This red lentil and vegetable puree is a winner!
This red lentil and vegetable puree fast become one of Miss I’s most popular baby meals. I introduced this at around 6 months, as lentils are a great source of plant protein. Now that she’s 8 months old and can manage more textured foods, I don’t puree it smooth, rather I leave some lumpy bits. You can adapt this recipe to your baby’s taste and age.
Lentils are a perfect food for baby as they are creamy, tasty and, most importantly, healthy! Packed with plant protein, fibre and iron, they also contain a range of vitamins, including potassium, folate and B vitamins. I did try a lentil Dahl on bubba, but it didn’t go down so well. I think she prefers the sweetness in this recipe, to the mild spice of the Dahl.
This lentil recipe is sweet, soft & smooth. It’s easy to make & is packed full of essential nutrients.
Wholesome red lentil puree makes a healthy and tasty meal.
Red lentil and Vegetable Puree
- INGREDIENTS
- • 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
- • 50 g finely diced onions
- • 15 g chopped celery or leek
- • 200 g carrots, peeled and chopped (or you can scrub well and leave the skin on for an extra dose of fibre)
- • 50 g split red lentils (rinsed)
- • 250 g sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into small pieces
- • 250 ml reduced salt vegetable stock (add more water if necessary)
- METHOD
- 1. Heat the vegetable oil and sauté the onion in a medium saucepan for a couple of minutes.
- 2. Add carrots and celery to the saucepan and continue to cook for a few minutes.
- 3. Add red lentils to the pan, along with the sweet potato. Cook for 1 minute. Add the vegetable stock.
- 4. Bring to the boil, turn down the heat and simmer, covered, for approx. 20 minutes.
- 5. Remove from the heat, allow to cook slightly then stir in a Rafferty’s Garden Sweet Potato, Carrot and Apple + nothing else pouch.
- 6. Puree with a hand blender and serve. For an older bub don’t puree until smooth.
- 7. Freeze baby food in ice trays and thaw before serving.
- For a flavour variation, use green lentils instead of red lentils, and replace the Rafferty’s Garden Sweet Potato, Carrot and Apple + nothing else pouch with a Rafferty’s Garden Spinach, Apple, Brocolli and Pea + nothing else pouch.
Freeze in ice-cube containers for convenience.
For more easy and nutritious baby and toddler meals, check out the Rafferty’s Garden Recipe Hub for more recipes.
* This post was in collaboration with Rafferty’s Garden