Baby and toddler recipes

🍌 Caribbean plantain and black bean baby mash

Sweet ripe plantain mashed with soft black beans and a whisper of allspice, inspired by Caribbean home cooking. Black beans add plant iron and protein, and plantain makes it naturally sweet and filling.

From 7 monthsPrep 10 minCook 15 minFreezes wellNone of the 14 major allergens

Makes about 4 baby portions

Ingredients

  • 1 very ripe plantain (skin mostly black) Plantain (peeled and sliced)
  • 4 tbsp tinned black beans Black beans (no added salt, drained and rinsed)
  • a tiny pinch Allspice
  • 1 tsp Coconut oil
  • 3 to 4 tbsp water

Method

  1. Steam the plantain slices for 12 to 15 minutes until completely soft.
  2. Meanwhile warm the black beans in the coconut oil with the allspice and a splash of water for 3 minutes.
  3. Mash the beans thoroughly with a fork, then mash in the plantain.
  4. Loosen with water to a soft, thick texture and cool to warm.

Serving it to your baby

At 7 months leave soft lumps but make sure every bean is fully mashed, as whole beans can be a choking risk. From 9 months offer soft steamed plantain strips as finger food alongside.

For the rest of the family

Fry the remaining plantain in a little oil for the family and serve the beans with rice, peas, thyme and Scotch bonnet heat for adults.

Storing and reheating

Cool quickly (within an hour), then keep in a covered container in the fridge for up to 2 days, or freeze in ice cube trays for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight, reheat until steaming hot all the way through, stir, then cool to warm before serving. Never reheat more than once.

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Questions parents ask

Are tinned beans OK for babies?

Yes, choose tins labelled no added salt or sugar, then drain and rinse well. They are a quick, iron-rich addition to baby meals.

Can babies eat plantain?

Yes, from around 6 months, cooked until soft. Very ripe plantain is sweeter and mashes more easily than green plantain.

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).