
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.
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
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
Kavitha
Madam, Is it neccessary to wash daliya.
Thank you!
Kalyani
you can skip
Kalyani
its optional
swetha
Can i make dosa with this powder for my 1 year old baby???
Kalyani
yes
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
swetha
Can i make dosa with this powder??
Kalyani
yes can try
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
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.
Rathi
At what months can we start giving it to baby? My son is 9 months
Kalyani
you can give now
Prathi
Can I add ragi in this mam
Kalyani
yes