Tuna Pasta Bake - Baby Led Weaning Recipe

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Baby Led Weaning Pasta Recipe

Are you a parent exploring the wonderful world of baby-led weaning, but wondering if tinned tuna is a safe and beneficial food choice for your little one? Look no further!

With its great nutritional value, tinned tuna can indeed play a role in your baby's culinary adventure and is perfect in this tuna pasta bake recipe.

Tuna, a source of high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and essential vitamins and minerals, can offer numerous health benefits to your growing child.

However, it's essential to exercise caution and ensure you're making the best decisions for your baby's delicate digestive system.

When introducing tinned tuna to your baby's diet, keep these factors in mind:

1. Age-appropriate: It is typically recommended waiting until your baby is around 6 to 8 months old before introducing fish, including tinned tuna, into their diet. This delay allows their digestive system to develop and reduces the potential risk of allergies.

2. Texture and Consistency: Baby-led weaning emphasises self-feeding, allowing your little one to explore different textures and shapes. Ensure that tinned tuna is mashed or flaked into age-appropriate sizes that are easy for your baby to handle, reducing the risk of choking hazards.

3. Mercury Content: While tinned tuna provides several nutritional benefits, it's important to be aware of its mercury content. Moderate consumption is safe, but choose skipjack or light tuna in spring water.

4. Allergies: Monitor your baby closely for any signs of allergic reactions when introducing tinned tuna for the first time. Watch for symptoms such as rashes, swelling, or difficulty breathing. If there's a family history of seafood allergies or your baby has shown sensitivity to other foods, consult with your health visitor before introducing tinned tuna.

5. Variety and Balance: Tinned tuna can be a fantastic addition to your baby's diverse diet, but it should never replace other nutritious foods. Remember to offer a wide range of fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins to ensure a well-rounded and balanced meal plan for your little one.

With the proper precautions in mind, tinned tuna can be a great introduction to the world of seafood and proteins, as part of your baby's exciting journey through baby-led weaning.

Rigatoni vs. Penne

Choosing between rigatoni and penne pasta can be a decision that many parents deliberate over. Both types are suitable for babies to hold and explore due to their shape and size.

However, rigatoni's larger, tube-like shape may be easier for babies to grip and suck on, promoting self-feeding and enhancing their sensory experience.

On the other hand, penne's smaller size can also provide babies with a different texture to explore and enjoy.

Ultimately, the choice between rigatoni and penne for your baby during BLW will depend on their individual preferences and developmental stage.

Pasta For Baby

Pasta and tuna provides a range of nutrients, including protein from the tuna, carbohydrates from the pasta, and essential vitamins from any added vegetables or sauce.

Babies can explore different textures and flavours through the soft tuna chunks and pasta. It's important to ensure the tuna is cooked thoroughly to avoid any potential risks associated with mercury levels.

Also, choosing whole wheat pasta can add extra fibre to aid in digestion.

Your baby can practice self-feeding by picking up small pieces of the bake, promoting their fine motor skills and independence.

However, it's crucial to avoid adding excessive salt or spicy seasonings, as babies' palates are still developing. Overall, tuna pasta bake can be a nutritious and tasty option for introducing babies to a variety of foods during their weaning journey.

So go ahead, explore the benefits of tinned tuna as a nutritious choice for your baby. Embrace the adventure of baby-led weaning and watch your little one discover the joys of self-feeding while nourishing their growing body along the way.

Ingredient information

Pasta - I have used Rigatoni but you can chose a penne or an orzo!

Tuna - Tinned tuna has been used for this recipe, you could use fresh tuna if you wish, or even chicken instead of the tuna!

Onion - A great base for the sauces flavour!

Garlic - You can use garlic powder if you do not have fresh cloves of garlic!

Oregano - This herb works nicely with the rosemary!

Rosemary - A delightful combination with the oregano and tuna.

Passata - You can double up with the tinned chopped tomatoes if you wish, instead of the passata.

Chopped tomatoes - I have added chopped tomatoes for some texture and flavour.

Tomato puree - Adds a rich tomato flavour to the tomato sauce that it needs!

Cheddar cheese - You can choose a cheese of choice, another great option would be Red Leicester.

Serving suggestion

The tuna pasta bake would be great served with cucumber, roasted carrots and finished with a blackberry cheesecake or mango pot.

Storage instructions

The Tuna Pasta Bake can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 day, stored in an airtight container.

If you wanted to freeze the Tuna Pasta Bake, unfortunately you cannot. The reason being the tinned tuna has already been cooked, and has been reheated within the pasta bake, therefore you will not be able to refreeze as it has been reheated twice which is the maximum.

You will not be able to reheat the pasta bake. If you have any leftovers you can leave in the fridge for 1 day and serve cold from the fridge but do not reheat.

Equipment used to help with this recipe

Saucepan - So many pan sets out there but I particularly like to use pans with a non-stick surface for ease of cleaning and ones that are suitable for different types of hob surface.

Oven dish - For pasta bake dishes, I love to use a ceramic dish - they are durable and can withstand high oven temperatures. A baking dish and serving dish in one!

Airtight container - I much prefer the click-shut lids on these containers compared to others. They are also dishwasher and freezer safe and BPA free, so very suitable for food use. 

Recipe | Tuna Pasta Bake

Ingredients

Serves 6 large portions an 12 little portions (great for a family meal)

• 500g rigatoni pasta

• 2 tins 145g tuna in spring water, drained

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 medium onions, diced

• 2 garlic cloves, grated or crushed

• 2 teaspoons oregano

• 1 teaspoon rosemary

• 500g passata

• 1 tin 400g chopped tomatoes

• 4 tablespoons tomato puree

• 250ml water

• 150g cheddar cheese

Instructions

• Start by heating boiling water in a large saucepan, and add in the pasta and cook for 10 minutes or so, check the packet instructions. Preheat your oven to 180C or 350F.

• While the pasta is cooking, grab another large saucepan add in the olive oil and the diced onion. Cook for 10 minutes and then add in the garlic, stir in and cook for 1 minute.

• Add in the oregano, rosemary followed by the passata, chopped tomatoes, tomato puree and 250ml water, and stir.

• Add in the tuna and stir well.

• Drain the pasta and add to the tuna sauce and mix well. If you would like to oven cook the pasta bake add in a further 320ml water and stir, transfer to a large oven dish and sprinkle with the cheese.

• Pop in the oven for 25 minutes.

• If you do not have enough time, you can pop the tuna pasta bake under the grill for 7-10 minutes and do not add in the extra 320ml water.

Hope you and your family enjoy!

Recipe notes

This recipe works really well without the tuna, which would make the recipe vegetarian. If you chose a vegan cheese instead of the cheddar cheese, this would make the whole recipe vegan/dairy free.

You could alternatively use 2-3 cooked chicken breasts instead of the tuna as well.

For gluten free, you could choose a gluten free pasta.

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