Rice is one of the most popular grains on the entire planet. At first, only grown and eaten in the Eastern world, it quickly spread into the West and these days, most people around the globe enjoy rice.
This grain is popular because it is easy to prepare, is packed with micronutrients, such as but not limited to B group vitamins, zinc, and potassium. Nutritious profile and low-fat content make rice a perfect choice for babies and allows them to grow up healthy and strong.
In this article, we talk about introducing rice to your baby’s diet and we give you 5 easy recipes for tasty homemade baby food.
The recipes in this article:
Recipe 1 – Brown rice, Broccoli, and Chicken
Recipe 2 – Spiced rice and Carrots
Recipe 3 – Rice and Fruit pudding
Recipe 4 – Rice and Mango
Recipe 5 – Rice and Green beans
You might also be interested in our recipes with chickpeas, sweet potato or lentils.
When can a baby eat rice?
Babies can start eating rice at about 4 to 6 months old. It is different for each baby, but if you are already feeding your little love other solid foods, it means that he or she is also already capable of consuming food with rice, especially if it is prepared as baby food. That being said, here is a list of baby food recipes with rice, which is easy to prepare, nutritious and tasty!
Recipe 1: Brown Rice, Broccoli, and Chicken (age 8-10 months+)
The first recipe on this list is especially nutritious because it is made with broccoli, known for its nutritious benefits, and chicken, which is a great source of calories and protein required for your baby.
It requires four ingredients for an 8-ounce portion.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup cooked and cooled brown rice
- 1/4 cup (32 g) chicken breast, which is cooked, cooled, and diced.
- 1/2 cup (64g) broccoli
- 1/4 cup and 2 tbsp (90 ml) milk product of your choice (breast milk, formula)
Instructions:
Step 1 – To make this baby food, instructions are quick and straight forward. To begin, cook brown rice, broccoli, and chicken breast.
Step 2 – For rice and broccoli, you can use a rice cooker if you have one. Using it will save you time, as it is a perfect device to not only cook rice but also vegetables, in this recipe being broccoli.
Step 3 – After you have cooked rice and broccoli, let it cool down and dice chop up the broccoli.
Step 4 – Then cook chicken breast, cool it down, and dice it.
Step 5 – Finally, put all these ingredients together with milk of your choice into a food blender and blend until you get smooth and drippy baby food.
Recipe 2: Spiced Rice and Carrot Puree (age 4-6 months+)
This baby food is great because it offers great flexibility, as you can use other spices with health benefits, like turmeric instead of cumin. Also, it requires carrots, which are one of the cheapest vegetables you can buy.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (64g) brown rice
- 2 medium carrots
- 1 1/2 cups (350ml) water
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions:
Step 1 – To make it, pour water and rice into a saucepan. Bring it to the boiling point, and then allow it to simmer for 30 minutes, by reducing heat to low.
Step 2 – After that, add chopped up carrots and simmer it for another 15 minutes.
Step 3 – Finally, pour the contents of the saucepan into the food blender. Add parsley and cumin, then blend it until you get a smooth puree. Cool it down and it is prepared for your baby!
Recipe 3: Rice and Fruit Pudding (age 6 months+)
Finally, the desert. This pudding will satisfy your baby’s sweet tooth and fill his or her stomach with nutrients from fruits.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (130g) rice
- 1 1/2 cup (35oml) milk product of your choice (breast milk, formula)
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 (64g) mix of dried fruits (raisins, dates, apples)
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
Instructions:
Step 1 – This pudding is easily made. Just take a saucepan, pour milk product of your choice, add rice, and a mix of dried fruits. Keep in mind that you can use different dried fruits, so you can tailor this recipe for your baby’s taste.
Step 2 – After you have put milk and fruits into the pan, bring it to boil and reduce the heat.
Step 3 – Let it simmer for 30 minutes, or until all the milk has been absorbed by dried fruits.
Step 4 – Then pour all the contents from the saucepan into a food blender, sprinkle the nutmeg, and give it a few rotations. Allow it to cool down and it is ready for consumption.
Keep in mind that dried fruits are higher in sugar than fresh fruits.
Here you go, three easy to make baby food recipes with rice. You should consider making baby food with rice. It is easy on the budget, packed with nutrition and calories. Do not be afraid to experiment with ingredients and discover your own recipes!
Recipe 4: Rice and mango (age 4-6 months+)
A very popular recipe is mango and rice. You will need the following ingredients:
1 Mango
½ cup rice (white or brown)
Bring a saucepan with a small amount of water to a boil. Add the rice and boil it for 16-18 minutes. Pour the water off and let the rice cool down.
Clean the mango, slice the mango en remove the pit. Scoop out the meat and put it in a blender, together with the rice. Blend until you reach the desired consistency.
Recipe 5: Rice and green beans (age 6-8 months+)
This is a nutritious and delicious meal for your baby, and super easy to make!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of white rice. (or brown if you prefer)
- 1 cup of chopped green beans.
- 4-5 cups of water.
Instructions:
Step 1 – Put brown rice and water together in a pot with a lid. Use the ratio of 1.5 cups water to 1 cup rice.
Step 2 – Bring to a boil and once boiling, lower heat to a simmer, and cover. Cook for about 15-25 minutes.
Step 3 – In a separate pot, boil the green beans till tender. Transfer the rice and the beans into a blender and blend them to smooth consistency.
How to store and freeze
All three of these recipes can be stored in the refrigerator or up to 3 days, and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Make sure you separate meals into portions that your baby will eat to avoid having a bunch of excess food or having to throw out food.
Feeding guide for rice
4-6 months | 7 months | 8 months | 9-10 months | 11-12 months | |
No. of tbs per portion | 1-2 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 2-4 | 2-4 |
No. of feedings per day | 1-2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Please keep in mind that this guide only applies to rice. If you add other ingredients, like meats, the guide doesn’t apply anymore.
We recommend that you consult with your baby’s pediatrician on introducing solid foods as generalities may not apply to your infant.
Which kitchen tools to use
In order to prepare these baby food recipes, you will need the following kitchen tools:
Blender or food processor
Knife
Tablespoon
Cup
Vegetable peeler
Cutting board
Saucepan
Rice pan
Food storage containers or an ice cube form
Nutritional benefits
Brown rice is rich in vitamin B, folic acid, magnesium, iron, and selenium. Brown rice also may help prevent blood clots and controls blood pressure.
Rice naturally doesn’t contain gluten and is a good gluten-free option! Rice also provides energy without causing high blood sugar levels.
