Easy Dal In A Slow Cooker For Baby Led Weaning
Table of Contents
Can You Give Dal To Babies?
Yes! This dal in a slow cooker for baby is great, and such an easy recipe for baby as a big batch cook recipe or a recipe for the whole family.
I make this recipe at least once a week, and I am not sure why I am only sharing this with you now!
I love the simplicity of this recipe, as the name should explain it all!
I have chosen to use the slow cooker for this recipe as I find using the slow cooker a life saver, if you are very busy but would like a healthy nutritious meal at the end of the day!
It is a dump and run dal recipe! What I mean by that is that you literally pop all the ingredients into the slow cooker, turn it on and go!
The only sort of prep you will need to do for this recipe is chopping the onion and measuring out the spices and that is it!
Red lentils are a great source of protein, I would always serve the dal with at least two or three small sides, for example. I have served with brown rice as seen in the photos, and I would serve with broccoli or green beans or spinach.
This easy red lentil dal recipe is so quick and so delicious, If Mum and Dad prefer a little kick to their dal, you could add in some crushed chilli’s to yours!
You will have to give this one a go! Especially if you lead a busy life and would like a night off the mid week meal!
Red Lentils For Baby
Red lentils are an excellent food choice for babies from six months of age. They are rich in protein, dietary fibre, and essential nutrients, making them a nutritious addition to your little one's diet.
Their soft texture when cooked also makes them easy for babies to chew and swallow, which is ideal for those starting on their weaning journey.
Red lentils are quick to cook and can be easily incorporated into a variety of recipes, from purees to finger foods, providing a versatile option to encourage self-feeding.
Just ensure to introduce them gradually and observe for any signs of allergies.
What Can I Add to The Dal Recipe To Avoid Wind?
When preparing dal for your little one during the weaning process, it's important to consider ingredients that can help minimise wind.
A great option to incorporate is asafoetida. This pungent spice is renowned for its digestive properties and can significantly reduce gas production in the gut.
By adding a pinch of asafoetida to your dal, you not only enhance the flavour but also support your baby's digestive comfort, making mealtime a more pleasant experience as they explore new flavours and textures.
Slow Cooker Recipes
This slow cooker dal recipe is an excellent choice for the whole family, particularly when it comes to baby-led weaning from six months old. They allow for hands-off cooking, which is perfect for busy parents, while also enabling a variety of flavours and textures that appeal to both adults and little ones.
Meals can be prepared in advance and left to simmer, resulting in tender ingredients that are easy for babies to grasp and chew. The gradual cooking process maximises the nutrients in the food, making it a healthy option for everyone.
By incorporating slow cooker recipes into mealtimes, the great thing is families can enjoy nutritious, delicious dishes that are suitable for all ages, nurturing a love for good food from an early age.
Ingredient information
Red lentils - Packed with protein, a great addition to your store cupboard. You can use yellow split peas or black lentils instead which will work really well in this recipe when slow cooked.
Onion - The perfect base to the recipe!
Garlic - You could add in a teaspoon or 2 of garlic powder or garlic paste if you didn’t have fresh garlic.
Mustard seeds - I love mustard seeds so have added them into the recipe, If you didn’t have any you could leave them out.
Cumin - Another great earthy spice that is a great addition to the recipe. Feel free to add in a pinch of cumin seeds to the recipe too if you like. You could add a little mild curry powder to the slow cooker to if you preferred a curry like flavour to the dish.
Turmeric - This is an earthy spice with many benefits attached to it! A perfect spice for a dal!
Garam masala - I find a small amount of this spice really elevates the whole recipe. Warm spices such as garam masala is a great way to add a depth of flavour you only need a little bit.
Chopped tomatoes - You could use tinned plum tomatoes or you could add in 6 fresh tomatoes.
Serving suggestion
I usually serve this simple dal recipe with some brown rice or quinoa, and some spinach and broccoli!
You could add in the spinach to the baby dal recipe it’s up to you!
Why not adding diced sweet potatoes, butternut squash with a dash of coconut milk to sweeten things up. completely optional.
I find the best way to serve broccoli for kids is when it is roasted, when you roast the broccoli, you can add in so many different herbs and spices that liven the broccoli up, this way it can be more tasty than if you just boil or steam.
Other vegetarian meals you may like: Aubergine bhaji, Black eyed peas curry , naan bread or Vegetable pilaf rice.
Storage instructions
The red lentil dal can be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge, in an airtight container, you could portion into small airtight containers and add some rice so that you have a complete meal.
The Indian slow cooker dal can be stored in an airtight container or a freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months in the freezer.
To defrost and reheat the homemade slow cooker red lentil dal from the freezer, you will need to take the red lentil dal out of the freezer and leave to thaw in the fridge overnight.
Once the red lentil dal is fully defrosted, the best way to re heat is on the hob in a saucepan on a medium heat until piping hot.
Leave to cool before serving.
Equipment used to help with this recipe
Slow cooker - A slow cooker is well worth the investment. I use one that has a non-stick removable pan for ease of cleaning, and an in-built timer.
Slow cooker liners - Food safe liners, disposable and BPA free - these are a great idea for lining the slow cooker pot.
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 | Easy Dal In A Slow Cooker For Baby Led Weaning
Easy Dal In A Slow Cooker For Baby Led Weaning
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start by preparing the slow cooker, I use a slow cooker liner.
- Rinse the lentils under the tap in a sieve for a good few minutes.
- Pop all of the ingredients into the slow cooker.
- Using the tinned tomato can, pop 3 tins of water into the slow cooker, and stir together using a wooden spoon.
- Pop the lid on and put the slow cooker on for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.
- When the time is up, add in 350ml of hot water, this is just to make the dal a bit thinner. If you like a really thick dal you will not need to add in the water at the end.
- Finish with fresh coriander if you like.
Notes
As mentioned above you could add in different vegetables to this creamy dal if you wanted to.
You could mash or blend in some vegetables within the lentil curry to make a really creamy texture, some examples would be carrot (as seen in my stove top dal recipe) or you could add in sweet potato, cauliflower, potato or even some peas.
Red lentils really do fill you up as they are packed with protein, perfect if your little one is following a plant based, vegan or dairy free diet. You will not need to serve a lot to baby so this recipe will really go a long way which is great for future meals.
This recipe can be the base of whatever you want to make of it, let’s level up this baby food!
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The sweet potato pancakes are a great finger food option for baby and toddler. Why not portion and freeze the raw batter and cook when needed to save time?