Samai or Sama or Little Millet is one of the ancient grains of India and also one of the most nutritious. This millet porridge makes for a very healthy and tasty breakfast or dessert for babies.
Little Millet is known by the following names in other Indian languages:
- English – Little Millet
- Tamil – Samai
- Hindi – Kutki or Shavan
- Telegu – Samalu
- Kannada – Same
- Malayalam – Chama
- Gujarthi – Gajro, Kuri
- Punjabi – Swank
- Marathi – Sava, Halvi, Vari
Nutritional Benefits
- Rich in Thiamine
- Good source of Fiber and aids in easy digestion
- Rich in antioxidants
When Can I give my baby Little Millet /Samai/Sama?
Your baby can be fed Samai after 6 months. It is recommended to introduce it after having introduced other basic weaning foods. Read more here.
Samai Payasam/Sama Kheer/Little Millet Porridge
Ingredients:
- 1 cup little millet / sama /samai
- 2 cups of water ( if using milk then 3 cups of milk)
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom/elaichi powder
- 2-3 strands of saffron
Method:
1. Soak the millet for at least 2 to 3 hours or else it won’t cook properly.
2. Boil water in a deep saucepan or kadai and once boiling, add the millet.
3. Cover with a lid and cook on a low flame, stirring throughout, to prevent the millet from sticking to the pan.
4. It will take at least 20 minutes for the millet to cook completely, so let it cook till it looks like the picture shown here.
6. For Babies above one year, jaggery or sugar can be added.Before turning off the stove, add elaichi powder and stir.
7. If you like, formula or breast milk can be added for babies below 1 year. Garnish with saffron stands
For babies over 1 year of age, you can use milk instead of water. Follow step 2 as mentioned above, and when the milk comes to a boil, add the sama and let it cook through till completely done.
Kids generally take to sweet dishes more easily than savory ones, so a kheer or payasam is a great way to get them to eat grains like sama, which aren’t served as regularly as perhaps wheat or rice. Let your baby enjoy a different kind of kheer this season!
- 1 cup little millet / sama /samai
- 2 cups of water ( if using milk then 3 cups of milk)
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom/elaichi powder
- 2-3 strands of saffron
- Soak the millet for at least 2 to 3 hours or else it won't cook properly.
- Boil water in a deep saucepan or kadai and once boiling, add the millet.
- Cover with a lid and cook on a low flame, stirring throughout, to prevent the millet from sticking to the pan.
- It will take at least 20 minutes for the millet to cook completely, so let it cook till it looks like the picture shown here.
- Before turning off the stove, add elachi powder and stir. If you like, formula or breast milk can be added for babies below 1 year.
- Garnish with saffron stands.