Name: Spinach and Ricotta Mini Lasagne
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 6 lasagne sheets, or small pasta shapes as a shortcut; 150 g fresh spinach, finely chopped; 250 g ricotta cheese; 2 tbsp grated Parmesan; 300 ml mild tomato sauce, no added salt; 60 g grated mozzarella; 1 egg

This is a toddler-scaled lasagne, soft pasta layered with wilted spinach, ricotta and a mild tomato sauce, built in a small dish rather than a full family-sized tray.

Cooking the pasta a bit softer than usual and squeezing the spinach dry before mixing are the two small adjustments that make this version properly toddler-friendly rather than just a smaller adult portion.

If your little one is still earlier in the journey, start with our Baby's First Foods guide.

Part of our 40 toddler meal ideas list.

method

Preheat the oven to 180°C (355°F).

Cook the lasagne sheets in boiling water until fully soft, a little past al dente, about 9 to 10 minutes. Drain and cut into small pieces to fit a small baking dish.

Wilt the chopped spinach briefly in a pan over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, then let it cool slightly and squeeze out any excess liquid.

Mix the wilted spinach, ricotta, Parmesan and egg together until smooth.

In a small baking dish, layer a little tomato sauce, then a layer of pasta, then a layer of the spinach-ricotta mixture. Repeat the layers, finishing with tomato sauce and the mozzarella on top.

Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake another 8 to 10 minutes, until bubbling and set.

Let it cool well, cutting into small toddler-sized pieces, before serving.

chef's tips

Cook the pasta sheets a little softer than you normally would for an adult portion; a fully tender sheet is easier and safer for a toddler to manage than one with any bite left.
Squeezing the wilted spinach well before mixing it with the ricotta keeps the filling from turning watery once baked.
Use a mild, no-added-salt tomato sauce, either homemade or a plain passata, rather than a jarred sauce that may have added salt and sugar.
This freezes well in small portions, so it is worth making the full batch even for one toddler.