Baby and toddler recipes
🍜 Chicken udon with greens
Thick, soft udon noodles in a light ginger and garlic broth with tender chicken, mushrooms and greens. A Japanese-inspired bowl that babies love to grab with their hands.
Makes about 2 baby portions plus 2 adult
Ingredients
- 2 portions Udon noodles (straight-to-wok or dried, cooked soft)
- 1 breast Chicken (sliced into thin strips)
- 2 handfuls Bok choy greens (sliced)
- 4 Mushroom (thinly sliced)
- 1 tsp Ginger (grated)
- 1 clove Garlic (sliced)
- 1 Spring onion (finely sliced)
- Water (about 750ml)
Method
- Simmer the water with the ginger and garlic for 5 minutes to make a light broth.
- Add the chicken and mushrooms and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
- Add the greens and noodles and cook for 3 minutes until everything is soft.
- Lift out baby's portion with a little broth and cut the noodles into short lengths.
- Scatter spring onion over the adult bowls.
Serving it to your baby
At 10 months, drain most of the broth from baby's portion, cut the noodles into short pieces and give chicken strips and soft greens as finger food. For younger babies from 7 months, chop everything finely and mash the chicken.
For the rest of the family
Stir a spoonful of miso and a dash of soy sauce into the adult bowls, with chilli oil and a soft-boiled egg on top.
Storing and reheating
Best eaten fresh. Cool leftovers quickly, keep in the fridge for up to 1 day and reheat until steaming hot, then cool before serving. Not suitable for freezing as the noodles go soggy.
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
Can babies eat udon noodles?
Yes. Udon noodles are soft and thick, which makes them easy to hold. They contain wheat, and some brands add salt, so compare labels.
Do I need stock for the broth?
No. Ginger and garlic simmered in water give a gentle flavour without the salt of stock cubes.
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).