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Lentil Bolognaise for Baby





Another in my baby recipe series. Lentil bolognaise for baby (or toddler).

Now that Christmas is over, it is back to normality and time to top up the freezer with meals for Cooper. I decided to share this one as it is one of his favourite pasta meals and I can never resisit a wee taste either.


Lentil Bolognaise for Baby

1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 onion, finely chooped
1 courgette, freshly chopped
1 x 400g tin green lentils
1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
4 tbsp tomato puree
1 cup baby vegetable stock
1 tbsp dried parsley
1 handful fresh basil leaves, finely chopped

1 cup baby shell pasta
more water if required


Saute the onion and garlic in the olive oil until soft.

Add the carrots and courgette and cook gently until these too have started to soften.

Add the drained lentils, the tomatoes and tomato puree and stir well.

Add the vegetable stock and herbs. Bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook gently for 15 minutes.

Add the pasta and cook for another 10 minutes, adding more water if you think it needs it.

Makes 10 potions for a hungry 10-12 month old baby. (One for dinner, one for the fridge and 8 for the freezer, once cooled and labelled. A great time saver.)

Suitable from 9 months to adult.

If your baby or toddler doesn't like a such a chunky sauce, puree the sauce before adding the pasta. Serve with some grated cheddar cheese or a vegan alternative.


                                                                            
   related - Leftover Bolognaise Quesadillas   
                                                                            

17 comments

  1. Jacquie, I as an adult would love to try this dish out...the lentils would be really filling. Good recipe!

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  2. Hey, Jac, what's baby vegetable stock? I'm assuming it's not veg stock made of immature veg? ;) I'm guessing it's made up of "safe" vegetables, but I didn't realize any weren't good for babies...? I thought at first it was that you don't use heavy aromatics like onions and garlic, but those are your first two ingredients, so -- ?

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  3. So healthy for your little bubba. Although, I think it would please anyone! Delicious.

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  4. It is indeed tasty Peter :)

    Hey Tanita, Heinz do organic stock cubes for babies. The main difference is they are very low in salt, which is bad for babies.

    Thanks Brittany :)

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  5. I am in total agreement, as an 'adult' I owuld happily eat a bowl of this! Copper is a very lucky boy. Hope you all had a great Christmas and that Santa was kind ;0)

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  6. Santa spoiled us completely. We had a great time thank you Chele, hope you had a good christmas too!

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  7. I just know that little Cooper is going to grow up to be a great cook. He is developing a gourmet palate at a very young age. :D

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  8. looks very healthy - that is amazing you can buy baby veg stock - never heard of this but must check supermarket again - although sylvia now eats more salt - loves her promite and vegemite - happy christmas - am sure it was an exciting one with cooper!

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  9. Well, actually Andrea, I had him helping me stir when I was making a tomato sauce for him and then on Christmas Day he got a set of pans and was stirring one of the pots with a spoon, just like I showed him, then tasting. So he is definitely interested.

    Hi Johanna, it is sold here in the baby section, but are called Heinz Organic Vegetable Stock Cubes, it is only when you read the small print you see they are suitable for babies from 4-6 months onward and that they are very low in salt, with all the other nasties taken out too. So they may be available in the organic section or alongside the other stock cubes.

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  10. Jacqueline,
    I have to agree with Peter, I too would be happy to tuck into this. Do you think Cooper would mind sharing? :)

    Happy New Year to you and your beautiful little family xx

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  11. This looks lovely Jacqueline! Love the color. Happy 2011 to you!
    Shall post you the details of my first and latest event on Lite Bite.

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  12. Happy Birthday to Cooper! That dish sounds wonderful and I know I would enjoy it too. Give your little guy a big hug from me.

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  13. Jac, I'm really loving your new baby recipes series.
    The happiest and healthiest little ones we know eat meals like this. Sadly we also know some very picky ones who'd happily live off bread products and cheese and never go near a fresh vegetable!

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  14. That's what I was going to ask. Why not for adults too? :)
    Best wishes for a happy, prosperous and peaceful new year.

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  15. I like the novelty of "lentil bolognese" along with the baby decor - it's so CUTE!

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  16. Lentil bolognese is one of my favorites. I quite like it on top of a baked potato! Quick recommendation - add a bay leaf to the oil while you're sauteing the onion and garlic. Gives things a little oomph. Not sure if mushrooms are baby-friendly but they're also great with this (add a bunch of sliced mushrooms after the onion and garlic).

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  17. Delicious! My baby loves this recipe. Weaning is opening up a new world of experimentation with foods, I'm loving it!

    Thanks for the great baby / toddler recipes.

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I love reading comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one. Unfortunately, I'm bombarded with spam, so I've turned on comment moderation. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can and respond to them. Don't panic, they will disappear when you hit publish. Jac x