Feeding Baby Lentils, Legumes and Dried Beans for Baby Food - Delicious and Tasty Recipes for Your Baby

Lentils, Legumes and Dried Beans in Baby Food Recipes -

When Can Baby Have Lentils, Legumes and Dried Beans?

Age for Introducing Lentils, Legumes and Dried Beans 8-10 months

 

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The Goodness of Lentils and Dried Beans

 

Lentils may be small but they sure do pack a lot of nutritional whallops. Like other "dried beans" lentils are in the legume family.

 

Lentils are high in fiber and thus great for bowel regularity amongst the other benefits of a high fiber food. Lentils contain high of six minerals as well as B-vitamins, and protein.

 

 

 

Visit our Lentil Baby Food Recipes page - more Lentil Information & Recipes

 

When can I introduce Lentils, Legumes and Dried Beans to my baby?

 

Lentils and dried beans/legumes are typically recommended for introduction into a baby's diet between 8-10 months old. Considered a high protein food, a young tummy may not be able to properly digest lentils and other legumes such as kidney beans or navy beans. Lentils and other legumes are often the source and cause of gassiness.

 

With this being said, many parents make lentils a part of baby's diet between 6-8 months of age. These legumes and bean rank very low on the list of foods that prompt allergic reactions. As always, we recommend that you thoroughly discuss any feeding issues with your pediatrician as generalities may not apply to your child.

 

Types of Lentils, Legumes and Dried Beans to use for Homemade Baby Food

 

Lentils and dried beans/legumes come in many shapes, sizes and colors. Here are a few:

Red Lentils (Masoor Dal)
Orange Lentils
Yellow Lentils (Moong Dal, Mung Bean - our favorite.)
Kidney Beans
Black Eyed Peas
Chick Peas
Northern Bean
Butter Beans (A VERY yummy finger food, you may need to slip off the "skin" after cooking.)

 

How to Cook and Soak Legumes and Dried Beans

 

No matter what type of dried bean you are preparing, the cooking instructions are the same. While soaking the beans overnight is not an absolute must (and we often forget to do this.), soaking beans will reduce the length time that you have to cook them for.

 

Prior to soaking and cooking, be sure to wash and pick through the beans. To soak the beans, measure the amount of beans you will be using and add them to a lidded jar or plastic container. Pour water (warm or cold) over the beans so that they are completely covered. Close the container and go about your activities. Come back in 6 to 8 hours and your beans are ready to cook.

 

To cook dried beans, use 3 cups of water per 1 cup of beans that have been soaked. If the beans have not been soaked, use 4-5 cups of water. Bring beans and water to a boil in a pot, cover and simmer until the beans are tender. Be sure to check on the water level and never let the water level get below the beans. The beans are done when they are easily squished between your thumb an finger, using very light pressure.

 

A Few Lentil and Dried Bean Baby Food Recipes:

 

Lentils or Dried Beans- Basic Preparation Method

Lentils do not need to be presoaked like some legumes do though many people find that soaking them for at least 1 hour helps to make them more tender and "meltable". Most people also soak dried beans prior to cooking.

 

You should spread out the lentils or dried beans and check for, and remove, stones or other debris. This recommendation applies to both packaged as well as bulk. After you have inspected the lentils or dried beans, place them in a strainer, and rinse them thoroughly under cool running water.

 

1. Add 3 cups of water to a pot
2. Add 1 cup of lentils or beans
3. Turn heat down to simmer and cover the pot.

Green lentils usually take 30 minutes to cook, while red lentils tend to cook up faster, about 20 minutes.
4. Cook longer for a more mushy lentil (like dahl) and shorter for more firm lentils (for adding to rice dishes and salads etc.
5. Watch the pot for the texture you wish to have for baby food - add more water as needed.

 

Dal Recipe(s) from our visitors
Tulika's Dal

With regards to your question about making the perfect Dal..I have a small steam cooker that I use to make dal for my daughter.

If you don't have a cooker, you can use a crock pot also (I have a small crock pot). I flavor the dal with a small amount of turmeric and a tiny amount of salt. My daughter LOVES it.

I also add a small amount of rice to it also for added texture and flavor. before feeding it to her I make sure its mashed up nicely. cooking dal in a cooker/crock pot will melt the dal nicely so that there is no choking danger.

 

Lentils with Chicken & Apples

 

Prepare Lentils according to package directions or as shown above.  Be sure to clean and sort the Lentils to ensure that "garden bits" such as small pebbles are not present.

Add small cubes or dices of cooked chicken and cooked apple chunks.

 

You can add 1/2 apple (cored and diced into tiny bits) to the lentils as they are cooking if you wish.

Alternatively, you can mix in some 100% Natural Applesauce to the Chicken and Lentil mix should you not wish to steam or cook the apples.

 

Blend the mix as needed to create a texture acceptable for your baby.

 

 

Black Bean & Sweet Potato Hash

1 large onion, chopped
3 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
1 sweet red pepper, chopped (optional)
4 cups peeled, cubed sweet potatoes (1/2 inch cubes)
2 15-ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed or 4 cups dried black beans that have been cooked
Pepper

In large skillet, saute onion and thyme in oil until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Add red pepper and sweet potatoes; saute until potatoes begin to soften, about 8 minutes. Stir in beans and cook until potatoes are tender, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with pepper. Serve with Baby Omlettes or as a great finger food "meal" full of protein and Iron. Recipe Adapted from the American Dry Bean Board

 

 

Split Pea Soup with Treasures

 

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 white onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, pressed
4 small red potatoes, diced
1 cup peeled, diced carrots
1 pound dry green split peas
4 cups vegetable broth (no salt - or make your own.)
1 (16 ounce) package soft tofu (optional)
1 (6 ounce) bag fresh spinach, finely chopped (optional for babies 10 months+)
1 tablespoon dried basil or thyme
pepper to taste

 

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, and saute the onion and garlic until tender.
In a large pot, mix the onion mixture, potatoes, carrots, and split peas. Pour in the vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 1 hour.
In a blender or food processor, blend the tofu and spinach until creamy, and mix into the pot. Season with basil, and pepper. Continue cooking 1 hour. If the soup becomes too thick, add water as needed.

 

 

Baby's Chili

 

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 stalks of celery, finely chopped
2 cups vegetable broth (no salt - or make your own.)

1 cup cooked kidney beans
1/2 cup ground turkey or beef - cooked

pinch of pepper, garlic powder, turmeric

 

Saute the onion and celery in the olive oil until tender.
In a large pot, mix the onions and celery, broth and cooked kidney beans.

Bring to a boil, add the meat and then reduce heat to low.

Simmer 1 hour.

Serve as is or mash/puree if your baby is not accustomed to chunks and texture. Use a potato masher for babies who enjoy texture.

Foods Good to Mix With Lentils & Legumes:

 

Apples
Peaches
Grapes
Green Beans
Dried Beans
White Potato
Sweet Potato
Peas
Summer Squash - zucchini or yellow/crooked necked
Winter Squash - butternut, acorn etc.
Brown Rice
Lentils
Chicken
Beef
Pork
Tofu

 

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