From 6 monthsLunch and dinnerUnder review by our nutritionist
Mashed sweet potato, beef and collard greens
A complete lunch for the start of solid foods: the beef brings iron, the sweet potato gives energy and a natural sweetness babies usually like, and the collard greens introduce the taste of leafy greens early on.
- Difficulty
- 3 out of 5
- Ingredients
- 2 out of 5
- Time
- 3 out of 5, 35 min35 min
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Makes 2 servings Freezer-friendly
Ingredients
- 2 heaping tbsp lean ground beef (about 2 oz / 60 g)
- 1 small sweet potato (about 4 oz / 120 g)
- 2 collard green leaves (or kale)
- ¼ onion, finely chopped
- a drizzle of olive oil
How to make
- 1Sauté the onion in the olive oil, add the beef and stir until it is no longer red, breaking up the lumps.
- 2Cover with 1 cup of water, no salt, put the lid on and cook for 15 minutes over low heat.
- 3Meanwhile, peel the sweet potato, cut it into cubes and cook it in water for 15 minutes.
- 4Remove the stem from the collard greens, chop them very finely and add them to the beef for the last 5 minutes.
- 5Mash the beef and greens with a fork, with a little of the broth, and mash the sweet potato separately. Serve each one in its own corner of the plate.
Tips
- Texture (6 months): fork-mashed, moist and lumpy. No blender and no sieve.
- Well-cooked greens: chop them very finely and cook until soft, so no tough strings are left.
- Storage: 2 days in the fridge or 30 days in the freezer, in portions.
Why it's good for baby
- Beef: is a source of easily absorbed iron, which prevents anemia and matters for development and learning, plus zinc and vitamin B12, essential for the nervous system. Careful: always well cooked, never rare.
- Sweet potato: is a source of vitamin C, which helps the body absorb the iron in beans; orange-fleshed ones are also rich in vitamin A, good for vision. Careful: cut away any spotted parts: they may carry a toxin that cooking doesn't destroy.
- Collard greens: are a source of vitamin A, which supports the immune system and vision, and have vitamin C and calcium, which helps build bones.
Sources: TACO food table (Unicamp) · NIH Office of Dietary Supplements · Brazilian Ministry of Health · Dietary Guidelines for Americans · Brazilian Society of Pediatrics · MedlinePlus (NIH) · USDA FoodData Central · FAO (UN) · NHS (UK). Always talk to your baby's pediatrician or nutritionist.