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9–11 months

Spinach and bulgur

Main mealPrep 10 minCook 22 minPortions: 3

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons of fine bulgur wheat
  • 2 handfuls of fresh spinach leaves
  • 1 small carrot
  • 250 ml water

Method

  1. Wash the spinach thoroughly so no grit is left and pull off the coarse stems.
  2. Chop the leaves finely.
  3. Cook the rinsed bulgur with the grated carrot in the water until it has swollen and is completely soft.
  4. Add the spinach for the last 6 minutes and cook until the leaves are fully wilted and soft.
  5. Mash lightly with a fork so no leafy strand remains, and let it cool.

Texture

Thick and lumpy, with no firm grains of bulgur and no strands of spinach leaf left.

Serving

Serve warm. If it is stiff, loosen it with a little of the cooking water.

Preparing for choking safety

Spinach is never given raw; the leaves are chopped fine and fully cooked, or strands gather in the mouth. Bulgur is made from wheat and a firm grain is a risk.

Key nutrients

FibreProteinCarbohydrateFolate

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 baby should be sitting upright and someone should stay with them while they eat. Add no salt, sugar or honey; honey is not given before one year. Your baby may not have teeth yet, so every piece must be soft enough to squash with gums. Babies do not all manage the same texture at the same age — follow your baby's pace rather than pushing. If your baby 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.

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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.