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Sometimes I wish there were more than 24 hours in a day. This is only from the blog point of view – I wish I got more time to spend writing down recipes that I’ve tried and posting those that I have accumulated amassed in the past few months. I remember that last year this time I was anxious & eager to deliver my baby and had made a mental note of all the recipes I wanted my balnti posteli (post delivery care giver) to make for me. Like I had mentioned in my introductory post, new moms in Mangalore are given special post natal care for 40 days post delivery by specially trained (not certified though) women, homegrown nurses who look after the mother & baby. These ladies, apparently great cooks
are experts at preparing all the necessary health foods that help the new mom regain her health & in turn is beneficial for the well being of the baby.
My care giver made a host of essential dishes that I cheerfully ate – at the bottom of this post I will provide links of those recipes, in case you have missed reading them. However, I found today’s recipe on a food group on Facebook and made it myself and enjoyed as well.
 
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Methi Adthina or Methi Halwa is a simple & light snack that can be enjoyed by new moms anytime during the day. Methi (fenugreek) is a known herb that aids lactation and hence both the seeds and leaves are given in various forms to the new mom.
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My dietician & friend Anjum Shaikh says ” This recipe is good in fiber, calcium, phosphorus, folic acid , iron and gives energy. It is low in vitamin C and protein though, so this recipe can be supplemented with fish and eggs and it can be very healthy or it can be consumed with a glass of milk and 1 boiled egg that will do wonders to the nursing mother.
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Ingredients
- 100 grams (1/2 cup+ 1 tablespoon) fenugreek (methi) seeds
- 100 grams (1/2 cup or 120ml) ghee (clarified butter)
- 200 grams (1-1/3 cups) jaggery powdered (see notes)
- 100 grams (2 cups approx) grated coconut
- 200 grams (4 cups) beaten rice (poha/avalakki)
Instructions
- Wash the fenugreek seeds a couple of times and transfer into a pressure cooker. Add 2-1/2 to 3 cups of water and a pinch of salt and pressure cook for about 6-7 whistles or till the seeds are tender. Allow to cool a bit and then grind to a paste. Keep aside.
- On a griddle/tawa dry roast the beaten rice till the flakes shrink a bit. Remove and keep aside. When they cool, the flakes will turn really crispy and you should be able to crush them to a powder. Add the coconut to the same tawa and roast until it turns pale golden brown (don't brown it too much) - just until you get a nice aroma. Remove.
- In a large heavy bottomed wok/kadhai heat the ghee and add the ground methi paste and fry for 7-8 mins on a medium flame or until the ghee separates from it. Add the powdered jaggery, combine and stir till the jaggery melts and then bring the mixture to a boil.
- Add the roasted coconut & beaten rice and mix well. Allow to cool before serving. Store in an airtight container when the mixture has cooled completely.
Notes
I increased the jaggery to approx 300 gm (total) which is about 2 cups grated/powdered jaggery. I used palm jaggery discs available in Mangalore - they are called as Pele god in Konkani & vole bella in Kannada/Tulu.
This preparation can be made in advance (before delivery) and stored in the fridge. Just microwave for 30 seconds before serving. A bowlful of this mixture eaten daily will aid lactation.
This preparation can be made in advance (before delivery) and stored in the fridge. Just microwave for 30 seconds before serving. A bowlful of this mixture eaten daily will aid lactation.
Disclaimer
The nutritional values are only indicative.
Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment & rate the recipe below or share a photo on Instagram and tag me @ruchikrandhap
Standard measure used – 1 cup = 240ml
If you liked this post you may also like the other recipes in this series:
Jeeryaso Kasai(Cumin Tea)
Kaljiryaso Kasai(Herbal Kashayam / Decoction of Ironweed Seeds)
Nivole(Aromatic Coconut & Carom Seeds (Ajwain) Curry)
Hello Shireen, Thanks so much for this great recipe. Made this for one of my friends who delivered twins recently. She loved this wholesome halwa full of nutrients and keeps asking for more!
Thanks for your feedback Genevieve! Glad your friend enjoyed this halwa 🙂
awesome recipe Shireen, Thanks! I was searching recipe for a lactating mother of 5 month old preemie twins. I am going to make this. Can I exchange palm sugar to kolhapur jaggery?
@ Anita: I am not sure about Kolhapur jaggery but maybe you could try. We normally use palm jaggery as I have heard that it is beneficial to lactating mothers. But you could try some other jaggery if the palm variety is not available.
Hi Sheerin….am going to be grandmother soon….like all manglorean traditional mum’s have started checking on post natal food to be given to a lactating mother..ie my daughter. Thank you for important receipes like Nivole , sambarachi pez etc., above all Kaljiryacho kasai.. Please update me any more items. My daughter says are you going to feed me 40 days Nivole…you know how the modern generation think of us ancient …stone age people who had this during the post natal days. In fact we had without a whimper.
Hi Leena,
Haha! I know how it is with the new generation. 🙂 Actually, I ate up everything very quietly. I am glad you like my recipes! Will post more if I can find them in my handwritten book. Wishing your daughter a safe and easy delivery!
Can we store this for a month in fridge?
If this is being prepared for a new mother it is always advisable to to serve it fresh. Do not risk spoilage by keeping for a long time even under refrigeration.
Hi.. I am néw mom and would love to try this to increase my milk supply.. this recipe as u mentioned yields 7-8 servings. So can I have one serving every day and save rest in fridge to have over the week? Pls let me know. Many thanks.
Sorry for the delayed response Deepanjali…well, yes, you can make it in bulk and refrigerate it, although I would not recommend you to make a very big batch. Always try to eat fresh when you are feeding the baby…take care & good luck!
HI, do you supply this (home delivery) in Mumbai. If so, may I have more details like price, how to place order, payment etc.
Thanks
Hi, no I don’t supply it. I only share the recipes