So about a month has passed since your little one started with solids. You have identified what you baby loves (and hates) and have tried many puree recipes? YASS! Your baby (and you) are ready for the next stage 😍
What is a Stage-2 puree?
A Stage-2 puree is made with more than one ingredient, and you can also start to introduce spices and herbs (but not salt and sugar ya!) to give your baby exposure to new flavours. It is also thicker and more textured than the watery, single ingredient Stage-1 purees.
Here are three recipes for you to try:
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Rice, chicken, pumpkin and ginger porridge.
Now who doesn’t love chicken? It’s flavourful, packed with protein and nutritious. When combined with the sweetness of pumpkin and the lovely smell of ginger, your baby will love this meal.
Ingredients:
- Rice, washed and strained
- Chicken breast, diced
- Pumpkin, diced
- Ginger, peeled
- Water
How to make:
Boil the rice and water until it is sufficiently soft. When it is almost done, add in chicken, pumpkin and ginger. Add water if necessary (stir well to make sure your porridge doesn’t burn.) When the chicken and pumpkin are nice and soft, turn off the heat, take out the ginger from the porridge and let it cool. Using a food processor/blender, blend into a puree - the blended chicken will create a perfect textured meal for your baby.
2. Chicken curry
Yes, you didn’t read it wrong. Curry is one of Malaysia’s favourite, and it is not too early to introduce this tasty and flavourful spice to your little one. Because curry powder also contains ground chillies, this recipe is made with a tiny pinch of mild curry powder just for the taste.
Ingredients:
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Chicken breast or deboned thigh, diced
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Potatoes, peeled and diced
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Carrots, peeled and diced
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A tiny pinch of mild curry powder
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Some water for blending
How to make:
You can either pack the ingredients in a tin foil and then roast in the oven, or steam all the ingredients together. Once the chicken is well-cooked and the potatoes and carrots are soft, use a food processor or blender to blend into a textured puree. You can also add a little bit of coconut milk into the recipe for that creamier texture. Another option is to boil the ingredients together with your plain rice porridge.
3. Tomato and Chicken Pasta
Tomato is a natural flavour enhancer, and your baby will love its sweet and sour taste. It is also packed with vitamins and minerals: Vitamin A, C and K, potassium and folate - and great for your baby’s eyesight and immune system. This recipe also contains cheese, basil and a little bit of garlic for a flavourful meal.
Ingredients:
- Pasta (you can also find baby pasta in stores)
- Chicken breast or deboned thigh, diced
- Tomatoes, chopped
- Carrots, peeled and diced
- A little bit of grated cheddar cheese,
- One garlic, finely chopped (or garlic powder)
- Some fresh basil leaves
- A drizzle of olive oil
- Some water for blending
How to make:
Boil the pasta until soft. Strain and put aside. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil in a pan and toss in the chicken, garlic, tomato and carrots. Add in some water. When the carrot is soft, sprinkle in the cheese and basil leaves. Turn off the heat when all ingredients are well-cooked. Combine the pasta and the pasta sauce in the food processor, and blend into a puree (adding more liquid if necessary).
So there you are. Three scrumptious, flavourful stage-2 baby meals that your little one will love. Do give these a try and let us know how it turns out in the comments section.