Recipe: Baby's Bolognese Sauce (from Superfoods for Babies and Children)

BABY'S BOLOGNESE SAUCE

"Often it is not the taste of red meat that babies dislike but the texture, so here I blend the Bolognese sauce so that the ground meat becomes very easy to chew, and then mix it with soft pasta."

1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped celery
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons finely grated carrot
5 ounces lean ground beef
1 tablespoon ketchup
2 tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1/4 cup unsalted chicken stock
2 ounces spaghetti, uncooked

Saute the onion and celery in the vegetable oil for 3 to 4 minutes.
Add the grated carrot and cook for 2 minutes.

Add the ground beef and stir until browned.

Stir in the ketchup, tomatoes, and stock. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and cook until the meat is cooked through (10 to 15 minutes).

Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until quite soft. Drain and chop into short lengths.

Transfer the Bolognese sauce to a food processor and puree to a fairly smooth texture before combining with the pasta.

RECIPE NOTES:
Red meat provides most nutritional needs apart from fiber. It is an excellent source of iron. Iron deficiency is the commonest nutritional deficiency in early childhood and leads to a serious medical condition called anemia if left unchecked. A baby's iron reserves inherited from his mother run out around the age of 6 months, so it is important to include in the diet foods rich in iron.

Makes 5 portions
Source: Superfoods For Babies and Children by Annabel Karmel