Tofu Fried Rice

SERVINGS: 8-10 TODDLER PORTIONS OR 4-5 ADULT PORTIONS

This recipe is created by Paediatric Dietitian Paula Hallam and it comes from her brilliant book: Plant Powered Little People. Find Paula at https://plantbased-kids.com/ or instagram: @plantbasedkids.uk

From Paula: My family loves this recipe! As they know, I am always looking for ways to make our meals more colourful and this fried rice ticks that box perfectly. It’s also very quick to make and comes together in about 15 minutes, great for weeknight dinners. The recipe includes soy sauce, which I wouldn’t recommend for babies under one year of age; see the notes below on serving this meal to your baby.

INGREDIENTS:

300g basmati rice

FOR THE TOFU

1 tsp olive oil250g block of firm tofu 

1⁄2 tsp ground turmeric 

2 tsp smoked paprika 

1 tsp garlic powder

FOR THE STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES

1 tsp olive oil1 onion, finely chopped1 clove of garlic, crushed1 large carrot, grated1 red pepper, chopped150g frozen peas or edamame beans 1 tbsp soy sauce (optional) 3 spring onions, chopped

METHOD

1. Cook the basmati rice according to the instructions on the packet.

2. Meanwhile, place a saucepan over a medium heat, add the olive oil and then crumble in the tofu. Stir in the turmeric, paprika and garlic powder, then cook for 2-3 minutes.

3. In a large frying pan or wok, heat the olive oil for the stir-fried vegetables until very hot.

4. Add the onion to the frying pan and cook for 5 minutes until soft, then add the garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes. 

5. Add the carrot and pepper to the frying pan and cook until soft, then stir in the peas or edamame and cook for a further 2 minutes.

6. Now add the tofu and cooked rice to the vegetables in the frying pan and stir to combine.

7. Add the soy sauce if using and stir to mix throughout the rice and vegetables.

8. Serve the fried rice topped with the chopped spring onions.

Notes

Tofu is made from soya beans which are a common allergen. If this is the first time your baby has had soya, refer to Chapter 5 for further information and guidance on introducing allergens.

How to serve this meal to babies:

Keep some tofu aside for your baby and cut it into thick strips (you can still add the spices). After the rice has cooked, set some aside and roll into balls with a little avocado or hummus to help the rice stick together. Serve the peas or edamame mashed and from a spoon for young babies (six to nine months) or flattened/squashed for older babies (nine to 12 months).

Make sure the carrots and peppers are cooked until soft, so that your baby can ‘mash’ them with their gums.