Baby and toddler recipes

🦪 Mussel and tomato linguine for toddlers

Name: Mussel and tomato linguine for toddlers
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: about 2 toddler portions plus 2 adult
Ingredients: 500g fresh Mussels; 200g linguine Pasta; 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes Tomato; 2 cloves Garlic; 2 tbsp Parsley; 1 tbsp Olive oil; Water

Sweet mussels cooked in a garlicky tomato sauce and tossed through linguine. A great way to give toddlers iron, zinc and vitamin B12.

From 12 monthsPrep 15 minCook 15 minContains: Molluscs, Gluten

Makes about 2 toddler portions plus 2 adult

Ingredients

500g fresh Mussels (scrubbed and debearded)
200g linguine Pasta
1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes Tomato
2 cloves Garlic (crushed)
2 tbsp Parsley (chopped)
1 tbsp Olive oil
Water (50ml)

Method

Throw away any mussels with broken shells, or any that stay open when tapped.
Cook the pasta until soft.
Gently fry the garlic in the oil, add the tomatoes and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add the mussels and water, cover and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until they open. Discard any that stay closed.
Pull the mussels from their shells and chop them small for your toddler. Toss with the pasta and parsley.

Serving it to your baby

From 12 months, chop the mussels into small pieces and cut the linguine into short lengths. Cooked mussels can be offered from 6 months, finely chopped into a sauce, but their chewy texture is easier for toddlers.

For the rest of the family

Leave some mussels in their shells for the adults and add a splash of white wine, chilli and salt to taste.

Storing and reheating

Best eaten fresh. Cool quickly and keep in the fridge for up to 1 day. Do not freeze cooked mussels.

How to introduce molluscs · How to introduce gluten

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Questions parents ask

Can toddlers eat mussels?

Yes. Fully cooked mussels are fine. Mussels are molluscs, a common allergen, so introduce them on their own first. Never serve raw shellfish.

Why must mussels open when cooked?

Mussels that stay closed after cooking may not be safe to eat, so always throw them away.

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).