Are you stuck for ideas for baby meals? Here's some inspiration and practical guidance on meeting your baby's needs and diversifying his or her diet.
6 to 9 months
Courgette and lemon purée
Preparation: 10mins
Cooking time: 15 mins
150g courgettes
20g cottage cheese
1 tablespoonful lemon juice
Pinch of salt
Chop the ends off the courgettes and wash them thoroughly without peeling them. Cook for 15 mins in a steamer, blend in a food processor whilst adding the salt and lemon juice and whisk in the cottage cheese. Serve on a baby plate.
Artichoke and chicken purée
Preparation: 15mins
Cooking time: 13 mins
150g artichoke hearts
1 lemon
15g chicken breast
500ml milk
5g butter
Cook the artichokes in very hot unsalted water with 1 tablespoonful of the lemon juice. Cook for 10 mins then add the chicken. Leave to cook for 3 more minutes. Place the chicken, artichoke and milk in a mixer until you obtain a smooth mixture. Heat and add the butter before serving.
9 to 11 months
Fishcakes with cauliflower
Preparation: 15 mins
Cooking time: 13 mins
2 small tins of cauliflower
80g cod
1 slice of bread
1 tablespoonful oil
2 tarragon leaves
lemon juice
salt
semi-skimmed milk
Wash and blend the cooked fish. Place it in a bowl and add the sliced bread, pre-soaked in the milk beforehand, the chopped tarragon and the lemon juice. Blend to get a smooth mixture, add a pinch of salt and make into balls. In a pan, brown the cakes for 4 mins. Serve with the heated cauliflower.
Carrot flan
Preparation: 10 mins Cooking time: 20 + 20 mins
150g carrots
15g onion
1 egg yolk
A knob of butter
Peel and wash the carrots and chop them into round slices. Chop the onion. Cook the vegetables for 20 mins in a steamer. Leave to cool and blend in a food processor. Stir in the egg yolk and the butter. Place in a ramekin and cook in a medium heat oven (thermostat 6) over a pot of water.
1 year onwards
Small savoury tomato pancakes
Preparation: 90 mins
Cooking time: 10mins
1 carton/tin of tomato soup
2 small pieces of cheese
40g flour
50ml semi-skimmed milk
1 egg
2 teaspoonfuls of oil
Basil
Salt
Pour the flour into a bowl and add the salt, egg, milk and 150ml of tomato soup. Mix into a paste and set aside for an hour. Add the oil just before cooking. Pour and cook the pancakes in an oiled pan 10cm in diameter and keep them warm. Spread the cheese over the pancakes then pour the rest of the soup over. Sprinkle with basil and serve warm.
Cantonese rice
Preparation: 10 mins
Cooking time 10 mins
4 cups quick cook rice
3 eggs
200g frozen or tinned peas
300g of ham (or prawns or chicken breast)
Cook and drain the rice. Beat the eggs, add one tablespoonful of water and heat in a pan. For baby, remove 50g of the rice, add 2 teaspoonfuls of the omelette cut into little pieces and 2 teaspoons of chopped ham. For the rest of the family, season with salt and pepper and serve.
