This is an easy Grandma-style sweet dalia recipe with four different topping ideas.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

side shot of sweet dalia recipe in a glass mug topped with chia seeds and fresh fruits - 1
  • What is dalia?
  • About Broken Wheat Porridge
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
  • How To Make Sweet Dalia
  • Sweet Dalia Recipe – 4 Ways

What is dalia?

Dalia is a cracked or broken wheat prepared by coarsely milling whole wheat grains. Sweet Dalia is a wholesome Indian porridge of broken wheat and milk. Also known as meetha dalia.

It is derived from the fibrous husk of the wheat grain and is considered highly nutritious because:

  • It has five times more fibre than other processed grains.
  • It is beneficial for those with diabetes or on a low-carb diet.
  • It is a rich source of magnesium and iron.
  • It keeps you full for a longer duration.
  • It has a tasty nutty taste with an excellent chewy texture.

It is commonly used in Indian Cuisine to make breakfast upma , vegetable khichdi , kheer, or other healthy and tasty dishes.

Are dalia and oats the same?

Dalia (broken wheat) is made from wheat. In contrast, oats are made from a cereal grain called – oats. Generally, oats are gluten-free, whereas broken wheat is not gluten-free. But both the dalia and oats are vegan and plant-based ingredients.

Broken Wheat (Dalia) - 2

About Broken Wheat Porridge

Broken Wheat Porridge is called meetha dalia in Hindi , which means sweet porridge. It is a traditional Indian porridge recipe.

As a kid, there were no fancy oatmeal, chia pudding, or overnight oats. The only power-packed breakfast porridge we knew back then was sweet dalia.

It is a wholesome, energizing, broken wheat porridge pressure cooked in whole milk flavoured with sugar and cardamom powder.

You can make this sweet dalia recipe in a stovetop pressure cooker or use the oatmeal function of an in stant pot .

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Broken Wheat: Use pre-roasted broken wheat (dalia) or cracked wheat.
  • Milk: You can use either regular milk or replace it with almond milk for a nutty taste and nutritional benefits.
  • Sweetener: Use jaggery powder brown sugar, or dates. If you plan to add sweet toppings to your porridge, skip adding sweetener while making it.
  • Optional Ingredients: A pinch of cinnamon powder or cardamom powder gives a delicious aroma and taste to the sweet dalia.

How To Make Sweet Dalia

Pressure Cooker Method

  • Heat Pressure Cooker.
  • Dry roast the broken wheat. If you are using pre-roasted dalia, then skip this step.
  • Add water, and sugar (if adding), and stir to combine.
  • Pressure Cook for two whistles over low heat. Release the steam manually.
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  • Open the lid, a dd milk, cinnamon or cardamom powder, and stir to combine. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.
making sweet dalia - 4
  • Sweet Dalia is ready to serve.

Instant Pot Method:

  • Set the SAUTE MODE of an instant pot for 2 minutes.
  • Dry roast the broken wheat or use a teaspoon of ghee to roast the broken wheat.
  • Add milk, sugar (if adding), cardamom, and cinnamon powder. Stir to combine. Close the lid of the IP. Use the porridge function on the instant pot and cook for 10 minutes. Or do a manual pressure cook for 5 minutes.
  • Release the steam manually. Gently mash the porridge using a ladle.
  • Allow it to cool down or serve warm, topped with nuts and fruits.
Sweet Dalia is a wholesome Indian style broken wheat and milk porridge. - 5

4 Flavors Of Sweet Dalia

Porridges are a wholesome breakfast that has stood through the passage of time and trends for a reason.

Here are four flavour ideas for the sweet dalia recipe:

Kesar Badam: The original ingredients behind most cherished Indian desserts are saffron and dry fruits. Top your sweet dalia with a dash of saffron strands, chopped almonds, pistachio, edible rose petals or rose syrup. Let dalia sit in the fridge overnight with these aromatics and nuts. Enjoy an Indian dessert-style breakfast porridge in the morning.

Sweet Dalia is a wholesome Indian style broken wheat and milk porridge. - 6

Kesar Badam Dalia

Banana Chocolate: Bananas are a great addition to breakfast – they provide fibre and aid digestion. The twist of chocolate and banana makes dalia heavenly. You can use dark chocolate chips or a big Nutella or peanut butter spoonful.

Sweet Dalia is a wholesome Indian style broken wheat and milk porridge. - 7

Banana Chocolate Dalia

Fresh Fruits: Fruits are a classic way to add many vitamins to your porridge. A handful of berries or summer fruits are a great option. Cut the fruit of choice into bite-sized cubes, drizzle a dash of honey for sweetness or add a spoonful of fresh fruit compote, and a colourful, fibrous breakfast is ready!

Sweet Dalia is a wholesome Indian style broken wheat and milk porridge - 8

Fresh Fruit Dalia

Museli Nuts: Pick your favourite cereal or muesli, and add a spoonful of the porridge tip and dried berries. Add a handful of your favourite nuts to the porridge for a crunchy, nutty meal that keeps you full until lunchtime. You can also toast the nuts before adding them for a better taste.

Sweet Dalia is a wholesome Indian style broken wheat and milk porridge. - 9

Museli Nuts Dalia

Storage Suggestion

This sweet dalia recipe is a meal prep-friendly breakfast dish. You can store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for a week. Or you can pack and store it in mason jars for travelling or an office lunchbox .

It is a perfect home-cooked breakfast for busy weekdays!

More Breakfast Recipes

  • 4 Overnight Oats
  • Chewy Granola Bar
  • Mango Chia Pudding
  • Mango Oats Smoothie
  • Indian Style Shakshuka
  • Whole Wheat Pancakes
  • Spinach Corn Sandwich
  • Cheesy Potato Tray Bake
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Ingredients

  • ▢ ⅓ Cup broken wheat (dalia)
  • ▢ 1 Cup water
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon brown sugar or jaggery powder
  • ▢ 2 Cup milk
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon cardamom powder (elaichi powder), optional
  • ▢ ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder, optional

Kesar Badam Topping:

  • ▢ ¼ teaspoon saffron strands
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon chopped almonds
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon chopped pistachio
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon raisins (kishmish)
  • ▢ ½ teaspoon edible rose petals

Banana Chocolate Topping:

  • ▢ 1 ripe sweet banana, sliced
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips or chunks
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon Nutella or peanut butter

Fresh Fruits Topping:

  • ▢ ¼ Cup seedless, diced fresh fruits
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon fresh fruit compote or syrup
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon honey

Museli Nuts Topping:

  • ▢ 1 tablespoon cereal or muesli
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon dried berries (cranberries, blueberries)
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon pumpkin, chia or melon seeds

Instructions

Pressure Cooker Method:

  • Add broken wheat (dalia) to a pressure cooker. Turn on the heat. Dry roast the broken wheat for 2 – 3 minutes over low heat or till a subtle roasted aroma is released. You can skip this step if using pre roasted broken wheat.
  • Add water, sugar (if adding), and stir to combine. Close the lid of the pressure cooker. Cook sweet dalia over low heat for two whistles. Turn off the heat. Release the steam manually.
  • Open the lid and add milk, cinnamon or cardamom powder, and stir to combine. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Gently mash the sweet dalia using a spoon.
  • Sweet Dalia is ready to serve. Transfer to a bowl and add toppings of your choice. Or keep it in the fridge overnight.

How To Add Toppings:

  • Prepare porridge. Allow it to cool down completely. Transfer to the mason jars or bowls.
  • Top each bowl or jar with a topping of your choice. Keep in the fridge overnight.
  • Next day, enjoy for breakfast or carry with you to work place.

Recipe Notes:

  • You can use pre-roasted broken wheat as well.
  • All the toppings work well with both warm and chilled porridge.
  • Preparing the porridge in advance and leaving it in the fridge overnight with toppings for a creamy, chilled dessert-like consistency is highly recommended.
  • If the porridge seems too liquid, simmer it for a few minutes over low heat.
  • Usually, it thickens a bit after cooling.
  • You can use granulated white sugar or brown sugar as per taste. You can skip adding sugar as well.

Nutrition

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Sweet Dalia Recipe - 4 Ways

Equipment

  • Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

  • ⅓ Cup broken wheat (dalia)
  • 1 Cup water
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar or jaggery powder
  • 2 Cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon cardamom powder (elaichi powder), optional
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder, optional

Kesar Badam Topping:

  • ¼ teaspoon saffron strands
  • 1 teaspoon chopped almonds
  • 1 teaspoon chopped pistachio
  • 1 teaspoon raisins (kishmish)
  • ½ teaspoon edible rose petals

Banana Chocolate Topping:

  • 1 ripe sweet banana, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips or chunks
  • 1 tablespoon Nutella or peanut butter

Fresh Fruits Topping:

  • ¼ Cup seedless, diced fresh fruits
  • 1 tablespoon fresh fruit compote or syrup
  • 1 teaspoon honey

Museli Nuts Topping:

  • 1 tablespoon cereal or muesli
  • 1 teaspoon dried berries (cranberries, blueberries)
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin, chia or melon seeds

Instructions

Pressure Cooker Method:

  • Add broken wheat (dalia) to a pressure cooker. Turn on the heat. Dry roast the broken wheat for 2 - 3 minutes over low heat or till a subtle roasted aroma is released. You can skip this step if using pre roasted broken wheat.
  • Add water, sugar (if adding), and stir to combine. Close the lid of the pressure cooker. Cook sweet dalia over low heat for two whistles. Turn off the heat. Release the steam manually.
  • Open the lid and add milk, cinnamon or cardamom powder, and stir to combine. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Gently mash the sweet dalia using a spoon.
  • Sweet Dalia is ready to serve. Transfer to a bowl and add toppings of your choice. Or keep it in the fridge overnight.

How To Add Toppings:

  • Prepare porridge. Allow it to cool down completely. Transfer to the mason jars or bowls.
  • Top each bowl or jar with a topping of your choice. Keep in the fridge overnight.
  • Next day, enjoy for breakfast or carry with you to work place.

Notes

  • You can use pre-roasted broken wheat as well.
  • All the toppings work well with both warm and chilled porridge.
  • Preparing the porridge in advance and leaving it in the fridge overnight with toppings for a creamy, chilled dessert-like consistency is highly recommended.
  • If the porridge seems too liquid, simmer it for a few minutes over low heat.
  • Usually, it thickens a bit after cooling.
  • You can use granulated white sugar or brown sugar as per taste. You can skip adding sugar as well.

Nutrition

A stovetop pressure cooker is one of the most commonly used cookware in an Indian kitchen. Here are easy and tasty 30 pressure cooker recipes for everyday Indian meals .

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I must say Indian cooking and stovetop pressure cooker are so incomplete without each other. The pressure cooker is one such cookware which travels with Indians, all over the globe. Needless to say, after modernisation, it is one of the most commonly used cookware in our kitchens.

It saves a lot of time in the kitchen and is an assured method of uniform cooking the complex proteins. Otherwise, the same can take hours on a gas stove to get cooked.

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By pressure cooker I mean the traditional, stovetop pressure cooker with a whistle mechanism and not the electric pressure cooker or an Instant Pot . You can read my detailed post about Instant Pot vs Pressure Cooker .

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