I’m always looking for new ways to incorporate delicious flavours and textures into meals for my son (that I hope will be welcomed with open arms by my husband too). This is one of those recipes.
What I love about this dish is that there are so many different ways to get creative depending on what your little one likes to eat. What’s even better is that you can make these ahead of time and either freeze them raw (provided the meat wasn’t frozen before) and then cook them, or you can freeze them in an airtight container once cooked. Either way, you’ll have a hearty meal on-hand that can be dished up with a variety of toppings.
When it comes to the cheese, you can really go for any variety you like best but remember that babies should be receiving full fat dairy until the age of two to meet all of their growing and developmental demands (read more on the topic of full fat vs low fat dairy here).
If your child has an egg allergy then simply susbstitute with 1Tbs chia seeds soaked in 3 Tbs water for a few minutes (forms a gel like consistency). Although I used almond flour, you could use any flour you choose to bind the mixture.
What you’ll need:
- 500g free-range beef mince
- 1/4 cup grated/shredded cheese
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup corn (cooked)
- 1 Tbs coriander, chopped
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1-2 cracks black pepper
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- 1 free-range egg
- 1 Tbs almond flour
- 2 Tbs olive oil
Method:
- In a mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients using clean hands (to really get in there!)
- Heat half the amount of the olive oil in a frying pan on a medium-high heat
- Take half a handful of the mixture at a time, roll it into little balls and flatten slightly using the palm of your hand
- Fry each meat patty for around 3 minutes a side. Ensure that each one is cooked through thoroughly, turning to cook further on each side if need be (the ‘fatter’ they are, the longer they will need to cook!)
- Serve on mini brown rolls or simply top with a variety of toppings: guacamole, squeeze of fresh lime, shredded lettuce, some extra grated cheese, salsa or a side of mashed red kidney beans.
*The above will need to be adapted should your child have an allergy to any of the ingredients mentioned
*Never leave your child unsupervised when eating
Hungry Little Monkey 