07 May Easy Veggie Meal For Babies + Toddlers

Warm your little one’s belly with this winter yummy vegetable meal that is packed with all the good things – it looks pretty too!

How to make Mandarin Panzanella with Root Veg and Butterbeans

Makes: 4–6 adult portions or 8–12 baby portions

Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes

To make a dairy-free gluten-free option (use gluten-free bread) nut-free vegetarian vegan

Ingredients
125 ml (4 fl oz/½ cup) extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for roasting
Juice of 2 oranges (remove pips)
5 tablespoons lemon thyme leaves
300 g (10½ oz) stale wholemeal (whole-wheat) sourdough bread, diced
200 g (7 oz/1 cup) cooked butterbeans, rinsed and drained
300 g (10½ oz) mandarins (about 3), peeled and segmented
150 g (5½ oz) baby (Dutch) carrots, scrubbed and tops removed
300 g (10½ oz) baby beetroot, scrubbed and tops removed (halve any of the larger ones)
4 radishes, scrubbed and tops removed (halve any larger ones)
Olive oil for roasting
2 large handfuls seasonal leafy greens such as buttered beetroot (beet) or kale leaves or baby English spinach

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).

Use a blender to process the olive oil, orange juice and lemon thyme into a smooth dressing. Reserve half and set aside, and pour the remainder into a large bowl. Add the bread and butterbeans, and stir with a spoon to coat. Set aside.

Spread out the mandarins, carrots, beetroot and radishes on a large baking tray and drizzle with olive oil. On a second large baking tray, spread out the bread and butter beans, including any dressing from the bowl.

Place both trays in the oven, with the vegetables on the higher shelf,  and roast for 15–20 minutes until the vegetables are soft.

Transfer the vegetables, bread and butterbeans to a large serving dish or tray, add the leafy greens and toss through the remaining dressing.

For little ones: Although the leafy greens will be a challenge for any toothless  little ones, the remaining vegetables, fruit and bread should be easy enough for beginners to have a go. Try mashingsome of the soft butterbeans onto the bread to make them easierto handle, and ensure that the root vegetables are soft.

This is an edited extract from Real Food for Babies & Toddlers by Vanessa Clarkson, Murdoch Books, $35.00 and is available in stores nationally.