Looking for quick, nutritious meals that your little one will LOVE? These three simple bub-friendly recipes are the perfect bite-sized snacks your little human with love - they're GREAT for messy little hands!
1. Oatmeal Cups
These banana-oatmeal cups are a winner for breakfast, lunchboxes or snack time. They’re soft, naturally sweet, and just the right size for tiny hands.
You’ll need:
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup plant based milk
- 1 banana
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tbsp unsweetened apple sauce
- 1/4 coconut oil
- 2 tbsp natural peanut butter
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
To make:
- Preheat oven to 180c. Prepare a mini cupcake or regular cupcake tray.
- Place all ingredients into a food processor or blender and blitz until a thick batter forms.
- Pour batter into prepared cupcake tray. Option to top with either blueberries or sliced strawberries (or both).
- Bake for 20-25 mins or until top is golden brown.
Use cooling rack before serving.
2. Chickpea Bites
These protein-packed bites are perfect for BLW and little grazers. They’re soft, and easy to hold.
You’ll need:
- 1 can chickpeas
- 1/2 red onion
- 2 tbsp rice flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp minced ginger
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp ground paprika
To make:
- Drain and thoroughly rinse chickpeas. Place in a large bowl and mash taking care to ensure no whole chickpeas remain.
- Add all other ingredients and mix well to combine.
- Mixture should be able to be pressed into balls but should not be sticky.
- Scoop desired portion and form into small "bites".
- Preheat pan over medium heat. Grease with oil of choice. Carefully place bites onto pan and fry until golden and crispy. Flip and repeat on the other side.
- The longer they cook for, the less delicate they will be to handle once cooked.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool before serving.
TIPS: Alternatively to steps 1 & 2, you can add all ingredients to a food processor and pulse until the mixture forms. Take care not to over blend. You can also refrigerate the formed balls for 30+ mins to make them easier to cook, although ours were fine without doing this step.
3. Veggie-Packed Sausage Rolls
A twist on the classic, these rolls are loaded with hidden veggies and perfect for lunch, dinner, or party platters.
You’ll need:
- 500g minced beef
- 2 carrots (finely diced or grated)
- 1 zucchini (finely diced or grated)
- 1/2 onion (finely diced)
- 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 sheets Woolworths brand puff pastry (this one is soy free)
- 1 extra egg for egg wash
To make:
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F) and line a baking tray.
- In a large bowl, combine the minced meat, finely diced or grated carrots, zucchini, onion, breadcrumbs, 2 eggs, chopped parsley, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix well until everything is evenly incorporated.
- Lay out the puff pastry sheets on a clean surface and cut each sheet in half lengthwise.
- Place the meat mixture into a long sausage shape along the length of each pastry strip.
- Roll the pastry over the meat mixture, sealing the edges with a bit of water.
- Cut each long roll into smaller sausage rolls, about 5-6 cm in length, and place them seam side down on the prepared baking tray.
- Beat the extra egg in a small bowl and brush the tops of the sausage rolls with the egg wash.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and the meat is cooked through.
- Allow the sausage rolls to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!
Recipes c/o: @tumsandcrumbs
