Baby and toddler recipes

🧆 Baked baby falafel with tahini yoghurt

Name: Baked baby falafel with tahini yoghurt
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: about 14 small falafel
Ingredients: 1 x 400g tin Chickpeas; a small handful Parsley; a small handful fresh Coriander; 2 Spring onion; 1 small clove Garlic; 1/2 tsp ground Cumin; 2 tbsp plain flour; 1 tbsp Olive oil; 1 tbsp Tahini; 4 tbsp Greek yoghurt; a squeeze Lemon; 1/4 Cucumber

Soft, herby baked falafel patties made from tinned chickpeas, gently spiced and served with a tahini yoghurt dip. A great vegetarian source of iron, and a tasty way to offer sesame.

From 9 monthsPrep 15 minCook 20 minFreezes wellContains: Sesame, Milk

Makes about 14 small falafel

Ingredients

1 x 400g tin Chickpeas (no added salt, drained and patted dry)
a small handful Parsley
a small handful fresh Coriander
2 Spring onion
1 small clove Garlic
1/2 tsp ground Cumin
2 tbsp plain flour
1 tbsp Olive oil
1 tbsp Tahini
4 tbsp Greek yoghurt (full fat, plain)
a squeeze Lemon
1/4 Cucumber (cut into sticks, to serve)

Method

Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan) and line a tray.
Pulse the chickpeas, herbs, spring onion, garlic and cumin in a food processor until finely chopped and sticking together.
Mix in the flour. Shape into small flat patties about 4cm wide.
Brush with the oil and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and firm enough to hold.
Stir the tahini and lemon into the yoghurt for a dip.
Cool the falafel and serve with the dip and soft cucumber sticks with skin removed for younger babies.

Serving it to your baby

At 9 months flatten patties into thin discs or break into pieces, and offer the dip on a spoon. Peel cucumber for younger babies. From 12 months serve whole with the dip and some warm pitta. For a 6-month-old, shape them into longer fingers and keep them soft.

For the rest of the family

Season the adult falafel with salt and chilli and stuff into pitta with salad, pickles and extra tahini sauce.

Storing and reheating

Cool quickly (within an hour), then keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Freeze in small portions for up to 2 months and defrost overnight in the fridge. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through, stir, then let it cool before serving. Never reheat more than once. Reheat in the oven from frozen for about 10 minutes.

How to introduce sesame · How to introduce milk

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Questions parents ask

Is falafel OK for babies?

Homemade baked falafel without salt is a lovely finger food. Shop-bought falafel is often salty and deep fried, so keep that to an occasional treat for toddlers.

How can I introduce sesame to my baby?

Mixing a little tahini into yoghurt or hummus is an easy start. Offer a small amount first, then keep sesame in baby's diet regularly.

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).