Baby and toddler recipes
🍲 Baby-friendly Moroccan lamb and apricot tagine
A slow-cooked, gently spiced lamb tagine with apricots and chickpeas, mild enough for baby to share. Lamb is rich in iron and zinc and slow cooking makes it melt-in-the-mouth tender.
Makes family of 4 plus baby
Ingredients
- 500g diced shoulder Lamb (trimmed of excess fat)
- 1 large Onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic (crushed)
- 1 tsp Cumin (ground)
- half a teaspoon Cinnamon (ground)
- half a teaspoon Ginger (ground)
- 8 unsulphured Dried apricots (chopped)
- 400g tin Chickpeas (no added salt, drained)
- 400g tin chopped Tomato (no added salt)
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 300ml water
Method
- Brown the lamb in the oil in batches, then set aside.
- Soften the onion for 8 minutes, then add the garlic and spices for 1 minute.
- Return the lamb with the tomatoes, apricots and water. Cover and simmer very gently for 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Add the chickpeas and cook for 15 minutes more until the lamb falls apart.
- Take baby's portion before seasoning and shred or mash the lamb and chickpeas very finely.
Serving it to your baby
At 7 months mash baby's portion with couscous or mashed sweet potato so every chickpea is squashed. From 9 months offer soft shredded lamb pieces and flattened chickpeas as finger foods.
For the rest of the family
Season the family pot with salt, harissa and fresh coriander and serve with couscous and flatbread.
Storing and reheating
Cool within an hour, then fridge for up to 2 days or freeze in portions for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge, reheat until piping hot all the way through, stir well and cool to warm. Never reheat more than once.
Weaning with OBubba
Plan meals and log what your baby loved.
OBubba keeps a record of every food your baby has tried and spots the allergens for you, so you always know what is next. Free to download.
Questions parents ask
Is couscous suitable for babies?
Yes. Couscous is made from wheat, so introduce it like other gluten foods. Make it with water, not stock, for babies.
Can babies eat slow-cooked lamb?
Yes. Slow cooking makes lamb very soft, so it is ideal mashed or shredded for babies from around 6 to 7 months.
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).