Easy, Jamaican Chicken Curry - For Baby Led Weaning

Table of Contents

Can My Baby Eat A Curry?

Yes, babies can eat a curry dish! If prepared appropriately, a homemade mild curry can be be the best first foods for blw.

It is recommended to introduce curry to babies around the age of 6-7 months, once they have started trying a variety of solid foods.

Mild curries seasoned with gentle spices like a mild curry powder and turmeric can offer babies a flavourful introduction to new tastes and textures.

As with any new food, it's essential to watch for any signs of allergies or sensitivities when introducing curry to your little one's diet.

This is the best curry chicken to start with if your baby has not had a curry before.

What Is A Jamaican Curry?

A traditional Jamaican curry is popular in Jamaican cuisine, characterised by its rich and aromatic curry sauce typically made with a blend of spices like curry powder, thyme, garlic, onions and coconut milk.

It is often prepared with various proteins such as chicken, goat, or vegetables like potatoes and carrots. You can also make a Jamaican beef curry too, or you can make it vegan by preparing a Jamaican chickpea curry.

When considering introducing Jamaican curry to a baby for baby-led weaning (BLW), it is crucial to be cautious due to the potential spiciness of the dish.

While the ingredients themselves are nutritious, the intense flavours and heat level may not be suitable for a baby's sensitive palate.

In this recipe I only use mild spices so it is a great option for BLW. The recipe for Jamaican curry chicken can be found below under the recipe instructions.

The Benefits Introducing Spices From An Early Age

Introducing mild spices in Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) can offer numerous benefits for a child's future relationship with food.

By gradually exposing infants to gentle flavours and spices during BLW, parents can help develop their taste buds and broaden their palate from an early age.

This exposure can lay a foundation for a more adventurous and varied eater in the long term.

Children who are accustomed to a variety of flavours, including mild spices, during their first foods experience may be more receptive to trying new foods as they grow older.

This early exposure can also help prevent picky eating habits and encourage a healthier attitude towards food,

ultimately promoting a balanced and diverse diet as they progress through childhood and into adulthood.

The Benefits of Chicken For Babies

When it comes to Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) diets, incorporating chicken can offer numerous benefits for babies.

Chicken is a fantastic source of protein which is essential for growth and development in babies. Protein plays a crucial role in building and repairing tissues, as well as supporting a healthy immune system.

Introducing chicken early on in a BLW diet can help babies get accustomed to different textures and flavours, expanding their palate and encouraging them to explore a variety of foods.

Additionally, chicken is a versatile protein that can be prepared in different ways to suit your baby's preferences.

Always ensure that the chicken is cooked thoroughly and cut into appropriate sizes to prevent choking hazards.

Ingredient information

Chicken - You could use chicken breast instead of chicken thighs if you wish.

As long as you have tender chicken from 6 months old that will be good for your baby.

Onion - I have used banana shallots but 1 medium onion will be good to use instead.

Garlic - You could use garlic powder if you wanted to, you will need 3 teaspoons of garlic powder.

Ginger - I have used fresh ginger but you can use 2 teaspoons of ground ginger instead.

All spice - You only need a little all spice , but really gives a unique flavour to the curry.

Curry powder - A mild curry powder is a great curry powder for a good spice level from 6 months old.

It is important to choose the right curry powder that is not too spicy. You can use a Jamaican curry powder if you prefer just be mindful how spicy it is.

Thyme - `You could use fresh thyme instead of dried thyme if you wanted to. Fresh herbs or dry herbs work well for this recipe.

Green pepper (bell pepper) - This add a great flavour to the curry, you could use a red pepper or yellow pepper too.

Turmeric - A touch of turmeric is great for a fragrant touch to the curry.

Carrot - Adds sweetness and an extra veggie to the curry.

Vinegar - White vinegar adds a little acidity, if you did not have vinegar you could add in a squeeze of lemon or lime.

Serving suggestion

This is a great curry recipe that is a delicious dish served with basmati rice or white rice and broccoli.

You could serve with a naan bread or even quinoa or mashed potato.

Other great Indian baby led weaning curry recipes I have created: slow cooker chicken curry, aubergine pasanda, sweet potato curry.

Storage instructions

The curry can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, stored in an airtight container.

Make sure the curry is at room temperature before it is transferred to the container.

The curry tastes great when eaten the next day.

If you wanted to freeze the curry, you will need to make sure that the curry has cooled down before transferring to either a freezer bag (carefully) or airtight container.

Ensure that the bag/airtight container is labelled with the item and the date. I use masking tape to label the airtight container.

To defrost the curry, leave in the fridge overnight and make sure that it is fully defrosted, before re heating.

To reheat, place the defrosted curry in a saucepan and reheat on a medium heat for 15-20 minutes. You can add in a splash of water if the curry is very thick.

Once the curry has been defrosted you will not be able to reheat or 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.

Mild Indian curry powder - no salt - I found and liked this curry powder that is mildly spiced and, more importantly, salt free.

Large bowl - I like to use a stainless steel mixing bowl - they are usually lightweight and easy to clean.

Recipe | Easy, Jamaican Chicken Curry - For Baby Led Weaning

Ingredients

Makes 4-8 portions

Chicken marinade

• 600g boneless skinless chicken thighs

• 2 banana shallots, diced

• 1 green pepper, cut into chunks

• 3 garlic cloves, crushed or grated

• 2 thumbs of fresh ginger, grated

• 2 tablespoons of curry powder

• 1/4 teaspoon all spice

• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• A grind of black pepper

  Curry

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 carrot, finely grated

• 1 tablespoon mild curry powder

• 400ml coconut milk

• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1 teaspoon white vinegar

Instructions

• Start by placing all the chicken marinade ingredients into a large bowl, cover and place in the fridge to marinade for a minimum of 30 minutes and maximum overnight.

• Separate the seasoned chicken from the marinade and set aside.

• Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a large saucepan with the tablespoon of curry powder and turn the heat onto a medium-high heat. Place the chicken pieces into the saucepan and turn down the heat slightly and cook the chicken in its own juices for 3 minutes on each side and set aside from the pan.

• Pour the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the saucepan, add the marinade veggies to the pan, and cook on a medium heat for 10 minutes until soft.

• Add the grated carrot to the pan along with thyme and the chicken (and chicken juices).

• Pour in the coconut milk and vinegar, cover the pan and cook for 20 minutes. Stir the curry and cook for a further 20 minutes uncovered. The total cooking time is 40 minutes.

• For best results, break up the chicken with a spoon and serve.

Hope you and your family enjoy!

Recipe notes

You could easily make this chicken dish vegan by swapping out the chicken for extra veggies such as, sweet potato or aubergine. Or use a plant based chicken.

You could use a whole chicken for this recipe, and marinade the same way and cook in the oven as per the packet instructions.

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