12–18 months
Thick chicken and orzo soup
Main mealPrep 12 minCook 30 minPortions: 3
Ingredients
- 80 g of skinless chicken breast
- 3 tablespoons of orzo pasta
- 1 small carrot
- 400 ml water
Method
- Remove the skin and visible fat from the chicken.
- Cook in unsalted water until no pink remains, even at the thickest part, and keep the liquid.
- Cook the finely chopped carrot and the orzo in that liquid, longer than the packet time, until the orzo crushes under your finger.
- Shred the chicken, chop it very finely and stir it in.
- It should be thick enough to stay on the spoon; if it is thin, reduce it a little longer, then serve once warm.
Texture
Thick enough to stay on the spoon, with small soft orzo and finely chopped chicken, never left as a thin soup.
Serving
Serve warm and let your child eat it with a spoon.
Preparing for choking safety
Orzo is made from wheat and a firm, slippery piece is a choking risk, so it is cooked beyond the packet time. Chicken is never served as long strands. No stock cube is used.
Key nutrients
ProteinVitamin B12Carbohydrate
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.
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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.