Potato and Carrot Hash Browns For Baby Led Weaning
Table of Contents
What Is A Hash Brown?
A hash brown is a potato patty made from grated or finely chopped potatoes that are typically fried or baked until golden brown. When prepared at home, hash browns can be a nutritious finger food option for baby-led weaning starting at 6 months of age.
Homemade hash browns provide a simple yet nutritious a option for babies who are starting to explore solid foods. By controlling the ingredients and cooking methods, you can ensure that the hash browns are free from additives or excessive salt content, making them a healthier choice compared to store-bought alternatives.
The soft texture of a well-cooked hash brown allows babies to easily pick them up and self-feed, promoting independence and fine motor skills. Additionally, the mild flavour of potatoes is well-tolerated by most infants and can be a great introduction to different tastes.
To offer hash browns to a 6-month-old during baby-led weaning, it's essential to ensure that the pieces are cut into manageable sizes to prevent choking hazards. By supervising your baby closely whilst they explore and enjoy this finger food, you can support your little one in developing healthy eating habits from an early age.
Finger Foods For BLW
Finger foods can be a great option for babies' development for several reasons.
Fine Motor Skills: When babies pick up small pieces of food with their fingers, they are practising their fine motor skills. This action helps in developing hand-eye coordination and improving dexterity.
Sensory Exploration: Finger foods allow babies to explore different textures, shapes, and tastes. This sensory experience is essential for their overall development and can help in expanding their palate.
Independence: Offering finger foods empowers babies to feed themselves, promoting independence and self-feeding skills. This can boost their confidence and sense of achievement.
Chewing and Swallowing: Chewing on finger foods helps babies practice their jaw movements and strengthen their oral muscles, which are crucial for speech development. It also encourages them to learn how to swallow solid foods.
Nutrition: Introducing a variety of nutritious finger foods can help babies develop healthy eating habits from an early age. They can explore fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins in their whole form, providing essential nutrients for growth and development.
Homemade Hash Browns From 6 Months Of Age
Why Choose Homemade Hash Browns for Baby Led Weaning?
Nutrient-Dense Ingredients: Potatoes and carrots are rich in essential vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for your baby's growth and development.
Easy to Chew: These hash browns are soft and easy for tiny gums to chew, making them a safe option for beginners in self-feeding.
Allergy-Friendly: By using flaxseed and water as an egg replacer, this recipe caters to babies with egg allergies, ensuring that most infants can enjoy this nutritious meal.
Encourages Self-Feeding: The shape and texture of hash browns are perfect for tiny hands to grasp, promoting independent eating skills from a young age.
My homemade hash browns offer a simple yet nutritious option that is sure to captivate your little one's taste buds. With minimal ingredients and maximum flavour, this recipe is a great addition to your baby-led weaning menu.Ingredient information
Ingredient Information
Potato - I have used a medium sized baked potato peeled, but you can use any potato you have that fits the weight of the potatoes in the recipe. Sweet potatoes work well too.
Carrot - You could leave the carrot out and make up the weight with more potatoes if you would prefer. The carrot brings a little sweetness to the hash browns.
Flaxseed - This is a great little grain that is packed with nutrition and omega 3. Feel free to use an egg instead if your little one does not have an egg allergy.
Olive oil - You can use an oil or butter of your choice. I have gone with olive oil. The recipe does work really nicely with an unsalted butter.
Serving suggestion
The hash browns can be a stand alone snack or lunch. They are great served with scrambled egg or a poached egg for older toddlers and some veggies such as courgette or roasted carrot. A great recipe for the whole family, perfect for little hands to hold.
Other similar recipes: Carrot fritters or potato cakes.
Storage instructions
The hash browns once cooled, can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. If you wanted to reheat the hash browns, you will only be able to reheat once from the fridge.
I would suggest heating them up in the oven, at 180 degrees, for 10-15 minutes. Leave to cool before serving to your baby.
To store in the freezer, leave the fritters to cool and store in an airtight container or in airtight freezer bags. They can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Once the hash browns have been defrosted they will not be able to be re frozen.
Equipment used to help with this recipe
Large bowl - Definitely choose a stainless steel one - they are lighter than the stone or glass ones and very easy to clean.
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 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.
Cheese grater - I like a stainless steel grater and this one comes with two grater plates and a secure, snap on lid so you can directly store leftover grated food in the fridge.
Baking tray - I have chosen to use a non-stick and BPA free baking sheet - they are easy to clean and, if you buy more than one, easily stackable and easily stored.
Recipe | Potato and Carrot Hash Browns For Baby Led Weaning
Ingredients
Makes 4 hash browns
210g white potatoes, finely grated
105g large carrot, finely grated
2 tablespoons flaxseed, 2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
Instructions
Start by pre heating the oven to a medium heat of 180C or 350F. Prepare a baking tray with parchment paper.
Start by mixing the flaxseed and water together in a small bowl and set aside (this acts as an egg).
Once the potato has been finely grated, using a sieve and a large bowl squeeze out the excess water in the potato using the back of a spoon.
Mix the finely grated carrot and potato together in a bowl and repeat the process and squeeze out any excess water. Make the grated vegetables as dry as you can.
Add in the flaxseed and mix together using a spoon or your hands. Shape into 4 small little patties or you can flatten into 1 large hash brown.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan and add in the hash browns, cook for 3 minutes each side.
Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and cook for 15-20 minutes in the oven.
Leave to cool before serving to your baby.
Hope you and your family enjoy!
Recipe notes
You could use an egg instead of the flaxseed mixture if you prefer.
You could also add in a little dairy free or non dairy cheese, and a herb of your choice.
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