Baby and toddler recipes
🌽 Sweetcorn and courgette polenta fingers
Soft, golden polenta fingers with blended sweetcorn, grated courgette and a little cheddar. They are easy to hold for brand new eaters, and great dipped into a bean or lentil purée for iron.
Makes about 16 fingers
Ingredients
Method
- Oil a small tin about 20cm square.
- Bring the water to the boil, then pour in the polenta slowly, whisking.
- Cook on a low heat, stirring, for 5 minutes until thick.
- Stir in the blended sweetcorn, courgette, cheese and butter.
- Spread into the tin and leave to set for at least 30 minutes.
- Cut into fingers and bake at 200C (180C fan) for 15 to 20 minutes until lightly golden.
Serving it to your baby
At 6 months offer whole fingers to hold, served with a spoon of the red lentil dal or bean mash from this collection for an iron boost. From 9 months cut into smaller cubes. Blending the sweetcorn avoids whole kernels for young babies.
For the rest of the family
Serve adult portions as chips with a sprinkle of salt and parmesan and a garlic yoghurt dip.
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 so they crisp up again.
Weaning with OBubba
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Questions parents ask
Is polenta good for babies?
Yes. Polenta is made from maize, is naturally gluten-free and sets into a soft, holdable finger food that is easy to gum.
Why serve these with a lentil or bean dip?
Polenta itself is not high in iron. Pairing it with lentils or beans makes the meal far more iron rich.
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).