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South Indian Beetroot Curry

South Indian Beetroot Curry

A simple South Indian beetroot stir-fry with gentle spices, curry leaves, and coconut. Soft and naturally sweet, it makes a lovely side with rice or roti.

2-3y+

6 min prep · 15 min cook · 21 min total · 3 servings

Milk

Ingredients

Contains optional added salt for older eaters. Skip it for babies under 12 months.

  • 2 medium beetroot, peeled and grated
  • 60 ml coconut, grated4.06 tbsp coconut, grated
  • 0.63 ml turmeric0.13 tsp turmeric
  • 22.5 ml ghee1.52 tbsp ghee
  • 1.25 ml mustard seed0.25 tsp mustard seed
  • 2.5 ml cumin seed0.51 tsp cumin seed
  • 8 each curry leaf, torn
  • 0.63 ml asafoetida0.13 tsp asafoetida
  • 2 each garlic, peeled and crushed
  • skinned black gram (optional)
  • bengal gram (optional)
  • salt (to taste), for over-1s and adults
  • lemon (optional), squeeze of juice

Steps

Prep

  1. Wash, peel, and grate the beetroots using a coarse grater or food processor, then set aside.
  2. Peel and crush the garlic cloves, and tear the curry leaves into smaller pieces.

Temper the Spices

  1. Heat the ghee in a pan over medium heat until it shimmers.
  2. Add the cumin seeds, mustard seeds, black gram, and bengal gram, and fry until the seeds splutter and the dal turns golden.
  3. Stir in the crushed garlic, curry leaves, and asafoetida, and saute until the garlic smells fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Cook the Beetroot

  1. Add the grated beetroot and turmeric, and saute for 2 minutes to coat everything in the spices.
  2. Cover and cook on low heat until the beetroot is soft and tender, about 6 to 8 minutes, adding a splash of water if it looks dry.
  3. Stir in the grated coconut and serve warm with rice or roti.
  4. For older kids and adults, add a pinch of salt to taste, plus a little chopped green chili for those who like heat.

Nutrition

Calories
233
Protein
7g
Fat
11g
Carbs
27g

Tips by age

2-3y

Make sure the beetroot is cooked very soft and serve a small portion alongside soft rice. Skip the salt and any chili for this age.

Choking safety: Cook the beetroot until soft and mash slightly if needed so there are no firm shreds.

3-5y

Serve as written with rice or torn soft roti. Keep added salt very light and leave out the chili at this stage.

5-8y

Serve as written with rice or roti. A light pinch of salt to taste is fine, and a little mild chili can be added if your child enjoys some heat.

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