Red Lentil and Carrot Dhal
Mild, creamy red lentils cooked with carrot, served with soft rice. A gentle introduction to spice and plant protein for toddlers.
- prep
- 10 min
- cook
- 30 min
- total
- 40 min
- serves
- 4
- level
- easy
Dhal is a gentle place to start introducing a toddler to spice, since turmeric and cumin in small amounts bring warmth and flavor without any real heat.
Red lentils cook down fast and fully soft with no soaking required, which makes this one of the quicker plant-based meals here, and a good one to double for the freezer.
If your little one is still earlier in the journey, start with our Baby's First Foods guide.
Part of our 20 toddler meal ideas list.
method
Put the lentils, diced carrots, water or stock, turmeric and cumin in a pot.
Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes, until the lentils and carrots are completely soft and the mixture has thickened into a loose porridge-like consistency.
Stir in the olive oil.
Blend or mash with a fork to a smoother consistency if your toddler prefers less texture, or leave it slightly chunky if they are managing more texture well.
Cool to a safe warm temperature and serve with soft, well-cooked rice.
chef's tips
- The spices here are used for warmth and flavor, not heat. Turmeric and cumin in these small amounts are mild and a gentle way to introduce new flavors.
- Dice the carrot small and cook it until fully soft, the same care worth taking anywhere a toddler is eating cooked carrot.
- Red lentils break down easily and need no soaking, which makes this one of the faster plant-protein meals on this list.
- This freezes and reheats very well, and a double batch is a reasonable way to cover a couple of lunches later in the week.