Rice and Vegetable Cake

Rice and Vegetable Cake


I am usually not a fan of sneaking vegetables in my child’s plate. I would prefer that he is aware of what he is having and mostly, enjoys it. However I know that is ‘ideal’ and does not always happen with toddlers. Afterall, isn’t that one of the characteristics of toddlers? Here is a recipe which combines a grain, rice, and few vegetables. This way, even if your kid had skipped lunch, this snack can make up for some of the nutrients he did not get. If you have a very young toddler, as you are still trying to build the habit of breakfast, lunch, dinner, this could easily make a meal for your wee one. Here is how I did it...

1 small onion very finely chopped

1 small capsicum/green, yellow or red pepper finely chopped

1 carrot, boiled and grated

1 medium potato, boiled and mashed

2 tablespoons cooked rice

½ teaspoon cumin powder

½ teaspoon coriander powder

½ teaspoon black pepper powder or chilly powder

1-2 tablespoons Rusk crushed or breadcrumbs or coarsely ground oats or gram flour.

Coriander leaves finely chopped

Salt to taste

Cooking oil

Please note that the above measurements were what I used to prepare this recipe for my young toddler. You may need to adjust quantity and spice levels depending on your child’s age and taste.

In a pan, add few drops of oil and add the onions.

Once they are half cooked, add the pepper and turmeric powder and then add the carrot. Cook for a few minutes.

Add the mashed potato and the spice powders and salt.

Mash the rice with your hand or potato masher.

Mix the vegetables, coriander leaves and mashed rice and shape them like cutlets of desired size.

Refrigerate these for about an hour so they can retain the shape

Coat both sides of the cakes in rusk or bread crumbs or oats or gram flour so they get a crispy outer. In a tava, add less than a teaspoon oil and fry the cakes. Cook until brown on one side, turn and brown the other side.

Serve with ketchup or any chutney

This is quite a nice food for toddlers who are learning to eat on their own as it is not too messy and they can hold it.