First foods database
🧅 Shallots for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat shallots? Yes, from about 6 months. Shallots are sweeter and milder than onions, and they melt down into a soft, sweet base for sauces, risottos and stews, adding flavour without salt.
Good source of: Vitamin B6, Fibre, Vitamin C
How to serve shallots by age
6 to 9 months
Peel and finely chop 1 or 2 shallots, then cook gently in a little butter or oil for 8 to 10 minutes until very soft and golden. Blend them into vegetable purées, lentils or tomato sauce, or mash into potato. They add a gentle savoury sweetness, which helps babies enjoy vegetables without any salt.
9 to 12 months
Stir soft cooked shallots through risotto, scrambled egg, pasta sauces and mince dishes. Whole roasted shallots, once cooled and squashed flat, can be a soft finger food.
12 months and up
Use shallots in family cooking, in gravy made without stock cubes, in salad dressings, or roasted alongside vegetables. Finely chopped raw shallot in a dressing is fine for older toddlers who like the stronger taste.
Choking safety
Cooked shallots are soft and low risk. Roasted whole shallots are slippery, so squash or chop them for babies. Raw shallot is crunchy and sharp, so keep it finely chopped and in small amounts for older children.
Gagging is common and noisy while babies learn to eat. Choking is usually silent. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sitting upright. How to help a choking baby (NHS).
Good to know
- Use shallots instead of salt or stock cubes for flavour.
- Crispy fried shallots sold in tubs are often salted, so save them for adults.
Easy ideas
- Shallot and pea risotto
- Soft shallots stirred into scrambled egg
- Roasted shallot and butternut squash mash
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat shallots?
Can babies eat shallots? Yes, from about 6 months. Shallots are sweeter and milder than onions, and they melt down into a soft, sweet base for sauces, risottos and stews, adding flavour without salt.
Are shallots milder than onions?
Yes, they are sweeter and gentler, which suits babies.
Can babies eat raw shallots?
Cooked is best for babies. Raw shallots are sharp and crunchy.
Do shallots cause wind in babies?
Some babies seem a little windier after onions and shallots, but many are fine. Cook them well and see how your baby gets on.
Sources
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).