Baby and toddler recipes
🫓 Mild Ethiopian-style red lentil stew
A soft, deeply flavoured red lentil stew inspired by Ethiopian misir, made baby-friendly with sweet paprika, ginger and garlic instead of hot berbere. Lovely scooped up with injera, and rich in plant iron.
Makes 4 baby portions plus 2 adult portions
Ingredients
- 200g Red lentils (rinsed)
- 2 Onion (very finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp Tomato purée
- 1 Tomato (grated)
- 2 cloves Garlic (crushed)
- 1 tsp grated Ginger
- 1 tsp sweet Paprika
- a pinch of ground Fenugreek
- a pinch of ground Cardamom
- 2 tbsp Rapeseed oil
- about 700ml Water
- to serve Injera (or soft flatbread)
Method
- Cook the onions slowly in the oil for 15 minutes until very soft and golden.
- Stir in the garlic, ginger, paprika, fenugreek, cardamom and tomato purée for a minute.
- Add the grated tomato, lentils and water.
- Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until thick and completely soft.
- Cool baby's portion and serve with strips of injera.
Serving it to your baby
At 9 months offer the stew on a preloaded spoon and give strips of injera to tear and scoop. For younger babies the stew can be blended and served from 6 months. Injera can be salty depending on the brand, so keep portions small or use homemade.
For the rest of the family
For the adults, stir in berbere spice and salt to taste after taking out baby's portion, and serve with a squeeze of lemon.
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 3 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.
Weaning with OBubba
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Questions parents ask
Is this spicy for babies?
No. This version uses sweet paprika and gentle spices for warmth without chilli heat. Adults can add berbere afterwards.
Can babies eat injera?
Yes, in small amounts from around 9 months. It is soft and great for scooping, but check the label as some versions contain added salt.
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).