Baby and toddler recipes
🍄 Venison and mushroom casserole
A rich, slow-cooked casserole of lean venison, mushrooms and root vegetables with thyme and bay. Venison is very lean and especially high in iron.
Makes about 8 baby portions
Ingredients
- 400g diced venison Venison (for casseroling)
- 150g Mushroom (chopped)
- 1 Onion (chopped)
- 1 Carrot (diced)
- 1 Parsnip (diced)
- 2 sprigs Thyme
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1 tbsp Tomato purée
- 1 tsp Rapeseed oil
- Water (about 500ml)
Method
- Heat the oven to 160C (140C fan).
- Brown the venison in the oil and lift out.
- Soften the onion, carrot and parsnip for 6 minutes, then add the mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes.
- Return the venison with the tomato puree, herbs and water. Cover and cook for 2 hours until tender.
- Remove the bay leaf and thyme stalks. Shred the meat for baby.
Serving it to your baby
From 10 months, serve soft pieces of venison and vegetables to pick up, or a spoonful with mash. For younger babies from 7 months, blend or mash.
For the rest of the family
Add redcurrant jelly, a splash of red wine and seasoning to the adult portions.
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
Plan meals and log what your baby loved.
OBubba keeps a record of every food your baby has tried and spots the allergens for you, so you always know what is next. Free to download.
Questions parents ask
Is venison safe for babies?
Yes. Farmed or butcher-bought venison is fine for babies when cooked through. It is lean and rich in iron.
Can I use game birds instead?
Pheasant works too, but take great care with the small bones and shot. Check every piece before serving.
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).