Baby and toddler recipes
🍛 Toddler tofu katsu curry
A Japanese-inspired katsu curry with baked breadcrumbed tofu and a mild, sweet curry sauce made from carrot, onion and apple. A vegan meal with protein, iron and calcium from tofu.
Makes 2 toddler portions plus 2 adult portions
Ingredients
- 280g firm Tofu (pressed and sliced into fingers)
- 50g panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 4 tbsp Oat drink (unsweetened, fortified)
- 1 Onion (chopped)
- 2 Carrot (chopped)
- 1/2 Apple (peeled and grated)
- 1 clove Garlic
- 1 tsp grated Ginger
- 1 tsp Mild curry paste (or 1 tsp mild curry powder)
- a pinch Turmeric
- 400ml Water
- 2 tbsp Rapeseed oil
- to serve Rice
- 1/4 Cucumber (sticks, to serve)
Method
- Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan). Dip the tofu in flour, then oat drink, then panko. Lay on an oiled tray, drizzle with oil and bake for 25 minutes, turning once.
- Soften the onion and carrot in 1 tbsp oil for 10 minutes.
- Add the garlic, ginger, curry paste and turmeric for a minute, then the apple and water.
- Simmer for 15 minutes until the carrot is very soft, then blend to a smooth sauce. Add a splash more water if thick.
- Slice the tofu and serve on rice with the sauce and cucumber sticks.
Serving it to your baby
From 12 months serve tofu fingers with sauce poured over or for dipping, and peeled cucumber sticks. For a younger baby (from 9 months), skip the crumb and serve soft baked tofu fingers with the blended sauce.
For the rest of the family
Season the adult sauce with soy sauce or salt to taste, and add chilli or a little extra curry powder if you like.
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. Freeze the curry sauce only. Rice needs extra care: cool within an hour, keep in the fridge for no more than 1 day, and reheat only once until steaming hot.
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Questions parents ask
Is curry suitable for toddlers?
Yes, mild curries are a great way to share family meals. Choose mild curry paste or powder and add any heat to adult portions only.
Can I freeze breaded tofu?
It is best fresh, as freezing makes it chewy. The sauce freezes very well.
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).