Easy Chickpea Pasta Sauce For Baby and Toddler
Table of Contents
Is Chickpea Pasta ok For Babies
Did you know you can buy chickpea pasta? Chickpea pasta can be an excellent option for babies, particularly for those who are beginning their journey with baby-led weaning. A great toddler recipe too.
Try using chickpea pasta with this chickpea pasta sauce for baby for a delicious gluten free pasta recipe.
It is a good source of protein and fibre, and its texture makes it easy for little hands to grasp.
However, it is important to ensure that the pasta is cooked until soft to prevent choking hazards.
As with any new food, it is advisable to introduce chickpea pasta gradually and monitor for any potential allergies, especially since legumes can occasionally cause sensitivities in some infants.
Always consult with a healthcare provider if you have concerns about your baby's diet or introducing new foods.
Can Babies Have Pasta Sauce
Babies can indeed have pasta sauce, but it’s important to choose or prepare sauces that are suitable for their age and development stage.
When starting with the best pasta sauce, opt for options that are low in salt and free from added sugars or artificial ingredients.
Homemade sauces made from blended tomatoes, veggies, and mild herbs can be a great introduction to new flavours, while ensuring they are gentle on a baby's digestive system.
Always check for allergy triggers and start with small amounts to observe any reactions.
Pasta itself is also a great finger food for babies, making it a yummy meal for baby and the whole family that encourages self-feeding through baby-led weaning.
Ingredient list
Chickpeas - These are a great cupboard staple, plus they are great for nutrition and such a versatile ingredient, from curries to dips they are a great inexpensive ingredient to have in the store cupboard. You could use any white beans instead if you did not have chickpeas.
Garlic - I have used garlic granules but you can use 1 garlic clove instead if you prefer.
Tomato puree - I have used a touch of tomato puree to add flavour to the sauce and tomato puree is a great way to do this. You could use a little homemade tomato sauce if you have made any for the freezer. Fresh tomatoes such as cherry tomatoes would be great too as a fresh veggie option.
Spring onions - I have used spring onions as these are great to use not only in salads but in hot recipes too. You can use a small red onion instead or a couple of shallots.
Basil - I have used dried basil but you can use fresh herbs such as fresh basil if you have it, the more the merrier.
Oregano - This dried herb is a great staple to have in the cupboard. I use oregano in many of my savoury recipes, we love it. Italian seasoning is also another great dried herb to have as pantry staples.
Serving suggestion
The veggie pasta would be great served with tender stem broccoli or sweetcorn or peas. You could also mix these veggies in the pasta too to add the nutrition mixed with the sauce.
Other recipes you may like: Spaghetti bolognaise, Lentil pasta, 2 ingredient pasta recipe or Creamy chicken pasta.
Storage instructions
The vegetarian pasta sauce can be stored in the fridge for future meals for up to 3 days, stored in an airtight container, or you could use a container with plastic wrap to cover the pasta.
If you wanted to freeze the vegan creamy chickpea pasta and the sauce together, you will need to store in an airtight container.
Make sure the baby pasta recipe has cooled to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container to the freezer.
To defrost the pasta leave in the fridge overnight, and make sure it has fully defrosted.
To reheat the easy pasta recipe, transfer to a preheated oven on 180C or 350F and reheat on a medium-high heat.
Once the pasta has been defrosted and reheated you will not be able to re-freeze.
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.
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.
Ice cube tray - I found that these large ice cube silicone moulds were ideal for freezing individual baby portions.
Recipe | Easy Chickpea Pasta Sauce For Baby and Toddler
Easy Chickpea Pasta Sauce For Baby and Toddler
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start by adding all the ingredients apart from the pasta into a food processor or Nutri bullet. Blitz the mixture until smooth. This is your chickpea sauce.
- Cook pasta of choice in a large pot, check the cooking time on the pasta packet. You can add in a tablespoon of olive oil and a vegetable stock cube (zero salt) in the hot water for flavour and to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
- You can now portion the creamy sauce into large ice cube trays to store in the freezer or portion and use some of the sauce right away.
- To cook the sauce you will just need to heat for 10 minutes on a medium heat and stir through your pasta of choice.
Notes
I have used a spiral pasta but you can use any type of pasta suitable from 6 months of age such as an orzo pasta or penne pasta shape.
Gluten-free pasta can also be used for this recipe too. You can buy beetroot pasta or lentil pasta which are all gluten-free.
Why not try adding baby spinach to the pasta water for an added iron source and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese.
Hope you and the rest of the family enjoy!
©The Petit Spoon
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An easy throw-it-all-in slow cooker chicken spaghetti recipe that is tasty and also convenient for those week night dinners for baby and the whole family.