This textural mash of Lentils for Baby is a tasty plant-based protein meal. A great way to introduce lentils to babies over 8 months
The power of lentils
Lentils are something I’ve only learned to love recently. I don’t know why I took so long to be friends with them, but I’m glad that I did because lentils are affordable, tasty and so good for us.
Nowadays, people are more health-conscious, and as a result, food manufacturing companies are scrambling to meet our demands. More than ever, supermarkets spoil us with choices with healthy food options. That’s why I see lentils everywhere, from lentil chips/crisps to lentil curries. However, like most healthy food, it’s very overpriced!
I always have tins of lentils in my pantry, as well as dried lentils. They’re perfect for the pantry because they have a good shelf life!
Lentils are super nutritious and that’s why I wanted to incorporate them into Kai’s diet as soon as he turned 8 months old.
Lentils are low in fat, but rich in plant fibre and protein, keeping our little ones full for longer. They’re also loaded with vitamins and minerals, such as folate, iron and potassium.
Kai had his first taste of lentils with a Rafferty’s Garden, Red lentils, carrot and sweet potato pouch. He finished the entire pouch without fussing, and this mash ended up being one of his favourites. So instead of piling up on store-bought pouches, I made large batches at home and froze them for Kai.
More yummy baby recipes to try:
Banana Oat Pancakes
Mango, Pear & banana Puree
Simple Chia Pudding
Beans & Veggies Mash
The super paranoid first time, Mum!
When Kai was born, I was ultra-paranoid about his safety. After hearing awful stories about SIDS I didn’t want to take any chances. So that meant I would wake up every couple of hours to check on his breathing. I swear I must’ve done that until he was 8 months old.
Then, when he started having solids, I noted every single new food he ate daily on my phone. Kai’s nurse actually suggested this because if he ended up having a food allergy, I would’ve been able to identify what it was.
My mum thought I was being ridiculous, and that I was wasting my time on nonsense. She continually boasted that she successfully raised the 5 of us without having to restrict or document our food. Well, she has a point. All five of us are fine, and none of us has any dietary requirements or food allergies.
My parents thought that children these days are more prone to sickness and allergies due to ‘helicopter parenting’. They also think that children should run around and get exposed to some germs so they have a stronger immunity system. What my parents have said is valid, but I’ve clashed with them over so much parenting advice.
I continued to follow our nurse’s advice, but I was more adventurous with feeding Kai. I exposed him to seafood and peanuts when he was 8 months old. Actually, I fed him everything besides foods our nurses advised us to avoid, such as honey. I’m honestly glad I did!
Watch my Prune and Pear Puree for baby video
Ingredients for Lentils for Baby with Sweet Potato and Carrot
Lentils – For convenience, I used lentils from the tin. Some supermarkets offer organic and no-salt-added tinned lentils. These are better choices for babies, especially if they’re between 8 to 18 months old.
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How to make Lentils for Baby with Sweet Potato and Carrot
Step-by-step guide with photos
Fill in a large saucepan (that has a steamer attachment) with water approximately 1/3 full. Place the saucepan without the steamer over high heat and bring the water to a rapid boil.
Whilst the water is heating, prepare the vegetables. Peel and chop the sweet potatoes and carrots into large chunks. Make sure they’re chopped roughly the same size so they steam evenly.
Once the water has boiled, reduce the heat from high to medium. Transfer the potatoes and carrot into the steamer and attach it over the saucepan and cover. Steam the vegetables for 15 minutes.
Drain the lentils into a colander and rinse under cold water a few times. Place the lentils into a small heatproof bowl and place it on top of the vegetables in the steamer. Cover and steam for a further 5 minutes. The potatoes and carrots should be extra soft and pierce through effortlessly when inserting a fork or a skewer. If not steam for a further 5 minutes.
Use a tea towel to remove the bowl with the lentils carefully from the steamer. Place the carrots and potatoes into the food processor bowl along with the lentils. Process the vegetables at medium-high speed until it’s the consistency of thick mashed potatoes. Add in a few tablespoons of boiled water and continue to pulse until you reach the desired consistency for your little one. You may need more tablespoons of water for younger babies to loosen up the mixture further. Allow the lentils and vegetable mash to cool at room temperature before serving.
Storing and freezing Lentils for Baby
Storage – Allow the puree to cool completely, then spoon them into baby food safe containers. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months. See how I store and organise my homemade baby food
I’ve used a third-party application to calculate the calories and nutritional information, so please use this as an approximate guide only.
Cooking measurements are in Australian standard spoon and cup measurements. For specific details and conversions, visit our Australian Cooking Measurements page.
I would love your feedback and support if you made this recipe. To do this, please rate this recipe and provide a comment by scrolling down this page or by clicking that green circle on the bottom left. An email address is required (for spam), but it won’t be published. I would also love to see your dish, so don’t forget to tag me on my Instagram account ‘3catsfoodie’
Cheers – Cat T
Lentils for Baby with Sweet Potato and Carrot
Ingredients
- 500 gm sweet potato (peeled roughly chopped)
- 300 gm carrot (peeled roughly chopped)
- ½ cup tinned lentils (rinsed and drained) (NOTE 1)
- ⅓ cup boiling water (may need more or less)
Instructions
- Fill in a large saucepan (that has a steamer attachment) with water approximately 1/3 full. Place the saucepan without the steamer over high heat and bring the water to a rapid boil.
- Whilst the water is heating, prepare the vegetables. Peel and chop the sweet potatoes and carrots into large chunks. Make sure they're chopped roughly the same size so they steam evenly.
- Once the water has boiled, reduce the heat from high to medium. Transfer the potatoes and carrot into the steamer and attach it over the saucepan and cover. Steam the vegetables for 15 minutes.
- Drain the lentils into a colander and rinse under cold water a few times. Place the lentils into a small heatproof bowl and place it on top of the vegetables in the steamer. Cover and steam for a further 5 minutes. The potatoes and carrots should be extra soft and pierce through effortlessly when inserting a fork or a skewer. If not steam for a further 5 minutes.
- Use a tea towel to remove the bowl with the lentils carefully from the steamer. Place the carrots and potatoes into the food processor bowl along with the lentils. Process the vegetables at medium-high speed until it's the consistency of thick mashed potatoes. Add in a few tablespoons of boiled water and continue to pulse until you reach the desired consistency for your little one. You may need more tablespoons of water for younger babies to loosen up the mixture further. Allow the lentils and vegetable mash to cool at room temperature before serving.
Notes
A Third-Party Application calculated the calories and nutritional information. Please use this as an approximate guide only. Cooking measurements are in Australian standard spoon and cup measurements.
