Smoothies · 1+ years
Karuppu Ulunthu Beetroot Milk Smoothie for Toddlers
கருப்பு உளுந்து பீட்ரூட் பால்
The colour does most of the persuading here. Beetroot turns this an astonishing pink, and karuppu ulunthu — black urad dal, the one traditionally given to growing children and new mothers — gives it enough body to be a proper snack rather than a drink. It is the most-watched recipe on our channel, and the empty glass is usually the reason.
Method
-
Roast and cook the ulunthu flour
Dry roast the flour on low heat until it smells nutty rather than raw, then cook it with a few spoons of the milk for about five minutes, stirring constantly. Raw urad flour is heavy on a small stomach — this step is not optional.
-
Steam the beetroot properly
Steam the beetroot until a knife slides straight through — 12 to 15 minutes for a small one. Cool it completely; warm beetroot blended into cold milk gives an odd, flat taste.
-
Blend it all together
Blend everything together for a good 40 seconds, until there is no grain left at all. The colour will turn from dark red to bright pink as air goes in.
-
Serve fresh
Serve straight away. It thickens as it stands, and the colour dulls after twenty minutes or so.
Do not skip roasting the flour
Uncooked urad dal flour is what causes the stomach upsets people blame on beetroot. Roast it until it smells nutty, cook it in milk, and it becomes easy to digest.
Why karuppu ulunthu
Black urad dal has been given to children and new mothers across Tamil Nadu for generations, and the reasoning holds up: it is high in protein, iron and calcium. Ground into a flour and cooked properly, it is one of the easiest ways to add all three to a toddler's day without a fight.
If the colour worries you
Beetroot can turn a nappy pink for a day. It is harmless and passes — but it surprises people the first time, so it is worth knowing before it happens.
Please note
Written for children over one year, as it uses cow's milk and a sweetener. Introduce beetroot and urad separately for three days each before combining them, and speak to your paediatrician if your child has any digestive concerns.
Watch it being made
Questions people ask
From what age can I give this?
From one year, once cow's milk is part of the diet. Introduce beetroot and urad dal on their own first.
Where do I get karuppu ulunthu flour?
Any traditional grocery shop in Tamil Nadu sells it, or buy whole black urad and take it to the local mill. Roast it before storing and it keeps for a month.
Can I make it without milk?
Coconut milk works and keeps the colour bright. Almond milk is too thin unless you add a spoon of nut powder.
Next, try these
Baby Food
Ragi Porridge for Babies (Kezhvaragu Kanji)
The first solid food in most Tamil homes — iron, calcium and no fuss.
Baby Food
Ragi, Dates and Carrot Baby Food (No Added Sugar)
Naturally sweet, filling and nutritious. The dates do the sweetening, so no sugar goes in.
Drinks
Paruthi Paal (Madurai Cotton Seed Milk)
Madurai's traditional hot drink — cotton seed milk, jaggery, coconut and cardamom.