar to quinoa, daliya can also be consumed as a salad after boiling it and mixing it with veggies and proteins such as paneer or tofu.
- Daliya when mixed and cooked along with quinoa results in a wonderful texture that is a blend of mushy and scattered.
Purchase and Storage of Daliya
- As daliya is prepared by processing wheat or by breaking whole wheat into smaller pieces, its shelf life is shorter than the whole wheat grains. It often gets infested during wet seasons and in wet regions.
- When purchasing from the market, look carefully for the date of manufacturing and avoid anything that is more than 3 months old. If it is vacuum packaged, the shelf life may be extended to 6 months.
- Dalia should be stored in a dry, dark, and cool environment to avoid any infestation.
- Always check for small pests in the dalia before cooking it, especially during wet season or if you are living in humid climate areas.
How Healthy is Dalia? Nutrition and Health Benefits
Dalia is a rich source of Vitamin B1, Fibre, and Phosphorus. It is a good source of Vitamin B3, Vitamin C, and Magnesium.
- Dalia helps with weight loss and tones the body.
- It provides with B Vitamins for a healthy nervous system and mental health.
- It supports digestive system health, relieves constipation, and feeds the gut microbiome.
- Low GI, balances blood sugar levels and supports Diabetic patient’s health.
- Dalia lowers Cholesterol and supports heart health.
- It is ideal for children as it is easy to consume and digest. Carries high nutrition value with proteins, minerals, and vitamins.
- Dalia supports bone health for its high phosphorus and magnesium content
Sweet Beetroot Daliya Recipe
This daliya recipe is a quick turnaround, one-pot meal, and requires very basic preparation. It is a great addition to the weekly menu of a toddler and growing children. It is rich in Iron, Calcium, and healthy fats.
Sweet Beetroot Daliya with Coconut and Cardamom
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
- Food Processor or Manual Grater
Ingredients
- 1½ Cup Raw Daliya
- 1 Medium Beetroot
- 1 Medium Carrot
- ¼ Cup Grated Coconut Or Desiccated Coconut
- 1 tsp Fennel Seeds Powder
- 1 tsp Cardamom Powder
- 1½ Cup Milk Or Coconut Milk
- 1 Cup Water
- 2 tbsp Jaggery powder Or equivalent brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Ghee Or virgin Coconut oil or Olive Oil
Instructions
- Finely grate the beetroot, carrot, and coconut in a food processor.
- Pound the jaggery into smaller pieces.
- Heat the pan and put ghee in it. We used pressure cooker. You can also use rice cooker for this recipe.
- Lightly roast the daliya for 5 mins in the cooker.
- Add Fennel seeds powder, Cardamom Powder, Grated Beetroot and Carrot. Mix well.
- Add jaggery, coconut, milk, and water. Mix well.
- Close the pressure cooker and let 2-3 whistles come before closing.
- Serve hot and enjoy! Add some more milk to the porridge when serving to children. This will soften the porridge further and make it more creamy.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
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