Baby and toddler recipes
🍛 Turkey and red lentil dal
A soft, golden dal with turkey mince and red lentils, gently spiced with cumin and turmeric. It purees smoothly for first tastes and doubles up the iron from meat and pulses.
Makes about 6 baby portions
Ingredients
- 150g Turkey mince
- 100g Red lentils (rinsed)
- ½ Onion (finely chopped)
- 1 clove Garlic (crushed)
- ½ tsp Ginger (grated)
- ½ tsp Cumin
- ¼ tsp Turmeric
- 2 Tomato (chopped)
- 1 tsp Ghee (or rapeseed oil)
- Water (about 500ml)
Method
- Warm the ghee and soften the onion for 6 minutes.
- Add the garlic, ginger and spices and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the turkey and cook, breaking it up, until no pink remains.
- Add the lentils, tomatoes and water. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring, until the lentils have collapsed.
- Blend smooth for first tastes, or mash for older babies.
Serving it to your baby
At 6 months, blend until smooth and loosen with water or your baby's usual milk. From 7 to 9 months, mash and serve with soft rice. Older babies can scoop it up with chapati strips.
For the rest of the family
Add salt, chilli and a tarka of mustard seeds and curry leaves in hot oil to the adult portion. Serve with rice and yoghurt.
Storing and reheating
Cool quickly (within an hour), then keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days or freeze in baby portions for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge, reheat until steaming hot all the way through, stir well and let it cool before serving. Never reheat more than once.
Weaning with OBubba
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat lentils at 6 months?
Yes. Red lentils cook down to a soft puree and are a good source of iron and protein.
Is ghee ok for babies?
Yes, in small amounts in cooking. Ghee is clarified butter and contains very little milk protein, but treat it as dairy if your baby has a milk allergy.
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).