Lau Dalma: A Sneaky Way To Incorporate Greens Into Your Kid's Diet

We found you an amazing way to incorporate vegetables in your kid's diet, without any fuss!

Highlights

• We all share a love-hate relationship with lauki.
• However, it holds a fixed position in our kitchens due to its nutrients.
• Here's a delicious recipe to sneak in lauki, without affecting the taste.

Is your child wrinkling their nose at the sight of greens on their plate? This scenario is all too familiar in households worldwide. Convincing kids to embrace healthy and colourful vegetables in their daily meals can be a challenge we can all relate to. That's why we're here to share a clever solution that will have them eating their greens without a fuss.

Wondering how to put this plan into action? It's simpler than you think! Just whip up a delicious dish and cleverly integrate some veggies. To assist you further, we've got a recipe idea for you: the "lau dalma." This popular dal recipe from Odisha incorporates a modest amount of lauki (bottle gourd) and aloo (potato).

Let's dive into the details of this dish.What Is Lau Dalma?If you're familiar with Odia cuisine, dalma would have crossed your path. This spicy and flavorful dal recipe boasts a rich texture that complements both rice and chapatti. Unlike regular dal, dalma elevates itself by incorporating an assortment of vegetables, including the featured lauki.

Whether you love it or not, lauki is a staple in Indian kitchens due to its nutritional benefits. Beyond this, it aids digestion and mitigates bloating, especially when consumed with dal, particularly in the evenings.

Odia-Style Lauki Dal Recipe: How To Make Lau Dalma: Odia-Style Lauki Dal:

This recipe incorporates moong dal for a nutty essence. Start by dicing the lauki and aloo into cubes and setting them aside. Meanwhile, gently roast the moong dal until it takes on a golden brown hue. Maintain a low flame to prevent burning. Subsequently, rinse the toasted dal under running water and set it to boil with a dash of salt and turmeric.

Once cooked, introduce the lauki and aloo and allow them to boil. Set aside. Prepare a tadka using cumin, ginger, and your chosen basic spices in ghee. While you can substitute ghee with butter, mustard oil, or refined oil, ghee not only enhances the richness and aroma of the dal but also contributes to its overall healthiness.

Add the dal to the pan and cook for no more than a minute. Adjust the seasoning and garnish with roasted cumin powder, grated coconut, and coriander leaves. For an extra crunch and flavour, consider adding fried cashew nuts and raisins.

In the end, you'll have a delectable bowl of lau dalma, ready to be savoured alongside rice, roti, or as is. If you're looking for an additional treat, pair your lau dalma and rice with some bori-chura (Odia-style fried wadi bharta) for a delightful meal.

Health Benefits of Lau Dalma:

Unlike regular dal, dalma elevates itself by incorporating an assortment of vegetables, including the featured lauki. Whether you love it or not, lauki is a staple in Indian kitchens due to its nutritional benefits. Beyond this, it aids digestion and mitigates bloating, especially when consumed with dal, particularly in the evenings.

Micro nutrient-rich – Pulses and a wide array of veggies provide a wealth of nutrients to the finished meal. Dalma’s medicinal benefits may be enhanced by adding ingredients like kalonji, red chile, jeera, methi, saunf, ginger, and so on. A perfect source of protein – Dal/Pulse is the main component of Dalma recipe.

Does Dalma increase soluble fibre?

Pulses have proven to be an excellent way to increase soluble fiber in your body, whereas vegetables are a great source of both insoluble and soluble fiber, respectively. Both are required, making dalma an ideal way to increase your intake. In order to speed up the passage of stool, soluble fiber is beneficial.