Name: Tasty Dalia Porridge for Picky Eaters
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup Dalia or Broken Wheat; 200 ml Water; 200 ml Milk; 1 tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder; 1 tbsp Chia Seeds; 1/4 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract; 1.5 tbsp Pure Maple Syrup; 5-6 Overnight Soaked Almonds (or 1 tbsp nut powder)

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If your child is a picky eater, then you’ve got to try this dalia porridge. It’s quick, easy, and packed with wholesome goodness. This super healthy breakfast comes together in under 10 minutes — perfect for busy mornings and growing appetites!

When it comes to quick and tasty breakfasts, this porridge is unbeatable. The best part? You can easily sneak in all the essential nutrients your kids need—without them even noticing. In this recipe, I’ll show you exactly how. The first time I made it, my child ate two full bowls in one go!

Dalia porridge is such a comforting and nourishing meal, especially for little tummies. It’s gentle on the gut, packed with fibre and protein, and helps keep your child full and satisfied for longer. What makes this version extra special is the rich chocolaty flavour that feels like a little treat in every bite.

It’s one of those rare meals that makes both kids and parents happy, delicious for them, and healthy for your peace of mind. For more such healthy recipes for babies and toddlers refer to this guide: Baby and Toddler Recipes

More About Chocolate Porridge

This porridge is made with just 4 ingredients- broken wheat (dalia), milk, cocoa and maple syrup. I have used broken wheat or dalia to make this porridge. It is a good source of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion, prevents constipation and promotes a feeling of fullness. Additionally, it’s rich in essential nutrients like iron, folate and magnesium.

This porridge is wonderfully versatile and easy to adapt to your family’s needs. To make it gluten-free, simply choose gluten-free grains like rolled or steel-cut oats. I’ve used cow’s milk in this recipe, but if you prefer a vegan version, go for your favourite plant-based milk — coconut, almond, or cashew milk all work beautifully and add their own subtle flavour.

For sweetness, I have used pure maple syrup. Always use pure maple syrup and not the ones which are laden with artificial flavours or high fructose corn syrup. If you don’t have maple syrup on hand, jaggery or honey are great natural alternatives that add warmth and depth of flavour.

Step by Step Instructions

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1. Firstly, roast dalia or broken wheat on a medium flame in a wok or heavy bottom pan till it gets fragrant. It should take 2-3 minutes. Dalia is uncooked form of wheat. So, we have to cook it in two parts.

2. Add water to the pan and let the dalia cook for about 5 minutes or until it turns soft and slightly mushy. Make sure to add just enough water to cover the dalia, with about 2-3 inches above the grain. Be careful not to add too much water. You want it soft, not soupy!

3. When the dalia gets mushy, add milk of your choice. Stir well.

4. Now begins the fun part- add flavours of your choice. I added unsweetened cocoa powder, some very thinly sliced soaked almonds, chia seeds, pure vanilla extract and maple syrup as a sweetener.

5. Let the milk come to boil. Now lower the flame to medium and cook till you get desired consistency and remove from the heat.

6. Serve warm or cold as per your child prefers.

7. If your kid is below 1 year of age then DO NOT use cow’s milk and honey. To know what kind of honey you should use check out this post here; Everything you need to know about Honey! After the dalia is cooked in water, add flavours of your choice- cocoa powder, vanilla extract or a pinch of cinnamon powder and take it off heat. Mix in either formula or breast milk to get desired consistency and feed it to your child.

Caution: Always crush almonds or any other nuts to a fine powder for kids below 2 years of age to avoid any choking hazards.

Suggested Toppings

Nuts and Seeds Powder: To make it more nutritious, add a tbsp or two of homemade nuts and seeds powder.

Dates or Raisins: Add chopped sticky dates or raisins to the porridge for natural sweetness.

Saffron and Cardamom: If chocolaty porridge is not your thing, try adding a pinch of cardamom powder and a few strands of saffron for a fragrant, traditional twist. Even dry ginger powder can be a great addition for a soothing, cosy bowl that’s perfect for chilly mornings.

Fruits: Using the creamy porridge as a base you can add any flavors. Stir through some fresh fruit like mangoes, peaches or even this delicious Applesauce to add natural sweetness.

Caution: As per Ayurveda, always use sweet and purely ripe fruits with milk. Never pair milk with sour fruits like oranges, berries. They milk may not curdle right away but it will after initial digestion. Bananas — even though they are sweet, should never be paired with milk. After they are ingested with milk, the post-digestive effect will be sour, which leads to digestive issues.

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