Dhall

Dhall is the first food given to babies from 6 months & up. Indian moms usually try this trick handy when the babies start teething, crankiness or sick. While dhall is a naturally high protein food it also contains fiber, calcium, potassium, iron and low in fats giving a reasonable value of carbohydrates.

One simple dhall recipe is to cook until well mashed add salt, combine with boiled rice and a spoonful of ghee.
This will do the trick for 6-9 months babies. But once they learn to taste, their taste buds grows rapidly.. here are some ways to add dhall for all other food.

What to add:

Cumin powder = 1/4 tsp
black pepper powder = 1/4 tsp (less)
seasoning fry mustard, urad dhall, curry leaf = 1 tsp

With all these spices to expand the taste of dhall is sure to hit the babies liking. Also can be served with idly, dosa, chappathi, rice etc.

For toddlers:

Fry the finely chopped shallots, garlic, ginger, tomatoes, veges like peas, carrots, beans, cabbage etc. boil along with dhall to serve with all foods.

dhall kootu:

almost all vegetables can be combined in this form for any one & simple to cook dish that goes well with any food.

vegetables:

brinjal, chowchow (chayote squash), yellow squash, zuchini, pumpkins, drumstick, korean melon, long squash  (chorakai), thadiyangai (white pumpkin), cabbage, cucumber, etc.

dhall: finely boiled or cooked till mashed.

Any of the vegetables can be boiled add with dhall, salt, coconut milk or plain milk , green or red chilly 1, seasoning bring to a boil or simmer for 7-10 mins.

Traditional tamilnadu method :

Chop the vegetables in to 1/2 - 1 inch cubes. add with dhall and water cook till well combined. Then add finely ground paste of coconut, green chilly, cumin seeds, 1 small shallot. bring to boil add salt to taste, seasoning simmer for 5mins.

Quantity: for 1 cup chopped vegetables, 1/2 cup dhall, 1/4 to less coconut paste.
1/4 cup coconut (less) 2 green chilly according to spice level, 1-2 spn cumin seeds, 1 small onion.