Easy Lentils For Baby
My lentils for baby is one of the easiest meals you can make for your little one. Combining lentils, rice, and veggies, this baby lentil recipe, known as "khichdi" in India, is a nutritious, one-pot meal. It’s healthy, flavorful, and easily adaptable to your baby’s age and dietary needs.
Servings: 16 cups
Calories: 33.8kcal
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried lentils any lentil is fine, I've used red lentils, yellow split peas, and "moong dal" which you can get at the Indian store
- 1 cup brown basmati rice you can also use white basmati rice or quinoa
- 6 cups water depending on the type of lentils used, you may need more water than this. Add more water as needed if your mixture turns out too thick
- 10 cups frozen or fresh veggies I used 1 16oz bag of frozen broccoli, 1 16oz bag of frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, green beans), and 1 8oz bag of frozen cauliflower
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp garam masala
- 1 pinch salt
- whole milk organic yogurt optional, for serving
Instructions
- Put water, lentils, rice/qunioa, veggies, and spices into a large pot on the stove.
- Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and simmer 1-3 hours until it's the consistency you like, stirring occasionally. Add water as needed if you find the mixture is getting too thick.
- (Alternatively, put all ingredients into a crock pot and cook on high for 4-6 hours)
- Mash up, freeze in ice cube trays or store for 5 days in the fridge.
- Serve with whole milk organic yogurt.
Notes
- My #1 Secret Tip when learning how to cook lentils for baby is not to rush the cooking process. Allow the lentils and vegetables enough time to cook down until soft and mushy. This will take several hours on the stovetop, or in the crockpot. Properly cooked lentils are crucial for nutrient absorption and to avoid any digestive discomfort. This also helps make it super easy to either blend or mash the lentils when you're serving it to your baby.
- Blend Or Mash: Depending on your baby’s age and chewing ability, you can use a potato masher or place the lentils in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. It should have the consistency of a hearty soup or stew.
- Customize The Spices: Feel free to adjust the spices to suit your little one. Just remember to avoid adding salt or sugar.
- Introduce Slowly: When introducing lentils baby food to your baby’s diet for the first time, start with small amounts to ensure they tolerate it well and watch for any signs of allergies or digestive discomfort.
- Pair With Vitamin C: To enhance iron absorption, pair my lentil baby food recipe with foods rich in vitamin C, like pureed sweet potatoes or carrots. Sometimes I would blend those foods right into the lentil mixture to save myself a step!
Nutrition
Serving: 4tbsp | Calories: 33.8kcal | Carbohydrates: 6.3g | Protein: 2g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 30mg | Fiber: 2.3g