Pilaf or Pulao, a traditional rice dish cooked with either vegetables, meat or both in one pot.
- SuperFoods included: olive oil, onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, lemon, yogurt, cauliflower, peas
- SuperSpices included: cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, cumin
Protein-rich meal packed with rice, a starchy food necessary to provide your little one with energy to crawl, walk and play. Also contains the mineral selenium (found in chicken), believed to be anti-cancer and regulates hormones released by the thyroid gland, essential for weight control.
Total preparation and cooking time: 25mins Makes 5-6 servings
Suitable for freezing
Ingredients
- 1½ tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion – peeled, chopped
- 1 whole cardamom pod – black
- 1 whole clove
- 1 small cinnamon stick
- 1 tomato – washed, chopped
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 1 tsp of minced garlic
- Squeeze of ½ a lemon – ensuring no seeds fall in
- 2 tbsp plain unsweetened yogurt
- 1 chicken breast fillet (skinless) – washed, cut into 1cm cubes
- 100g (3½oz) white basmati rice – washed, drained
- 60g (2½oz) cauliflower florets – washed, chopped (no stems)
- 40g (1½oz) peas – frozen, washed
- 250ml (8fl oz) of water
Method
- Heat the oil in a pot and add the onion, cardamom, clove, and cinnamon. Stir-fry on medium-low heat for 8-10mins until the onion crisps up and turns brown.
- Turn to low heat and add the tomato, black pepper, cumin seeds, ginger, garlic, lemon juice and yogurt gradually a little at a time, stirring in between to avoid curdling. Stir-fry for 2-3mins.
- Add the chicken, stir and cook (covered) on low heat for 5mins.
- Add the rice, cauliflower and peas to the pot, pour in the water, stir and bring to the boil. Simmer (covered) on low heat for 10-15mins until the rice is tender and all the water has been absorbed. The rice should look a little moist when it’s done. Stir and set aside (covered) for 5-10mins.
IMPORTANT: Remove the cardamom pod, clove, and cinnamon stick before serving to baby.
Serve to baby warm on its own as a complete meal.
Recipe from Indian SuperMeals: Baby & Toddler Cookbook
Available to buy now from Waterstones.com and Autharium.com
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The below disclaimer will need to be placed at the bottom of each page with a recipe on.
NB: As with new foods, when introducing a new spice into a baby’s diet, the four day rule should be adhered to, to ensure no allergic reactions. In the unlikely event of an allergic reaction, seek medical attention immediately.
