12–18 months
Spinach bulgur pilaf
Main mealPrep 12 minCook 25 minPortions: 3
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons of fine bulgur wheat
- 3 handfuls of fresh spinach leaves
- 1 small carrot
- 300 ml water
Method
- Wash the spinach thoroughly so no grit is left and pull off the coarse stems.
- Chop the leaves finely.
- Cook the rinsed bulgur with the finely chopped carrot in the water until it has swollen and is completely soft.
- Add the spinach for the last 6 minutes and cook until the leaves are fully wilted and soft.
- Fluff lightly with a fork and serve once warm.
Texture
Finely chopped spinach among soft bulgur grains, with no leafy strands and no firm grain left.
Serving
Serve warm and let your child eat it with a spoon.
Preparing for choking safety
Spinach is never given raw; the leaves are chopped fine and fully cooked, or strands gather in the mouth. Bulgur must swell and soften completely; no firm grain is left in it.
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 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 cut small round foods such as grapes and cherry tomatoes into quarters. Whole nuts and popcorn are never given. 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 family doctor or paediatrician 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.