12–18 months
Lentil and vegetable patties
Main mealPrep 18 minCook 28 minPortions: 5
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons of red lentils
- 4 tablespoons of fine bulgur wheat
- 1 small carrot
- Water
Method
- Rinse the lentils until the water runs clear and cook them with the grated carrot in unsalted water until they break down completely.
- Take off the heat, stir in the rinsed bulgur, cover and leave until the bulgur has absorbed the water and softened.
- When the mixture holds together, let it cool and shape finger-length flat patties by hand.
- Squash one between your finger and thumb: if it gives easily it is ready; if it feels firm, moisten it a little.
- Let your child feed themselves sitting upright with someone beside them.
Texture
A flat patty that holds together enough to pick up yet squashes easily under your finger, with no firm bulgur grain left.
Serving
Give one patty at a time, long enough that a bit sticks out of your child's fist.
Preparing for choking safety
The patty is shaped long and flat, never as a round ball. It is neither fried nor baked; a hard outside is a risk. Carrot is never given raw and the bulgur must not stay firm.
Key nutrients
ProteinIronFolateFibre
Storage
Cool within 1 to 2 hours of cooking, then refrigerate or freeze in small portions. Use a refrigerated portion within 2 days. Eat a defrosted portion within 24 hours. When reheating, heat until steaming hot all the way through, then let it cool before serving, and reheat any portion only once. Throw away a half-eaten portion rather than storing or reheating it.
Safety
Your child should be sitting upright and someone should stay with them while they eat. No salt or sugar is added to these recipes; honey is not given before one year. Their back teeth may not be through yet, so every piece must be soft enough to squash with gums and cut to a safe size. Children do not all manage the same texture at the same age — follow your child's pace rather than pushing. If your child has an allergy, eczema, or a family history of allergy, talk to your GP or health visitor before introducing new foods. Introduce foods that can trigger an allergic reaction one at a time and in small amounts, so you can spot any reaction.
Collections this recipe appears in
Similar recipes
Thick chicken and orzo soup
12–18 months · Main meal
Prep 12 min · Cook 30 min
Thick red lentil soup
12–18 months · Main meal
Prep 10 min · Cook 30 min
Chickpea and vegetable stew
12–18 months · Main meal
Prep 22 min · Cook 60 min
Fork-mashed white beans
12–18 months · Main meal
Prep 22 min · Cook 65 min
Soft borlotti bean dish
12–18 months · Main meal
Prep 22 min · Cook 65 min
Green lentil and bulgur pilaf
12–18 months · Main meal
Prep 18 min · Cook 45 min
Recipes are a suggestion; they do not replace breast milk, formula, or your child's own feeding plan. If there is an allergy or a specific dietary situation, speak with a health professional.