Babies slow cooked beef + borlotti beans

Written By Christina Hills
Baby's beef and borlotti beans

This is a great meal to batch cook and share with babies and toddlers of any age. The sauce can also be blended and makes a great nutritious pasta sauce for fussy toddlers and kiddos - packed with iron and protein from the beef and beans, and full of veggies and gut-loving fibre. See the tips below for how to serve for all ages.

YOU NEED

  • 500g beef mince (I used 12% fat)

  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

  • 2 carrots, finely chopped in a mini chopper

  • 2 brown onions, finely chopped in a mini chopper

  • 2 red peppers, finely chopped in a mini chopper

  • 2 strips of celery, finely chopped in a mini chopper

  • 2 large (or 3-4 smaller) cloves of garlic, finely chopped or grated 

  • 1 tablespoon of paprika

  • 2 x 400g cans of borlotti beans (or equivalent home soaked and cooked)

  • 500g smooth passata (or finely chopped tomatoes)

  • Handful of curly leave parsley (or flatleaf), finely chopped

TO MAKE

  1. Heat a large glug of olive oil on a medium high heat in a large pan with a lid, add the mince and season with black pepper and the cinnamon, use a spatula to break up the mince

  2. Then add the finely chopped carrots, onion, pepper, celery and garlic. Leave to cook for 5-10 mins on a medium heat, stirring every now and then

  3. Then add the paprika and passata, stir then add the beans. Bring to a low boil, then turn the heat right down place the lid on and simmer for 30 mins. 

  4. Remove a few ladles full and place in a blender and whizz until smooth (option to offer this as a puree to baby)

  5. Return the blended sauce to the pan and cook uncovered for 10-15 mins until the sauce is thick and glossy. Add the chopped parsley and serve over your pasta of choice

This can also be served on top of a roasted sweet potato, or with some rice. You can also freeze this dish in blocks and defrost as needed

HOW TO SERVE BEEF + BORLOTTI BEANS FOR BABIES

  • 6-9 months: offer the dish blended as a puree (see step 4) 

  • 9-12 months: offer the dish as it is, but mash with a potato masher to flatten the beans a little, serve with sweet potato/rice/pasta

  • 12 months+ offer the dish as is 

Christina Hills
Next

Baby friendly gravy