This recipe is perfect for babies and toddlers learning to feed themselves with a spoon. It's packed full of flavor and texture so it's a great way to explore new foods.
Lentil Stew - 10 Months+
Ingredients:
1 cup dry Lentils, rinsed.
1 large Sweet Potato
2 Apples (we use gala or fuji)
½ cup of organic low sodium Chicken Stock (vegetable stock can be substituted)
1 tsp ground Sage
1 tsp Cumin
Fresh Herbs (optional)
Wash sweet potato and poke a few hole in the top with a fork. Bake the potato on a baking sheet for about 45-50 minutes at 350°F. Allow the potato to cool then cut open and scoop out the sweet potato from the skin, set aside. Rinse the the lentils well in cool water. Cook the lentils on the stove according to package, strain and set aside (This will take about 20-30 minutes). Lentils should be tender. Clean, core and slice the apples leaving the skins on during steaming (this helps lock in the nutrients during steaming). Steam the apples in either a steaming basket on the stove or in a baby-food maker. Use about 2 inches of water and steam for about 10-15 minutes. Let the apples cool till almost room temperature then remove the skins. This should be fairly easy to do with your fingers or a spoon. Puree the apples until a chunky consistency is reached. Add in the cooked lentils, sweet potato, chicken stock, spices and herbs to the food processor and puree everything all together till the desired consistency is reached. Serve warm. This recipe will keep up to 3 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer.
Some of the Awesome Health Benefits:
-Apples are a wonderful first food for your baby. They are rich in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, Folate, potassium and calcium and very easy to digest.
-Sweet potatoes are high in Vitamin A and beta carotene as well as potassium. They also contain a good amount of Vitamin E, calcium and folate.
-Lentils are a healthy baby food as they contain Iron, Protein, and are high in Fiber. Lentils also contain a myriad of minerals as well as B Vitamins. This tiny little legume will offer your growing baby a lot of nutrients.