Cheesy White Bean Tomato Bake Recipe For Babies
Table of Contents
Vegetarian Bean Bake
Vegetarian bean bake is a great lunch idea for baby-led weaning from 6 months of age, offering nutritious ingredients and a flavourful meal that encourages self-feeding. Rich in protein and fibre, beans help support healthy growth and aid digestion, while a variety of vegetables can introduce essential vitamins and minerals.
The soft texture of a bean bake makes it easy for little hands to grasp, which is a great way of promoting independence and fine motor skills. Additionally, this dish can be easily customised with different herbs and spices, allowing babies to explore new tastes and develop their palate from an early age.
Opting for a vegetarian option also supports a diverse dietary approach, setting a positive foundation for a balanced diet.
Baked Beans For Babies
Baking beans in the oven as a bean bake offers numerous nutritional benefits for babies. Beans are a rich source of protein, essential for growth and development, and they provide a high amount of fibre which supports healthy digestion.
Packed with vitamins such as folate, iron, and magnesium, beans contribute to overall health and help in the formation of red blood cells.
The slow cooking process allows the flavours to meld, making it easier for babies to enjoy a variety of tastes while introducing them to wholesome, plant-based foods. This makes bean bakes not only a nutritious meal option but also a comforting dish that can be easily adapted to suit their developing palates.
Ingredient information
Cannellini beans - A delicious bean that can be swapped our for a haricot bean if needed.
Butter beans - These white beans are great for baby led weaning, the perfect sized finger food that baby can pick up using their little hands.
Passata - I really wanted a smooth tomato sauce which is why I have opted for a passata. You could use a tinned tomatoes with a little water added if you did not have passata. This would also make a great pasta sauce.
Garlic - I have used fresh garlic but you could use garlic powder or garlic granules instead.
Olive oil - I have used a little olive oil, to gently fry the herbs and spices. You could use avocado oil or extra-virgin olive oil as an alternative.
Basil - I have used dried basil, you could use fresh basil, if you are going to do this add the basil (as much as you like) when you add the balsamic vinegar to the sauce.
Oregano - I love adding oregano, mixed herbs or basil to any tomato based sauce, they all work so well together.
Paprika - Adding paprika to a tomato based sauce adds extra flavour which is great for recipes for your baby.
Onion granules - I have used onion granules instead of an onion as I really wanted a smooth sauce that I did not need to blitz in the Nutri bullet. But could use a yellow onion or red onion if you like and blitz in a food processor to achieve the smooth sauce.
Tomato puree - I have added tomato puree as a depth of flavour which is so tasty within this recipe.
Black pepper - I have seasoned with black pepper and not salt which is great for baby-led weaning recipes.
Balsamic Vinegar - I have added balsamic vinegar as an extra shot of flavour in the end. You can leave this out but this adds a tangy flavour which we all love.
Mozzarella - I have used a mozzarella ball, but feel free to use grated mozzarella or a different cheese of choice such as red Leicester or even little bits of ricotta cheese scattered on top.
Cheddar cheese - I have used a mature cheddar cheese for this recipe but you could use a mild or medium grated cheddar cheese.
Serving suggestion
The cheesy white bean tomato bake would be great served with green veggies such as broccoli and green beans or simply with sweetcorn or garden peas.
Why not try serving over baked sweet potatoes serves with roasted red peppers.
This is a great recipe if you wanted to make a pasta bake too, add in 50g of a pasta shape such as orzo or penne pasta.
Other recipes you may enjoy: Baked beans, 5 bean chilli or Hummus.
Storage instructions
The white bean tomato bake can be kept in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. Make sure you leave the beans to cool at room temperature before transferring to the container. Or you can store in airtight containers in the freezer for up to 3 months. Its best to label the freezer bag and airtight container with the item and the date.
To defrost the beans, thaw in the fridge overnight, once fully defrosted, you can reheat the beans.
To reheat the beans, preheat your oven to 180C/350F and reheat for up to 20-25 minutes. You can also re heat on the hob on a medium heat until piping hot.
Once thawed and reheated you will not be able to refreeze and store again.
Equipment used to help with this recipe
Saucepan - So many pan sets out there but I particularly like to use pans with a non-stick surface for ease of cleaning and ones that are suitable for different types of hob surface.
Oven proof dish - The design of this ovenproof dish allows for self-basting and will keep the food moist. It also has a non-stick coating, so is easy to clean!
Airtight container - I much prefer the click-shut lids on these containers compared to others. They are also dishwasher and freezer safe and BPA free, so very suitable for food use.
Recipe | Cheesy White Bean Tomato Bake Recipe For Babies
Cheesy White Bean Tomato Bake Recipe For Babies
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180C or 350F. Set aside a 9x9 inch oven proof dish.
- Start by adding the olive oil to a large pan and add in the tomato paste and the minced garlic and stir, cook for a minute or so and add in the basil, oregano, paprika, onion granules, black pepper and finally the passata.
- Cook for 10 minutes or so on a low heat. Add in the butter beans, cannellini beans and balsamic vinegar, stir and pour into your oven proof dish.
- Scatter the sliced mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the top of the beans and pop into the oven for 20 minutes until the cheese has melted.
- Leave to cook before serving to your baby. You can mash the beans a little bit if you like before serving to your baby.
Notes
Feel free to add fresh tomatoes such as cherry tomatoes to the recipe, this will add more veggies and different textures to the sauce.
A great recipe for older kids, fussy eaters and for the whole family. A delicious recipe that uses simple ingredients for but for maximum flavour.
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