Colocasia & rice mash — a creamy, energy-dense lunch for healthy weight gain (6–12 months)
Creamy, starchy colocasia mashed with ghee — a gentle, energy-dense first food for healthy weight gain.
Why am I making this?
Colocasia (arbi) is a starchy root that gives more energy per spoon than rice alone — ideal for a baby who needs to gain. Its creamy, smooth texture when mashed is gentle and easy to swallow, and a little ghee lifts the calories further. A comforting, energy-dense lunch that helps a slim baby fill out the healthy way, without needing larger portions.
Ancient text
Wholesome roots and tubers, well cooked, are nourishing and sustaining.
The classical scriptures count wholesome roots and tubers, well cooked, among the nourishing and sustaining foods — the tradition behind cooking starchy roots soft for the young.
Sushruta Samhita — the sections on roots and tubers (kanda varga). Reviewed by the Aayu Ahaar editorial team.
Modern research
Colocasia is an energy-dense, starchy root providing more calories than an equal weight of rice, plus fibre and some potassium; mashing it soft with energy-dense ghee raises the meal's calories without raising its volume — the recommended approach for healthy weight gain. It must be cooked fully soft.
Indian Food Composition Tables, National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), 2017 — colocasia energy and composition. World Health Organization and Indian Academy of Pediatrics — energy-dense foods for healthy weight gain in infants.
How to make it
What you'll need
- 1 small colocasia (arbi / taro), peeled and cubed
- 2 tbsp soft cooked rice
- 1.5 tsp ghee, a pinch of cumin
- A little water or milk to loosen
- Steam or pressure-cook the peeled colocasia until completely soft (it must be fully cooked).
- Mash it smooth with the soft rice — colocasia gives a lovely creamy, starchy texture.
- Stir in the ghee and a pinch of cumin while warm, loosening with a little water or milk.
- Cool to lukewarm and serve smooth.
How to feed it
| Texture | Smooth, creamy mash; loosen with water or milk |
| Quantity | 3–5 tablespoons as a meal |
| Frequency | 2–3 times a week, rotating with other lunches |
| First time | Offer a small amount and watch for any reaction |
What's inside
Grow this recipe with your child
| 6–8 months | Fully soft, smooth mash with a little ghee |
| 8–12 months | A few soft lumps; add a pinch of cumin |
| 1 year+ | Soft arbi with rice, or gently roasted arbi pieces |
What every mother asks
Doesn't colocasia cause itching?
Is it hard to digest?
Will it really help weight gain?
Can I make it ahead?
A few honest notes
- Always cook colocasia fully soft — raw or undercooked colocasia can irritate the mouth and throat.
- Introduce only from 6 months; introduce as a single new food first, with a 3-day gap.
- No added salt before age one; serve lukewarm.
- If your baby is persistently not gaining weight, see your paediatrician.
Storage & make-ahead
Best made fresh and served lukewarm — colocasia mash firms up on standing. Keeps covered in the fridge for a few hours; warm gently with a little water or milk to loosen. Make fresh for a young baby.
A gentle, honest note — this is one nourishing food among many, not a complete meal on its own. Aayu Ahaar walks beside the doctor's care, never in its place.