Spinach Pancakes For Baby Led Weaning - No Banana
Spinach Pancakes
I really wanted to make green fun! Not only fun but tasty and packed full of goodness!
The pancakes are green in colour because they are made using spinach! I have paired this with some ground ginger. I find that this combination works so well together and so tasty too!
The yogurt I have mixed with Spirulina. This is a protein packed and full of vitamin C, D and vitamin B6. Also including iron and magnesium. I have a pineapple flavoured Spirulina powder that I have mixed with Greek yogurt. This is so tasty I also have this combination as a snack. This also works so well as part of the green machine bento box, as it can be dipped or spread on the pancakes.
I have added kiwi stars, my son particularly likes kiwi so it seemed only right I add this into the bento box, and it’s green!
Finger Foods For Baby-Led Weaning
Regular pancakes make a great finger food option for baby-led weaning due to their soft texture, making them easy for babies to grasp and chew on their own. They are versatile and can be made with various ingredients to cater to different dietary needs, such as using whole wheat flour or incorporating mashed fruits for added nutrition.
Pancakes are also easy to cut into manageable strips, allowing babies to practice their pincer grasp and hand-eye coordination.
Additionally, pancakes can be a fun and interactive food for babies to explore different sizes and shapes, making mealtime an enjoyable experience while encouraging self-feeding skills during this important stage of development.
The Benefits Of Fresh Spinach For Baby Led Weaning
Fresh spinach is a great addition to a baby's diet due to its rich nutrient content. Packed with essential vitamins such as A, C, and K, as well as minerals like iron and calcium, spinach contributes to a baby's healthy growth and development.
The leafy green also contains antioxidants that support a strong immune system. Introducing fresh spinach to babies early on can help develop their taste for nutrient-dense foods and set the stage for a lifetime of healthy eating habits. It can be easily incorporated into purees, soups, pancakes or even mixed into other baby foods to boost the nutritional value of meals.
Can I Use Plant-Based Milk?
Yes, you can definitely use plant-based milk in this pancake recipe as a dairy-free alternative. Popular options include almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, and coconut milk. These plant-based milks not only work well as substitutes for dairy milk in pancakes but also add a unique flavour profile to the dish.
Experimenting with different plant-based milks can give your pancakes a new twist and cater to various dietary preferences. Just ensure to choose unsweetened varieties and a fortified milk if you can.
You will have to give these a go for pancake day or any day of the week, great for a busy morning as they are quick to make and great for small hands!
Even if it’s just the baby pancakes, they will be such a great alternative to the usual pancake, plus they are packed full of nutritional value. As baby recipes go these are a winner, a easy healthy recipe to add to your meal planner!
Ingredient information
Self raising flour - I like to use self raising flour for these easy pancakes as I like the lighter texture and a little rise to the pancakes. You could use oat flour (ground oats) for gluten-free babies. You could use all purpose flour/regular flour if that is all you have.
Cooked baby spinach - You can use frozen or fresh here, I have used frozen as I always have some in my freezer.
Free range egg - If you can use a free range lion stamped egg, that would be great. Especially if you are making this from 6 months.
Whole milk - I am using whole milk at the moment, but you can use your milk of choice.
Ground ginger - I love ground ginger and this spice works so nicely with spinach.
Unsalted butter - I love the buttery taste of pancakes fried in butter. You can use olive oil, avocado oil or coconut oil.
Greek yogurt - Perfect combination with pancakes and a versatile in both sweet and savoury cooking.
Spirulina - The health benefits are incredible with this ingredient. Give it a try!
Kiwi - Packed full of vitamins C, tangy and sweet!
Serving suggestion
The spinach pancake recipe can be served on its own quite perfectly, or if you did want to serve the green pancakes with a fruit that is not green then you absolutely can!
You could even spread the pancakes with peanut butter or a smear of cream cheese.
Other great bento box recipes: Giant cous cous, Mozzarella and tomato or Pesto pasta.
Storage instructions
If you do not need to cook all of the fluffy pancakes at once, you can freeze the leftover batter. You can store this way for up to 3 months in the freezer.
The best way to do this is to portion using medium sized silicone ice cube trays.
This way you can pop them out of the freezer when you need them. You can cook them straight from frozen in the pan, or you can defrost thoroughly and then cook as per cooking instructions.
The rest of the items can be stored for up to 2 days in the fridge.
Equipment Used To Help With This Recipe
Frying pan - I love the non-stick surface of this particular frying pan and it’s suitable for all types of hob.
Airtight container - I love the non-stick surface of this particular frying pan and it’s suitable for all types of hob.
Nutri Bullet - I have found a blender to be an invaluable tool in the preparation of many of my baby led weaning recipes.
Ice cube tray - I found that these large ice cube silicone moulds were ideal for freezing individual baby portions.
Recipe | Spinach Pancakes For Baby Led Weaning - No Banana
Makes 6 medium pancakes
Spinach Pancakes
13 tablespoons self raising flour, sifted
3 tablespoons cooked spinach
1 free range egg
200ml Whole milk
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1-2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Green yogurt
3 tablespoons natural style Greek yogurt
1/4 teaspoon Spirulina
Kiwi stars
1/2 kiwi, cut into stars
Instructions
For the pancakes, add all the ingredients into a food processor or Nutri Bullet (the wet ingredients and the dry ingredients) and blend until combined and smooth.
Take a small frying pan, and heat a tablespoon of butter in the frying pan on highest setting.
Add a tablespoon of batter to the frying pan and cook for 2 minutes each side on a medium heat, until golden brown. Repeat with all the mixture (if not freezing).
These can be rolled or cut into stars or any cutter you have.
Mix the yogurt and Spirulina together and place in a silicone cup.
Chop the kiwi into mini stars and add to the silicone cup.
Add the rolled pancakes and silicone cups to the bento box!
Hope you and your family enjoy!
Recipe notes
If you did want to leave out the spinach and ginger you can but I would highly recommend to try them out, I know first hand what toddlers are like with green food!
Of course, if you wanted to make certain elements of this bento box and serve separate or omit certain items that is absolutely fine!
You could try adding in chia seeds to the blender too if you wanted to, this would be a fun way to add in some extra nutrition. Healthy pancakes for all!
Equally, if your little one has an food allergy such as eggs, you could remove the egg and use “flax egg” which is 1 tablespoon of flaxseed with 1 tablespoon of water, leave for a few minutes to thicken and this can be your egg replacer. A great way not to use an egg at a meal time!
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