Toddler diet series – Indian style Beetroot- Moringa leaves soup with expert review

Hello moms and dads!

Hope you all are enjoying reading this diet series, written exclusively for your little ones! For those who are reading about this for the first time, I would like to tell you that, this diet series has nutrition rich recipes, that are tried and tested in my home. The recipes that I am adding here are the ones that are my daughter’s favorites and few of them are family favorites too. You can read more about this series, here.

The most important feature of this toddler diet series is that, the nutritional value of each and every recipe will be thoroughly discussed by Dr. Frieda Fontaine, a certified nutritionist. She talks about nutrition and health in her blog, Let’s Discuss Nutrition. She shares many valuable information in her space, so make sure you check that out too.

This time, I have come up with a very different, delicious and super healthy dish, that is loaded with myriad nutrients. I call it, “Indian style Beetroot- Moringa leaves soup”. Like I had said earlier, this is one of our family’s favorite foods and I am so glad to share the recipe with you all. Also, please be sure to check Dr. Frieda’s expert comments after the recipe.

Indian Style – Beetroot – Moringa leaves soup

Ingredients : 

1. Beetroot – 2  
2. Onion – 1 (thinly sliced)
3. Garlic cloves – 5 (thinly chopped)
4. Bay leaf – 1 
5. Butter –  2 teaspoons
6. Tomato – 1 (roughly chopped) 
7. Vegetable stock – 1 cup 
8. Pepper – As required 
9. Salt – As required 
10. Moringa leaves – few sprigs. 

Recipe :

1. Peel the skin of each beetroot and chop into four pieces. Place them in a pressure cooker and cook for 10 minutes. 
2. Heat a large pan, add butter and once it is melted, add the bay leaf, garlic, onion and saute` for two minutes. 
3. Add the tomato and saute`well. 
4. Now, after the cooked beets are cooled, blend them using a blender.    Add this into the pan and add the vegetable stock.
5. Add the moringa (drumstick tree) leaves after this and let the soup cook for few minutes.
6. Add required salt and pepper and serve hot.

Note : 

1.  Remove the bay leaf before serving. 

2. Garnish with coriander leaves or you can add other herbs of your choice too. 

Dr. Frieda’s expert analysis :

This soup offers many health benefits for your toddler. Beetroot is a source of betaine, a type of antioxidant that’s evident in its rich, red-colored roots. The beetroot is also a notable source of manganese, folate, vitamin B2 and potassium. With a high fiber content, it will help your child with digestion. Moreover, it has a mildly sweet flavor that will appeal to your toddler’s sweet tooth. 

Moringa is another nutritious ingredient. Packed with vitamins and nutrients Moringa improves immunity and will help your child fight the common cold. Additionally, Moringa is one of the few vegetable sources which contain amino acid. This protein component in Moringa makes it an ideal food source to ensure strong cell development in your child.

Moringa has great detoxifying potential. For that reason, it has a positive impact on your child’s kidneys and liver. It also fights infections since it has anti-inflammatory properties. This property is even more profound in Moringa powder. If your child suffers a lot from cough and colds or any sort of minor infection giving your child Moringa powder will definitely help in the long run.

Onions and garlic are an excellent source of antioxidants, those important nutrients that help protect our bodies from cancer and other serious conditions. Onions are packed with polyphenols, plant nutrients common to other members of the allium family, but most abundant in the onion. Studies have shown that onions contain even more polyphenols than veggies like tomatoes, carrots, and red peppers!

Onions and garlic have anti-inflammatory properties, so they can be helpful in reducing the symptoms of children with asthma. Packed with vitamin C, onions can help boost the immune system and offer protection against bacterial infection.

I hope you like this recipe. Please do try and let me know how your toddler liked it. Also write to info.mommyme@gmail.com should you have any questions. Alternatively, you can leave them in the comments too.

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