“If you don’t eat enough leafy vegetables and greens, you will become weak and tired. There won’t be enough blood, and you will look pale and anaemic,” is something we have grown up hearing right from our childhood. Be it mom, be it grandma, they have always painted a very green and leafy picture of iron! There is no doubt that green leafy veggies, especially spinach, are a great source of iron, but there is much more to it. Cereals like ragi and bajra, dals and pulses, nuts like walnuts and almonds, and oil seeds like garden cress seeds and sesame seeds, are fantastic sources of iron too. Refer to our complete list of 35 Iron Rich Foods.
Cooked in interesting ways, these provide variety and many a tasty means to building our iron stores and raise our haemoglobin levels like having the Jowar Methi Roti, which in turn will ensure a good blood supply to all the cells in our body, and make us energetic enough to face our daily hassles. We have a collection of Iron rich Rotis and Parathas.
This section will help you improve the iron content in your diet through mouth-watering recipes like Chawli beans and Mint Burger, which are also easy to prepare and made with readily available ingredients like the Beans and Amaranth Leaves Dal, so that you can make them often without much ado. Make lots of healthy iron Sabzis and Dals along with rice and pulao.
Top up your daily iron requirements with breakfast and healthy juices.
These recipes have been prepared by our team of chefs and nutritionists after thorough research and planning, and are suitable for healthy people seeking to boost iron and haemoglobin levels, as well as those who have a bit of an iron shortfall to overcome.
More information on Iron.
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Daily Iron Requirements
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Iron Rich Juices (15 recipes)
Iron Rich Rice , Pulao & Biryani (24 recipes)
Iron Rich Rotis & Parathas (25 recipes)
Iron Rich Salads (25 recipes)
Iron Rich Soups (10 recipes)
Iron Rich Starters & Snacks (64 recipes)
Iron Rich Subzis & Dals (62 recipes)
Importance of Iron in Body
Iron is an important nutrient for our body and for our health. Iron (haeme) works with Protein (globin) to make “haemoglobin’ in red blood cells. The haemoglobin carries oxygen to all parts of the body so it can perform its normal functions. Iron is also a part of ‘myoglobin’, a protein that helps muscle cells store oxygen. Without enough iron, the body’s fuel cannot be properly synthesized. Thus it’s easy to notice why iron is so vital for life and especially for breakfast which is the first day of meal after around 8 hours of fast.
Green leafy vegetables are one of the good sources of iron. You can rely on the most common ones like spinach, fenugreek leaves and Romaine lettuce, while also turning towards to unusual greens like cauliflower greens, chawli leaves and colocassia leaves.
You will be surprised to know that 1 serving of Cauliflower Greens and Besan Muthia fulfils 24% of your day’s need for iron. Alternatively also try a unique fare like Quinoa and Red Chawli Leaves Khakhra. For a satiating breakfast Oats Methi Roti is a good option.
Sprouts are known as the ‘bundle of health’. Chana, matki, rajma, moong etc. are all a good source of iron, but the process of sprouting increases their iron content by 30 to 40%. Moreover they contain extra protein and a wealth of other key nutrients as well. Including them in the breakfast is a notable way of whipping up a calorie and iron rich meal – a meal which would avoid fatigue through the day.
Moong Sprouts Pesarattu, Sprouts Dhokla and Sprouts Pancakes are a few options you can try using sprouts. Of course you need to plan them in advance and learn the process of sprouting. Learn the Easy Way of Sprouting.
Ragi (also known as nachni) is in reality a very good source of iron, though it’s not known to many other than Maharashtrians. Nachni Roti of Bhakri is one of their staple food. 100 gram of ragi provides as much as 3.9 mg of iron.
Create iron rich breakfast using this cereal – Nachni Pancakes (1.2 mg iron / pancake) and Ragi Upma (2 mg iron / serving) and Nachni Nimki (1.5 mg / serving). Enhance your haemoglobin levels with these recipes and quick off iron deficiency anemia.
Breakfast using Bajra – A Source of Iron
Bajra is a cereal which abounds in iron… more than even whole wheat flour. While some people prefer having bajra only during winters, for those who wish to boost their iron intake should make it a regular part of their diet. There is no need to go out of your way to think of unique ways to cook with bajra. Just replace ingredients and create delicacies like Bajra and Cauliflower Roti and Bajra Onion Muthia. These aren’t deep-fried either… that’s the best part about these recipes. Excess fat isn’t good for iron absorption.
Halim Drink – Best Source of Iron for Morning
Halim, also called garden cress seeds, are the treasure trove of health, especially iron. 100 grams of halim gives 100 mg of iron…. no other ingredient can beat this. Learn how to make Halim Drink with step-by-step photos. This drink mentions about adding lemon juice before serving. Make it a habit while serving this drink, as lemon abounds in vitamin C, which further helps in iron absorption. This drink can be consumed in the morning half an hour before breakfast or at any time of the day in between meals.
Pump in your iron levels with these wholesome recipes as the first meal of your day and bubble with energy all day long!
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Iron Rich Rotis & Parathas (25 recipes)
Iron Rich Salads (25 recipes)
Iron Rich Soups (10 recipes)
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Iron Rich Soup Recipes, High Iron Veg Soup Recipes. A hot bowl of soup is always pleasing. When you have been advised to boost your iron levels so as to increase your RBC count and you are bored to use greens and sprouts suggested by your dietitian to make rotis and salads, turn to this section.
Yes, greens are more typically considered as a great source of iron. But pulses and beans also provide enough iron. Moong, matki, chick peas, masoor and rajma are common pulses which can be used create delectable soups. Try the famous North Indian style Rajma Soup. It is sure to please any palate. A unique combo of pulses can also be seen in the recipe of Whole Masoor and Chawli Soup. To get an added boost of iron, try sprouting the pulses and then using them to make soups like Garlicky Moong Sprouts.
Lettuce, spinach and coriander are the most common greens put to use in making soups. These greens have been effectively used to conjure up recipes like Spinach and Baby Corn Soup and Lettuce and Cauliflower Soup. A wise way would be to combine a pulse or dal with greens to make healthy and nourishing combos like Spinach and Rajma Soup and Lentil Tomato and Spinach Soup.
Cereals in Iron Rich Soups
Cereals like quinoa are also a good choice to increase your iron reserves. Pair them with the famous green spinach and craft a high iron soup like Lemony Quinoa and Baby Spinach Soup. This soup has a touch of vitamin C rich lemon juice which aids in the absorption of iron. Try and add a hint of lemon juice to any iron rich you serve on the table. This is sure to boost iron uptake in the body. Remember to only stir or cook for minimal time after adding lemon juice to the soup, as vitamin C is volatile and some amount is lost on cooking and exposure to air.
These variety of eye catching soups cannot fail to please your palate. Not only iron, but these soups are a great way to pump in some other nutrients like protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid etc. They are sure to kindle your appetite as much as you sip in.
Enjoy our Iron Rich Soup Recipes, High Iron Veg Soup Recipes and other Iron rich articles below.
Iron Rich Recipes (289 recipes)
Iron Rich Breakfast (49 recipes)
Iron Rich Desserts (12 recipes)
Iron Rich International Recipes (24 recipes)
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Iron Rich Salads (25 recipes)
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Iron Rich Subzis & Dals (62 recipes)
A colourful way to begin your lunch! In this section sprouts, beans and greens take turns to bring in more iron and make a tantalising colourful and flavourful Iron Rich salads. Many of the salads here also use lemon juice as a part of the dressing. This high vitamin C rich lemon juice aids in the absorption of iron further.
Try quick fix-ups like Bean Sprouts and Cucumber Salad with Lemony Basil Dressing, Black Bean and Bulgur Wheat Salad, Fruity Chana Salad and Lettuce, Orange and Spinach Salad.
From light salads to filling salads which are loaded with iron, you will find all in this section.
High Iron recipe articles you will find interesting
Iron Rich Recipes (289 recipes)
Iron Rich Breakfast (49 recipes)
Iron Rich Desserts (12 recipes)
Iron Rich International Recipes (24 recipes)
Iron Rich Juices (15 recipes)
Iron Rich Rice , Pulao & Biryani (24 recipes)
Iron Rich Rotis & Parathas (25 recipes)
Iron Rich Soups (10 recipes)
Iron Rich Starters & Snacks (64 recipes)
Iron Rich Subzis & Dals (62 recipes)
Iron Rich Snacks, Veg Iron Rich Starter. With a wide range of snacks and starters from muthias to kebabs and upma to chaat and dry snacks like khakhras and crispies, in this section all the recipes are made with iron boosting ingredients. This nutrient is extremely necessary for the supply of oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. Low levels of iron or its deficiency in the body is termed as Anaemia. The major symptoms of Iron deficiency include fatigue, pale skin, poor concentration etc. Click here to know 35 Iron Rich Foods.
Imagine having snacks which are healthy and iron rich too. If asked, each one of us who have the basic knowledge of cooking can up some delicacies Palak Nimki and Baked Methi Puris using common greens like spinach and fenugreek leaves. You can turn to recipes like Quinoa Red Chawli Leaves Khakhra and Cauliflower Greens and Besan Muthia for a true iron rich treat. Not only do the flavours and textures complement each other in these recipes, but the vibrant colours beautifully combine to make this dish a treat for the eyes too!
Ah! SPROUTS… These are known as the bundle of health. When you feel indulgent, it’s very important to strike a balance between the taste and nutrition for good health. You can completely rely on sprouts then. The process of sprouting makes them easily digestible and it increases the iron content as well. Learnt the art of Sprouting and Boiling through this video.
And once you have mastered this, experiment with many other pulses like chana, rajma, matki etc. Here are some quick facts such as soaking time, sprouting time, quantities required and cooking method, which will help you get started with sprouts!
Finally give an additional healthy twist to these iron rich sprouts by cooking them in a delectable way. Lehsuni Matki Palak Tikki (1.6 mg iron / tikki) and Sprouted Matki Poha (7.8 mg iron / serving) are some interesting iron rich delicacies which can be served to enhance the haemoglobin count and overcome or prevent anemia.
Oh NO! Not fried tikkis. Excess fat can hinder iron absorption. Avoid it. Learn the art of cooking the tikkis on a non-stick tava on a slow flame… they taste equally good. You will surely believe it once you have tried our tested tikkis like Chana Dal and Cabbage Tikki, Oats Moong Dal Tikki and Mint and Masoor Tikkis. Yes, you have guessed it right! Here the major source of iron are pulses and dals. These tikkis have a scrumptious flavour and crunch that can pick you up even on the gloomiest of days! Serve them with your favourite green chutney and enjoy a healthy iron rich starter experience.
We all love South Indian food. Use Cauliflower Greens to make the super healthy Moong Dal Appe. We have converted the deep fried Masala Vadai and cooked them on a Tava. Of course we wanted an Uttpa in this section as well, so we made it with Bajra for you – Mini Bajra Onion Uttapa. We haven’t missed out on idlis as well. Moong Dal and Spinach Idli is the perfect recipe for you to try for an iron boost.
Crunchy jar snacks add a lot of excitement to our day. They are the best options to reach out for in the evening time. To go healthy and store iron rich jar snacks, forget frying them and use other methods like tava or oven to make them crispy. Try the non-fried version of famous Bengali Nimki - Palak Jeera Nimki, Baked Kachodi and Bajra Khakhras. These are sure to prevent iron deficiency fatigue and keep you energized till the next meal.
However remember to not pair these jar snacks with a cup of tea or coffee. The tannins in these beverages bind with the iron, making it less of it available to your body.
We hope you enjoy our fascinating recipe collection of Iron Rich Snacks, Veg Iron Rich Starter and would love to have your comments.
High Iron recipe articles you will find interesting below.
Iron Rich Recipes (289 recipes)
Iron Rich Breakfast (49 recipes)
Iron Rich Desserts (12 recipes)
Iron Rich International Recipes (24 recipes)
Iron Rich Juices (15 recipes)
Iron Rich Rice , Pulao & Biryani (24 recipes)
Iron Rich Rotis & Parathas (25 recipes)
Iron Rich Salads (25 recipes)
Iron Rich Soups (10 recipes)
Iron Rich Subzis Dals (62 recipes)
A good way to top up your iron sources is to have Iron Rich Indian Juices for breakfast or even better to have as a healthy High Iron Juices as a fruit snack through the day.
While vegetables like spinach can be used to make starters, subzis and rotis, it tastes great when paired with other veggies to make a healthy iron rich concoction too. Combine spinach with beet and orange to whip up
Iron Relish | spinach orange beet juice recipe | healthy beet orange juice | benefits of beet spinach orange juice | beet detox juice | >iron being needed to make blood and deliver oxygen to the cells, its deficiency results in lethargy and slowed mental function. This beet spinach orange juice is apt to keep anaemia at bay as it has the goodness of spinach, beetroot, apple and orange. Spinach acts as iron builder whereas apples and beetroot impart little sweetness.
or pair it with parsley to make Carrot Spinach and Parsley Juice.
carrot, spinach and parsley juice recipe | Indian carrot parsley juice | spinach carrot celery juice for detox |
A glass of this drink fulfills 10% of your day’s requirement for iron. It will energize you in the morning and its cleansing property which will protect you from the harmful toxins.
A wise practice to follow while making these juices, is to add a vitamin C rich veggie or fruit while juicing. This vitamin is a key nutrient which helps in the absorption of iron further.
A classic example of vitamin C rich veggie added to make a juice is Palak, Kale and Apple Juice. Amla, the highest source of vitamin C, which has been added in this jucie for that does of iron.
Fruits like pineapple and watermelon tastes good as a part of salads, but they can be used to make equally tempting iron brimming juices.
You can use pineapple in combination with fresh flavours of celery or coriander to make Pineapple and Coriander Juice or Pineapple Celery Juice. These too have plentiful of iron.
pineapple and coriander juice recipe | Indian pineapple ginger juice | healthy pineapple ginger coriander juice |
Another key iron rich ingredient which you can rely upon is garden cress seeds. Also called as halim, 1oo gm of these seeds lend 100 mg of iron … it’s a superb source of iron. Add 1 to 2 tsp of soaked garden cress seeds on Pineapple to make Pineapple Sweet Lime Drink for a true iron and vitamin C boost.
The water-filled watermelon has its own charm… You can just blend it in a mixer after deseeding well to obtain its juice or if you want to try something new and interesting, you can turn your head towards iron brimming Watermelon Guava Juice.
Watermelon is itself a moderate source of iron, while guava abounds in vitamin C. Try this unusual combination of fruits for some real health power with a vitamin C and iron boost in a glass. This refreshing drink is sure to please your palate.
Looking for thick pulp and sweet drink? Combine iron rich fruits with pulpy fruits like apple or papaya to delightful and exciting drink like Pineapple, Apple and Cucumber Juice or Pineapple Passion.
pineapple apple and cucumber juice | detox pineapple cucumber drink | weight loss apple pineapple juice | healthy apple cucumber drink |
Whether you are looking for a healthy glass of juice for breakfast or one to quench your thirst in the evening, the juices in this section are perfect for any time of the day. Remember it is very important to keep your body hydrated as it makes you look and feel really good. Make juices a part of your daily diet. With these drinks, you will enjoy the energetic feeling and the supple skin and glow on your face!
Pineapple, Apple and Cucumber Juice
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