Rajgira & paneer cheela — a double-calcium savoury breakfast for bones (2–5 years)
A soft rajgira and paneer cheela — a double dose of calcium from amaranth and fresh cheese in one savoury breakfast.
Why am I making this?
Amaranth (rajgira) is a calcium- and iron-rich grain and paneer (ksheera) adds more calcium and protein, whisked with a little gram flour into a soft savoury cheela; keeping the batter loose and the cheela soft is the chef's step. Paneer and gram flour are classical; rajgira, a traditional Indian grain, sits within the satmya principle.
Ancient text
Milk preparations and gram are valued as nourishing and strengthening.
The classical texts value milk preparations (ksheera) and gram (chanaka) as nourishing and strengthening; a rajgira-paneer cheela follows that, with rajgira within the satmya principle. The exact verse is being confirmed by our review panel before publication.
Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana — milk preparations (Ksheera) and gram (Chanaka); rajgira within the satmya principle. Exact verse being confirmed by our review panel before publication. Reviewed by the Aayu Ahaar editorial team.
Modern research
Amaranth is rich in calcium and iron and paneer adds calcium and protein; calcium-dense foods are recommended daily for children's bones.
ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024 — calcium and dairy for children. Indian Food Composition Tables (ICMR-NIN), 2017 — amaranth calcium and iron, paneer calcium.
How to make it
What you'll need
- 1/2 cup rajgira (amaranth) flour and 2 tbsp besan (gram flour)
- 1/3 cup grated paneer and finely chopped coriander
- A little ghee, mild seasoning
- Whisk the rajgira, besan, grated paneer and coriander into a soft pourable batter.
- Spread onto a warm tawa like a cheela with a little ghee.
- Cook soft on both sides until set.
- Serve warm, folded.
How to feed it
| Texture | Soft, folded |
| Quantity | 1–2 small cheela |
| Frequency | 2–3 times a week |
| Best time | Breakfast |
What's inside
Grow this recipe with your child
| 2–5y | Soft, mild |
| 5–7y | As is |
| 7y+ | Family cheela |
| Serve with | A little curd |
What every mother asks
Rajgira new?
Dairy allergy?
Spicy?
Calcium?
A few honest notes
- Dairy and gram flour are common allergens.
- Cook soft.
- Mild seasoning.
- Modest salt.
Storage & make-ahead
Batter keeps a few hours chilled; cook cheela fresh.
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.