According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies can start eating chicken during weaning, which is when they are ready to move from breastfeeding to solid food (usually around 4-6 months). Chicken baby food is not only creamy and easy for babies to eat, it is also a great source of essential vitamins and minerals, such as iron and zinc. To prepare it, you will first need to cook the chicken, then mix it with water or broth in a blender or food processor. You can make it even tastier and more nutritious by adding spices, juices or the fruit and vegetables your baby prefers.
Ingrediants
- 1-2 cooked, boneless and skinless chicken thighs
- 4-6 tablespoons (60-90 ml) of water, meat broth or vegetable broth
- 1 pinch of mild-flavored herbs or spices, such as garlic powder, rosemary, or parsley (optional)
- 45 g steamed fruit or vegetables (optional)
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Cook the Chicken
Step 1. Choose dark-fleshed chicken, as it has a high iron content
Breastfed babies can reap several benefits by consuming foods rich in iron and zinc. Although white meat chicken is leaner, dark meat is preferable for a child, as it is richer in iron and antioxidants. Therefore, opt for dark meat and prefer a cut such as the thigh (upper thigh and melted).
- Since powdered milk is generally fortified with iron and other essential micronutrients, it is not as important for children who consume it to get additional iron from dark meat. Consult with your child's pediatrician to determine whether it is preferable to use dark or white meat.
- The thigh is also higher in fat than chicken breast, which makes it tastier and easier to blend into a puree.
- You will need 1 or 2 cooked chicken legs of about 65g. A single 170g boneless and skinned thigh will give you about 85g of meat, but you will need more chicken if you are using small thighs.
Step 2. Remove the bones and skin from the chicken
If possible, buy it already boned and skinless. If you can't find it, clean it.
Chicken skin cannot be blended or passed properly. If you leave it, you risk ending up with solid bits in the baby food, which could choke the baby
Step 3. Cut the meat into small pieces
Before cooking the chicken, use a sharp knife to cut it into cubes. Place it on a cutting board to slice it into strips about 1.5 cm wide. Then, cut the strips horizontally to make cubes.
- Place the chicken in the freezer for 15 minutes before the procedure, making it easier for you to cut it.
- Always use sharp knives with caution. When holding the chicken still, bend your fingers slightly towards the palm of your hand to avoid accidentally cutting yourself.
Step 4. Cover the chicken with water or stock in a saucepan
Place the diced chicken in a saucepan and pour enough water to cover it completely. The broth will enrich the taste of the meat, but consider that by cooking the chicken alone you will still get a soupy liquid.
Advise:
if you prefer, you can roast the chicken or cook it using a slow cooker rather than boiling it. In the case of roasted chicken, keep in mind that you may need to add more liquid to get a perfectly smooth baby food.
Step 5. Bring the liquid contained in the saucepan to a boil
Put the pot on the stove and set the heat to medium-high. Cover the saucepan and wait for the liquid to boil.
Waiting times depend on the amount of liquid in the saucepan. Check the pot often so you don't lose track of time and risk overcooking the chicken
Step 6. Lower the heat and allow the chicken to simmer for 15-20 minutes
Once the liquid has come to a boil, turn the heat down to low. Put the lid on the saucepan and let it simmer until the chicken is no longer pink inside. Also, when you cut it, a clear liquid should come out. Allow about 15-20 minutes.
Try not to overcook the chicken, or it will become tough and chewy
Part 2 of 3: Making a Simple Chicken Baby Food
Step 1. Set aside 4-6 tablespoons (60-90 ml) of the cooking broth
To get a smooth and uniform homogenate, you will need to add some liquid. Save some of the broth so you can pour it into the blender or food processor jug before blending the chicken.
The broth from cooking will flavor the chicken and help partially recover the nutrients lost during boiling
Advise:
if your child has never eaten chicken, the cooking water may make it too flavorful. If you don't like the taste, try blending it with water or vegetable broth instead.
Step 2. Place 65g of cooked chicken in a blender or a kitchen robot.
Take the cooked chicken cut into cubes and place it in the mixing bowl of the food processor or blender. If you have just cooked it, let it cool for a few minutes first.
- Wait until the chicken is cold enough to handle without difficulty.
- Be sure to whip up the blender or food processor before putting the chicken in the mixing bowl.
Step 3. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons (30-45ml) of liquid
Before you start blending the chicken, pour a couple of spoonfuls of broth into the mixing bowl. You will be able to moisten the meat and make sure that the baby food becomes smooth and uniform.
Do not pour all the liquid in one go. You don't necessarily need everything. Also, adding too much can make the consistency of the baby food watery
Step 4. Put the lid on the blender or food processor
Do not press any buttons until you have secured the lid tightly, otherwise you risk making a mess!
Some food processors have a tube that allows you to add other ingredients during preparation. If yours does not have this device, you will need to turn off the appliance and open it to add more liquid or other ingredients
Step 5. Press the "pulse" button until the chicken has been blended coarsely
Instead of using the smoothie or puree program, press the "pulse" button several times in order to shred the meat.
Using the "pulse" function helps to blend the chicken evenly
Step 6. Blend the chicken until smooth and homogeneous
Use the smoothie or puree program to work the chicken and stock until a smooth, even consistency is achieved. Check it occasionally to see if it has reached the right consistency, making sure it is neither grainy nor uneven.
This process should take a few minutes, but the time it takes may vary depending on your blender or food processor
Step 7. If necessary, gradually add the remaining liquid
If the liquid is not sufficient, the baby food may appear dry and grainy. If you think it needs more liquid, gradually incorporate small amounts of broth or water until you get the desired consistency.
- Avoid adding too much liquid, otherwise the baby food will become watery.
- If the baby food becomes too watery, you can thicken it by adding some chicken.
Part 3 of 3: Add More Flavors to the Chicken
Step 1. Replace the cooking water or broth with a vegetable broth to get a different taste
If your child doesn't like the taste of chicken baby food, using another liquid can help disguise or improve the taste. Try using vegetable broth; you could also try adding apple or white grape juice instead of broth or water, or mix juice and broth.
To prevent your child from consuming excessive amounts of sugar, use pure, sweetener-free juice
Step 2. Add some mild flavored herbs or spices to make it tastier
You may not feel like giving your child spice, but experimenting with various flavors and textures will help him develop an inquisitive palate. By choosing a mild seasoning, such as black pepper, garlic powder, basil, or rosemary, and adding a pinch to the baby food, you will improve the taste.
- Use a small amount of seasoning initially to get your baby used to the new flavor.
- Try to give it a try only once your child gets used to the taste of the chicken baby food; Also, experiment with only one seasoning at a time, because if your child turns out to be allergic to a food or seasoning, it will be easier to figure out which ingredients to avoid in the future.
Advice:
in the kitchen you can use fresh or dried herbs. If you use fresh ones, be sure to blend the leaves, so you don't risk your child choking on the larger bits.
Step 3. Incorporate the fruit or vegetable your child prefers to enrich the nutritional value of the baby food
You can make it even tastier and more nutritious by mixing chicken with different types of fruits and vegetables. Before blending, cut it into cubes and cook until soft.
- Steam fruits and vegetables instead of boiling to improve their flavor and preserve more nutrients.
- Place about 45g of cooked fruit or vegetables in the blender bowl along with the chicken.
- Try mixing the chicken with apples, pears, carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, or spinach.
- Experiment with only one new ingredient at a time to make it easier to identify any baby allergies.
