Name: Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quesadilla
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 1 small sweet potato, roasted or steamed until very soft, then mashed; 100 g black beans, cooked, drained and well mashed; 40 g grated cheese, mild cheddar or similar; 2 small soft flour tortillas; 1 tsp butter or oil, for the pan

This is a soft, handheld dinner built on two things toddlers tend to like already, sweet potato and melted cheese, with mashed black beans folded in for protein and fiber.

How you cut it matters more than it seems. Strips, not wedges, give your toddler a flat edge to bite from, rather than a pointed tip that invites too big a first bite.

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

Mash the cooked sweet potato and black beans together in a bowl until smooth, with no firm lumps or whole beans remaining.

Spread the mixture over half of each tortilla, then scatter over the grated cheese.

Fold the tortilla in half over the filling.

Heat the butter in a pan over medium-low heat and cook the folded quesadilla for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden and the cheese has melted.

Let it cool slightly, then cut into soft strips rather than wedges, which are easier and safer for a toddler to pick up and bite from.

chef's tips

Mash the black beans completely. Whole beans are small, round and firm enough to be a choking risk, even when well cooked.
Cut the finished quesadilla into strips, not triangular wedges. A wedge's pointed tip encourages a bigger bite than a toddler may be ready to manage.
A very soft, thin tortilla works best here. A thick or chewy tortilla can be harder for a toddler to bite through cleanly.
This is a good way to use up leftover roasted sweet potato or cooked beans from another meal earlier in the week.