Homemade cerelac/Sathu maavu/sathu mavu/ health mix powder for babies. It is the best weight gaining food for babies & can be given to babies after introducing rice, dal, few vegetables & fruits, around 8 months. But skip cashews and badam for small babies, After 9 months you can include them. Also when you start, prepare porridge with this health mix powder with water and give 1 tsp. Then gradually increase the amount.
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It is also best for pregnant ladies & breastfeeding moms. Please check the notes section for more information regarding this preparation of this homemade cerelac or sathu maavu. You can make either sweet porridge (with jaggery) or salt porridge (with buttermilk) using this health mix powder. Check Here on how to make porridge recipe using this homemade Cerelac powder.
I was waiting for my last batch of this health mix powder to get finished off. I prepared a fresh batch of this homemade cerelac powder along with dry fruits powder and clicked both. It was so tiring but sure worth the effort!! I usually make three types of health mix powder for my baby. This basic version, sprouted version and with millet. This version is very easy to prepare and easily digestible for babies compared to the other two. But I will sure post other two versions soon.
Now let's check how to make this healthy homemade cerelac or sathu maavu for babies.
Homemade Cerelac For Babies | Sathu Mavu for Babies | Health mix powder for Babies
Ingredients
Legumes/Dal
- Green gram dal - ¼ cup
- Moong dal - ¼ cup
- Black urad dal - ¼ cup
Pulses
- Red rice or white rice - ½ cup
- Broken wheat/Cracked wheat - ¼ cup
- Barley - 2 tbsp
- Sago - 2 tbsp
- Horse Gram - 2 tbsp
Nuts
- Fried gram dal - ¼ cup
- Almonds - ¼ cup
- Cashews - ¼ cup
- Cardamom - 4 nos
- Dry ginger - ½ inch piece or ½ teaspoon of dry ginger powder
Instructions
Preparation
- Measure all dals using a measuring cup and keep it ready. Rinse each dal separately in running water and sun dry them for an hour.
- Measure all pulses using a measuring cup and keep it ready. Rinse each pulse separately in running water and sun dry them for an hour.
- Measure almonds, cashews, cardamom & fried gram dal using a measuring cup and keep it ready along with dry ginger. No need to rinse the nuts.
Method
- Heat a pan and start dry roasting urad dal and green gram together until brown. It may take 5 minutes. Remove from the pan once done and keep it in a wide plate. Let it cool down.
- In the same pan add moong dal and dry roast it to a golden brown. It may take 5 minutes. Remove from the pan once done and keep it in a wide plate along with other roasted ingredients. Let it cool down.
- In the same pan add rice, barley, sago and horse gram together and dry roast it until the rice is little puffed. It may take 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the pan once done and keep it in a wide plate along with other roasted ingredients. Let it cool down.
- In the same pan add broken wheat daliya and dry roast it to a golden brown. It may take 5 minutes. Remove from the pan once done and keep it in a wide plate along with other roasted ingredients. Let it cool down. Then add fried gram dal to the pan and dry roast it for 3 minutes. Remove from the pan once done and keep it in a wide plate along with other roasted ingredients. Let it cool down.
- Then dry roast the almonds & cashews together until the nice aroma comes and cashews turn golden here and there. It may take 5 minutes. Remove from the pan once done and keep it in a wide plate along with other roasted ingredients. Let it cool down.
- Take all the dry roasted ingredients in a blender except cardamom & dry ginger.
- Blend everything together to make a fine powder. Finally, add cardamom and dry ginger and blend it for 30 seconds.
- Sieve the powder using a sieve to collect the scrap i,e coarse mixture that is retained while sieving. Now blend the collected scrap in a blender and sieve it again. Repeat the process until you have no or fewer scraps while sieving. Once done, cool down completely and store it in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Procedure :
Notes :
- I recommend using red rice instead of white rice which is more healthy.
- You can double the ingredients and make it bulk and store it.
- I made a small quantity of this powder so ground with a blender. If you're making larger quantities, send to a mill for grinding.
- You can also dry roast each item separately, but I found this method easy.
- Keep the flame low to medium while dry roasting. Take care to not to burn the ingredients.
- You can store this health mix powder in an airtight container and keep it outside or in a refrigerator. It stays well for 4 months.
- Adding a small amount of dry ginger helps in digestion. Feel free to skip it if you think your baby may not like the dry ginger flavor.
- Make sure you cool down completely after roasting & blending. Otherwise, it will let out moisture.
- Always check with your pediatrician before introducing any new food.
Tergi
Can v add this mix directly to hot formula milk n give.?? After roasting everything well...
gkfooddiary
No it needs cooking for at least 10 minutes.. Cook it using water. When its warm, add formula
Unknown
No need to wash ??
gkfooddiary
Yes u should., I mentioned to rinse n dry it before roasting in steps
Unknown
Can v use white urad dal instead of black? Also if v don't use horse gram is tht OK?
gkfooddiary
Yes can use white urad dal.. U can skip horse gram. No problem!
anoopa a.s
Thank u! 🙂
anoopa a.s
Thank u! 🙂
Anonymous
Dry fruits can add for 7 month baby
gkfooddiary
Introduce each dry fruit in paste or powdered form.. Start with dates, raisins, almonds, cashews etc ..one at a time.. Once u introduced everything u can try This
Unknown
Can v giv dis as dinner for a one year old baby
syed ahmed
Can v giv dis as dinner for a one year old baby
gkfooddiary
Yes you can!
Yashaswini Harish
My angel is 9.5 month old. Do i serve sathu mavu for lunch or dinner? Which is better time?
gkfooddiary
Morning time is ideal.. But still u can serve as an early dinner, if your baby could digest it.
sumathi rangasamy
My baby now 7 months.. I m giving ragi porridge and red rice cereal.. Now going prepare this sathu maavu.. Can I add badam and cashew?
sumathi rangasamy
My baby now 7 months.. I m giving ragi porridge and red rice cereal.. Now going prepare this sathu maavu.. Can I add badam and cashew?
gkfooddiary
After introducing badam & cashews separate, you can add.
gkfooddiary
Yes. Here are the details
https://gkfooddiary.com/homemade-Cerelac-porridge-for-babies/
Anonymous
How to cook it. Just pour in water and cook for 10 minutes
Unknown
Hi, instead of black urud dal, is it fine to use white urud dal?
gkfooddiary
Yes you can use white ones
Raji Venkatesh
hi the website is very useful and i am trying one by one and my son is enjoying his food and eating. thank you so much ....
gkfooddiary
Thanks for your kind words:) glad that you found it useful. Keep visiting ?
Unknown
Hi..can we use ready made wheat flour?
gkfooddiary
I haven't used wheat here. If you want, you can add.
Durgashini Mohana Sundram
I mean the broken wheat. What is it called in tamil?
gkfooddiary
Its udaitha kodhumai rava. U can use normal wheat too
gkfooddiary
Check here:
https://gkfooddiary.com/homemade-Cerelac-porridge-for-babies/
Drishti GUPTA
How we can cook
Arch Archana
Wat s sago n barely mentioned in tis....can anyone help
gkfooddiary
Sago is sabudhana / tapioca. Barley is a cereal jau in Hindi
Arch Archana
Hi wat s sago n barely
Arch Archana
Hi wat s sago n barely
gkfooddiary
Sago is sabudhana / tapioca or Javarisi. Barley is a cereal jau In Hindi
gkfooddiary
It needs cooking of 10 minutes. Please check the method to cook the homemade Cerelac here: https://gkfooddiary.com/homemade-Cerelac-porridge-for-babies/
Anonymous
The homemade cerelac recipe is good. But could you please let me know how to prepare the cerelac to feed the baby? Should I mix the powder with hit water and boil it?
Neha Murarka
For barley can we use the readymade barley atta available in market
gkfooddiary
Yes but please check the ingredients to make sure there are no preservatives or sweetners
Neha Murarka
For barley can we use the readymade barley atta available in market
gkfooddiary
Yes you can use readymade barely but please check the ingredients to make sure there are no preservatives or sweetners
Neha Murarka
Thank u
archu k
Hi mam instead of salt or sugar shall I add panakarkandu to this sathumaavu while cooking.
archu k
Hi mam instead of salt or sugar shall I add panakarkandu to this sathumaavu while cooking.
gkfooddiary
Yes
archu k
Thanks
archu k
Hi one more doubt do we need to melt the panakarkandu as like jaggery or will put the powdered panakarkandu directly to the sathumaavu porridge.
gkfooddiary
You can do in both the ways. If not adding directly while making powder, u can add panakarkandu while cooking.
archu k
Hi one more doubt do we need to melt the panakarkandu as like jaggery or will put the powdered panakarkandu directly to the sathumaavu porridge.
gkfooddiary
You can do in both the ways. If not adding directly while making powder, u can add panakarkandu while cooking.
Anonymous
hi instead of sun dry can I put under fan mam..
gkfooddiary
Yes can
r jAYA
Hi If using red rice ...which we can add either red pacharisi or red polungal arisi ?
gkfooddiary
Puzhulngal Arisi is best
Arch Archana
Shall v add red gram n pista in tis ???
gkfooddiary
Yes can
Reema
Hi if I want to sprout the daals which all daals should I sprout and can it be hanged in a tight cloth together or would you recommend it separately
gkfooddiary
You can sprout only green gram dal in a light cloth
Anonymous
This recipe looks awesome. Going to try this for my 11.5 months old baby. Btw, can you please provide me the link of another sathu naavu recipe(the detailed one), Trying to find it but unable to locate it.
Thanks so much 🙂
gkfooddiary
Thank you. I haven't posted the detailed one yet. Will try to share soon!
Unknown
My baby is 4months can I give him this with formula milk...
gkfooddiary
No. It's suitable for babies from 8 months.
Anonymous
Now my baby 12 months complet can I use ragi in this sathu...if yes then how much...
gkfooddiary
Yes can use 1/2 cup of Ragi powder
Yashaswini Harish
How long we have to sun dry the pulses. Is one hour drying is enough?
gkfooddiary
Depends on sunlight. Dry until no or less moisture is left.
Dil
I have introduced only white rice and moong Dal for my 11 month old baby so far. Can i directly give this mix to my baby now? Or he should be introduced to each Dal and pulses before it? Please suggest.
gkfooddiary
You should introduce each nuts separately to eliminate the risk of allergies. Other ingredients are just fine to add if your baby's digestion is good and no allergies till date.
Dhil
Thank you for your reply?
Mahima
I have introduced my 13 month old to most of the ingredients mentioned in the recipe. How many tablespoons should I ideally be giving her for breakfast ? Btw, absolutely love your baby recipes 🙂
gkfooddiary
2 tbsp to 1/4 cup per day
Sweta Gada
I have stored it in a airtight container ....for how long i can use it....n also i have addedd bajra and jowar....
gkfooddiary
It stays good for 3-4 months if handled properly
Preethi
Hi
Can v mix sathu maavu directly in hot water n feed baby or need to boil it like ragi sari?
gkfooddiary
It needs cooking of 10 minutes. Please check the method to cook the homemade Cerelac here: https://gkfooddiary.com/homemade-Cerelac-porridge-for-babies/
Nalini hegde
Can i put salt for it
gkfooddiary
If baby is above one year, you can add
Nisha
Hello, what if I do not have horse gram and barley,. Can it be made without these ingredients...?
gkfooddiary
Yes you can skip both
Jeannie
Hi , instrad of giving it separatelly, can I add together inthe porridge so it blend and cooked together,p. this is my 2nd time preparing the saatu maavr. ,My son is 20 th months now, so sometime i just include into hid porrige preparation. Pse advise. Thand for such great recipe
gkfooddiary
hi this sathu maavu powder should be cooked as a porridge..it needs at least 10 minutes of cooking.. it shouldn't be given separately
jeannie
Hi, thanks for your reply. Let me rephrase my question. Can I add a tbsp of sathu maavu together with vegetable, rice and other ingredients when I am cooking porridge for my son. Eg like cooking chicken porridge or fish porridge, can I add this sathu maavu together with the raw ingredient amd cook it . Usually I cook porridge in a rice cooker which takes abt 15 to 20 minutes of cooking, so it will blend together with his porridge. Pse advise.
gkfooddiary
yes you can mix this with other porridges while cooking...
Joby
Is it compulsory to sieve the powder if we are cooking it nicely & if the baby is around 9 month old. Plz advice. And how much time it will take to cook it in an open pan.
gkfooddiary
sieving helps to get fine powder..if you dint sieve you may see whole grains/particles (which are not grounded properly) while cooking...it needs 10 mins of cooking time
Darshi
Hi my one year old boy is very lean. And he is not in the correct weight what he should be in one year. Is is receipe useful to gain weight for him or any other receipe is there. And also he always catch up with cold and fever. What should I do to make him with good immunity. Please help me in this. Thank you
gkfooddiary
Dont worry about weight if he s active and meeting milestones. This homemade cerelac recipe helps in healthy weight gaining.. also banana, potato, sweet potato, urad dal, Ragi, chikku, dry fruits powder, avocado,eggs, ghee helps! Include Turmeric, tulsi, ginger, pepper corns, cinnamon, red bananas, pomegranate, barley, fenugreek, almonds, walnuts n eggs in your child's weekly/monthly diet.. that helps boosting immunity
Nimrah
Hi mam... can we add pistachio and walnut in this mix?
gkfooddiary
yes you can add
Tulip
Hi,
Thank you for such a lovely website and the plethora information you share. It is very helpful.
There is another version of state mauve on ur website with 16 ingredients. what is the difference between this and the other and which one is more beneficial for babies ?
gkfooddiary
Which recipe you are referring to..currently only this sathu maavvu recipe is available in our website..
Usha
Can we give this porridge to 3 1/2 year old kid?
gkfooddiary
yes sure. its good even for adults
Usha
Thank you and I followed this recipe since my baby’s first food.. in between I didn’t do and started giving again..?
gkfooddiary
yes you can
Abi
Can I start it to my 7mnths old baby
gkfooddiary
yes its better if you introduce after 8 months.. once the baby is doing well with rice, dal, veggies and fruits
Sai Supriya Kopparti
Wow. Many of my frns suggested this homemade cereal and now i know how to make it. Most of my doubts have been cleared by the previous comments as well. I jus love ur website. Best part is U have categorised all the recipes under apt headings and given an intro and a P.S note each for all recipes. Thanks a million!
gkfooddiary
thank you so much 🙂 so glad you liked it:)
Komal
Hello ma'am....can v sprout d dals and then use them?
Kalyani
Yes you can try once your baby is doing well with this basic health mix powder...
Komal
Ok...thanks ma'am....a v big thanks fr this wonderful site which is godsent fr first time mothers like me....
Kalyani
thank you so much:) means a lot to me!!!
Jeannie
Hi, can I add semolina instead of broken wheat? Wheat is kodumai?
Kalyani
Yes, you can.. broken wheat is samba kodhumai rava. plain wheat is kodhumai
Seema
How many times in a week can I give sathumaavu to my 9 month old baby?
Kalyani
4-5 times a week.
Jayashree
Dear GK,
Is there any way to prepare instant healthmix for toddlers?. I mean mixing in milk without cooking? Can we give it like that for toddlers?
Please advice and suggest some method for that.
Kalyani
You can make a dough after grinding into powder by adding butter. Then Prick with a fork and cut into small squares. Bake it for 10-15 mins, then again grind it to a powder and store. With this powder, you can make instant porridge without cooking. I will try to share the detailed recipe soon.
Chandana
Hi what is broken wheat, is it rava/ sooji? is it available in the market or can we prepare at home. Plz reply
Kalyani
Broken wheat is made from whole raw wheat grains coarse. Also known as lapsi, dalia or samba kodhumai.
srivalli
How did u add bajra n jowar? Did u add the powder?
Kalyani
I didn't add bajra or jowar. But you can add whole bajra/jowar after washing and drying.
Anusga
Can I give to 6 month baby
Anusha
Can I add ragi in this powder
Kalyani
you can start from 8 months after introducing basic rice, lentils and nuts separate
Kalyani
yes sure
Bhavyabala
Hello mam... shall I give the salt poridge by skipping the buttermilk. I mean cooking the sathumavu with water alone. Is it good or buttermilk is compulsory for this.
Kalyani
yes you can make it plain with water
Bhavyabala
Thank u so much... your website is very useful for mommies...
Kalyani
you are most welcome:)
Preetha
Hi, Can I substitute sago and horse gram with oats and sooji rava
Kalyani
sure yes.
Swathi
Hi,I was searching for this health mix recipe...thanks for posting this...do we need to dry roast these all ingredients in high or low flame ..
Kalyani
Dry roast in low medium flame
Zumaira
I have got some white and red kidney beans
At home. Cn I add those as well to this??
My baby is now 1 year old
Kalyani
yes you can try,
Hena
Hi please help me..what is horse gram? I'm unable to find it . What if I skip it as I have to make for weight gain of my baby
Kalyani
You can skip it. No problem.
Shruthi
Hi Kalyani,
It’s an amazing recipe, my baby likes to have everything in ravva consistency, can we make this ravva consistency or should it be only powder
Kalyani
You can try to make a coarse powder and see
Pragati goswami
If I wash all the grams together then is it fine...
Kalyani
Yes
Sonal
Hi, It is said urad daal is not good for health. Should we include it and what are the benefits of urad dal.
Thank you for the wonderful recipes
Kalyani
Urad dal is known for its health benefits, its rich in iron and protein. It is very healthy food that helps to gain healthy weight in babies and kids. You can skip it in the recipe if you don't want to add
Richa
Red rice ( patni) is available at Conscious food, from where I usually buy pulses. Can I use it in making this home made cereal mix?
Kalyani
yes you can add red rice instead of white rice
Vijika Bansal
Hello ma'am,
Can i give this daily in summer to my 9 month old?
Kalyani
yes if it suits your baby
Natasha
Red rice is the rice we use for kanji right?
Kalyani
yes
jyothi rao
HELLO MADAM,
I just loved all your recipes, thanks for sharing.
Is it ok to feed my mother in law @60yrs.
who is bed ridden and cannot chew properly ..
Kalyani
yes you can give. have a word with doctor and start
swetha
Can i make dosa with this powder for my 1 year old baby???
swetha
Can i make dosa with this powder??
Kalyani
yes can try
Kalyani
yes
Sana
Is it compulsory to roast all the ingredients??
Kalyani
yes
Mounica
Hi madam..can u plz mention thebmeasuring of each ingradiant
Kalyani
I have mentioned in the ingredients table. please check
Nimmi
Hi...Can I skip wheat? My daughter is having eczema, so she’s advised not to take wheat
Kalyani
yes you can skip
sha
Can we add Raagi to this ?
Kalyani
yes you can add ragi
KOKILA
CAN I ADD RAGI
Kalyani
yes you can add ragi
4baby
Hi Kalyani, checking to see if you have the recipe published for above request.
Thanks
Kalyani
I havent posted yet. will try to post in sometime
PRATHIBA S
Hi
Is it necessary to sun dry the pulses and the grams.I live in a place where there is not much sunlight for the next few months.is it ok of I just dry them for an hour or 2(without the sun dry) and then dry roast them.Please advice.
Kalyani
Yes, you can do that. but dry it in the pan thoroughly before you grind
PRATHIBA S
Thank you so much for your response
Niki
Are all the ingredients required to be soaked after rinsing. If yes, then for how much time
Kalyani
Soaking is not necessary. Wash, dry and roast it
Sana
How to use it please give link for recipe..
Thanks
Kalyani
check here: https://gkfooddiary.com/homemade-cerelac-porridge-for-babies/
Nneka Okafor
After preparing it like this, do I have to cook it before feeding my baby or do I just add hot water?
Kalyani
you have to cook the powder for 10 mins. the method here: https://gkfooddiary.com/homemade-cerelac-porridge-for-babies/
Sophia
Hi kalyani
Which type of sago is best? In Tamil Nadu we have 2 types.. nylon and maavu types
Kalyani
he nylon sabudana is partially pre-cooked (steamed and dried) before packaging. Choose common sabudana variety for baby food as it is less processed.
Prathi
Can I add ragi in this mam
Kalyani
yes
Rathi
At what months can we start giving it to baby? My son is 9 months
Kalyani
you can give now
Kavitha
Madam, Is it neccessary to wash daliya.
Thank you!
Kalyani
you can skip
Kalyani
its optional
SAKSHI PARIHAR
Hii... Kalyani ji... I love your recipes and using them for my Twins... Thanks a lot... Can I skip sieving this mixture
Kalyani
No, sieving is must