Baby food recipes: seven to 12 months

Sebelum ni ibu buntu fikir menu apa untuk qa'id. so, ibu search dalam babycenter apakah menu untuk baby. tapi menu ni untuk baby berusia 7 bulan hingga 12 bulan. qa'id baru 6 bulan. apa pun ibu copy juga untuk rujukan. nanti bila qa'id dah masuk 7 bulan ibu dah ada idea tuk menu qa'id. InsyaAllah !!!

Broccoli with tomatoes and almonds

This vegetarian meal is a good source of betacarotene, vitamin E, calcium and vitamin C.

Ingredients

• 2 florets broccoli
• 25g flaked almonds, lightly toasted and ground finely
• 2 tbsps canned chopped tomatoes

Steam the florets until tender and blend with the tomatoes. Stir in the ground almonds, and serve.

Avocado, asparagus and ricotta dip

This blend of vegetables with the Italian soft cheese, ricotta, is a good source of vitamin E, folate and calcium.

Ingredients

• 3 spears of asparagus, trimmed and cut into pieces
• Half a ripe avocado
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp ricotta

Steam the asparagus until tender, and cool. Blend all the ingredients together and use as dip with baby breadsticks and cooked carrot batons.

Sweet potato, carrot and cheese mash

This colourful mash is packed with betacarotene, and also contains calcium and vitamin C.

Ingredients

• 120g sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
• 25g hard cheese, such as cheddar, grated

Boil or steam the vegetables together until just tender, then mash or purée along with the cheese.

Cottage cheese and pea mash

This light meal is so easy to prepare. It will help your baby top up on iron and vitamin C.

Ingredients

• 50g frozen peas
• 50g cottage cheese

Cook the peas until just tender. Mash together with the cottage cheese and serve with fingers of bread or rice cakes.

Lentil dhal with orange

This colourful, nutritious mixture contains iron, betacarotene and vitamin C.

Ingredients

• 100g lentils
• 300ml water
• 50ml orange juice
• Pinch of cinnamon

Pour water over the lentils. Cover and cook gently for 20 minutes or until the lentils are soft. Drain off a little fluid using a sieve and return the drained lentils to the pan. Stir in the orange juice and spice and return briefly to the heat.

Eggy bread

Eggy bread is a great stand-by meal, and is popular with most babies. It's a good source of iron and B vitamins.

Ingredients

• 1 slice of soft wholemeal bread
• 1 egg, well beaten
• A little oil or butter for frying

Heat the oil or butter in a frying pan. Dip the bread in the egg, turning to coat both sides well. Carefully place into the hot fat, and fry until golden brown on both sides. Remove from the heat and place on kitchen paper to absorb any surplus oil or butter. Cut into tiny fingers, and serve along with some slices of tomato.

Baby ratatouille

This lovely Mediterranean medley of vegetables is full of goodness. It's an excellent source of betacarotene and vitamin C for your baby.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp olive oil
• Half a small onion, finely chopped
• 1 small courgette, diced
• 1 small pepper, yellow or red, seeded and diced
• Few slices of aubergine, diced
• 4 tomatoes, skinned and seeded

Lightly fry the onion in the oil, and add all the other vegetables. Stir, cover and turn down the heat, allow to cook until the vegetables are tender. This should take about 30 minutes. Purée or mash to an appropriate consistency for your baby.

Lamb with apple

This delicious combination of fruit and meat offers lovely flavours for your baby to try. It's an excellent source iron, and also contains B vitamins and vitamin C.

Ingredients

• 200g lamb mince
• 1 cooking apple, grated
• 100ml unsweetened apple juice
• 1 small courgette
• Large pinch ground cinnamon
• Half tsp dried tarragon

Cook the mince in its own fat until it has browned all through. Drain off the fat. Return the mince to the pan and add the grated apple and courgette and juice. Stir, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Add the cinnamon and tarragon, stir and continue to simmer for another five minutes.

Blend lightly to remove large lumps, and serve with mashed potato. Alternatively, for a family meal, place in a casserole, top with sliced tomatoes, and spread mashed potato over. Bake for 25 or 30 minutes at 180 degrees C.

Savoury chicken casserole

This delicately flavoured recipe makes a good family meal. Just increase the quantity of ingredients to suit. It's an excellent source of iron, and also contains betacarotene and vitamin C.

Ingredients

• Half an onion, chopped finely
• 1 chicken breast, skinned and diced
• 1 dessertspoon olive oil
• 1 carrot, peeled and diced
• 1 bouquet garni
• 3 or 4 button mushrooms, wiped and thinly sliced
• 150ml water
• 50g frozen peas, thawed

Gently fry the onion and chicken until the chicken is cooked on all sides. Add the carrot, bouquet garni and mushrooms. Stir for a few moments before adding the water. Cover and simmer gently for 15 minutes, before adding the peas. Cook for another five minutes until the peas are warmed through. Remove the bouquet garni and blend to an appropriate consistency for your baby.

Sardine and avocado spread

This richly satisfying snack is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids, calcium and vitamin E.

Ingredients

• 2 canned sardines in oil, drained and well mashed
• Half an avocado
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Mash the ingredients well together and use as a toast topper or dip.