Baby recipes: cauliflowers

Cauliflower is a nutrient-rich vegetable that is very beneficial to Your Child’s brain and immune system.

Recommended recipe:  Cauliflower nuggets
Nuggets are a favorite dish for toddlers. Your Child can enjoy this once the little one has learned how to chew.

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups cauliflower
• 1 cup potato
• 2 medium eggs
• 2 tbsp arrowroot flour or other starchy flour
• 1/3 tsp sea salt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 small onion, diced
• 2-4 tsp cooking oil (for frying)

Recipe

1. Boil or steam cauliflower florets and potatoes until slightly soft, but not too tender. Allow to cool
2. Blend both the cauliflower and potato until they have a rough texture, similar to rice grains. Squeeze the liquid out with a cheesecloth. The dryer the better
3. Mix the eggs, flour, salt, minced garlic, and diced onion in a medium bowl
4. Form and shape the nuggets with your hands
5. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and gently drop the nuggets into it 

For extra flavor, you can add cheese to the nugget mixture. If using an air-fryer, freeze the nuggets first to maintain their shape during frying. Uncooked nuggets can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Why are they good for Your Child?
Cauliflower contains high fiber, folate, antioxidant content, and choline which is essential for Your Child’s brain development. It also provides vitamin C, which is needed for iron absorption and immune support.  

What to consider
Cauliflower should be cooked until it is soft before giving it to your baby, as raw cauliflower can be a choking hazard since it is hard. It is also a good idea to cut the stalks lengthwise.

When can Your Child start eating cauliflowers?
You can serve Your Child cauliflower  as early as the age of 6 months. It is a good source of fiber to help keep  the little one regular.

Cauliflowers recipes

• Puree cauliflower: boil or steam your cauliflower until soft. Then use a blender or food processor to blend until smooth. This puree can be frozen for up to 4 months
• Cauliflower florets: after cooking until soft, rip apart the cauliflower with your hands to make it easier for Your Child to hold. You can store cooked cauliflower in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days
• Quick cooking tips: place cauliflower in a microwave-safe bowl for 3-4 minutes to steam it quickly. After steaming, place the cauliflower in a skillet on the stove. Season with olive or avocado oil and saute over medium-high heat for 5 minutes

How much should Your Child eat?
WHO recommends that infants start receiving complementary foods at 6 months of age in addition to breast milk or formula. Initially, they should receive complementary foods 2–3 times a day between 6–8 months.

The daily calories distribution between milk and solid food are as follows:

Introducing new food
Try to introduce the food when Your Child is hungry, and try to keep it to one ingredient at a time to spot any allergic reactions. Learn more about introduction to solid food here. 

Caution
If you do baby-led-weaning, make sure you know everything about the method, including knowing the difference between gagging and choking, and knowing what to do in case of an emergency.