Weaning vegetables in cheese sauce (dairy free)
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Sent in by Gemma
Try this easy weaning recipe for your cows milk or lactose intolerant baby/toddler
- Prep Time 10 mins
- Cook Time 15 mins
- Difficulty Level Easy
Preparation
- Total Time 25 mins
- Preparation Time 10 mins
- Cooking Time 15 mins
- 2 potatoes
- broccoli (3-4 florets)
- baby sweetcorn (3-4 sticks), sliced
For the dairy free cheese sauce
- 2 tbsp dairy free margarine
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 200ml dairy free milk
- 100g dairy free cheese, grated
- Cook the potato, sliced baby corn and broccoli for about 10-15 mins.
- Start making a simple 'cheese' sauce while the veg are cooking.
- When the cheese sauce is done, mix them all in together and then just mash or puree to desired consistency.
For the dairy free cheese sauce
- Melt margarine over med heat and stir in flour to make a roux (like a thin paste). Stir well and cook for 2 mins - Do not let it darken.
- Gradually add the milk a little at a time stirring in really well. Let it cook over a med-low heat for about 10 mins, stirring often, until thickened and only just starting to boil then add the 'cheese' and stir until it's melted.
Tips
It's completely up to you whether you want to puree this recipe, or leave it whole for your baby.
If you're doing baby-led weaning, it's worth knowing that babies from six months can eat soft-cooked vegetables whole; just make sure that the veg is cooked until it's soft enough to gum.
But if you prefer to puree it for your baby, that's totally fine, too! You might want to start with a totally smooth puree, then gradually make it chunkier over time; this will help your baby explore new textures and learn to chew (which also helps to strengthen the muscles they'll need for talking later on!)
Variations
Use any combination of vegetables. Add in some chopped cooked meat, fish or pulses for older babies and toddlers.
We've made our version vegan and dairy-free, but if you want to use cow's milk, that's totally fine. Babies shouldn't have cow's milk as a main drink until they're at least one year old, but it's fine to use cow's milk, cheese and butter in cooking from six months.
Alternatively, you could even replace the milk with your baby's usual breastmilk or formula; that'll add a few extra nutrients for your growing baby.
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Reviews
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 ratingsRate this recipe
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Thank you! My 6 month old loves food and is keen to eat all sorts but doesn't seem able to manage dairy. Lovely to see a different idea.
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Fantastic recipe, went down a treat!
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Great lacto free recipe!
Guest
Vegusto make dairy and soya free cheese and cheese sauce. Can be ordered on their website or some local health shops may stock it.
Sarah S(730)
to Natasha H and Karen J my daughter is also allergic to dairy & soya and have found that redwood make a cheezly cheddar style cheese that is dairy and soya free. They stock it in my local Holland & Barrett and stores that don't hold it can order it in. Aparently it is also available to order from pharmacies. Also in H&B they sell soya & dairy free yogurt style desserts also made by Redwood and called 'wot no dairy desserts' and come in different fruit flavours. Hope that helps
Guest
Tofutti is really nice non dairy/lactose free soft cheese which can be used as a spread or in cooking
Guest
Karen J - What ski yogurts don't contain milk? I thought all yogurts were made from milk? My wee boys are allergic to milk and soya and I'm always on the lookout for new puddings as they always want my yogurts
Guest
I found that if he was intolerant to goats milk . We use Oatly milk but we can't use any cheese. He likes ski yogurts as these don't contain milk or soya. Dietitician wants us to re introduce dairy to his diet but I feel why change if he is happy on the diet he has.
Guest
is there a cheese i can get for my 3yr old ds as he has a cows milk and soya allergy any suggestions
Guest
my daughter now 2 also has dairy and soya intolerance but i found sheeps milk goats milk and yougurts were fab the sheeps range i could only find in sainsburys but i also bought an easiyo yogurt maker ideal for dairy free diet you can make all sorts of sauces and yougurts for eating as they are or to use in cooking you buy a sachet about 2.50 add water place in easiyo container and leave overnight or for 8 hrs make s 1 litre of yog
Guest
Can i give my 1 year old daughter soya products like cheezy and similar? she has a dairy allergy. I get so confused.
Guest
I make a great pasta sauce for my one year old daughter, who's vegan (no meat, fish, dairy) Steam a few florets of broccoli and then wilt some spinach leaves. Meanwhile cook some small pasta shapes until tender. Blend some chunks of tofu with the broccoli, add some grated soya cheese (mozzerella style) and microwave for about 1 minute. Drain the pasta and add sauce, then add a teaspoonful of soya cream cheese, leave to cool and serve. (with orange juice to aid iron absorbtion) This is great as it has loads of calcium, iron and protein in it.
Guest
I get cheezy from holland and barrats (sp?). Tastes great for non cheese. They also do other flavours. I use pure cheese slices and cheese spread. Lactofree is good although I will point out contains milk. It just has added lactase so only suitable for those with lactose intolerance not those with milk allergies.
Guest
thanks for that i'm going to have a go at making it for her hopefully she will like it thanks tasha
Guest
The lactofree range is quite good too,Ive seen it in sainsburys and tesco's.
Guest
hi, tesco sell soya cheese called 'Cheezy' its in the fridge where the other cheeses are, and u can grate it urself. i also use the 'pure' soya cream cheese , which stirred into hot veg or pasta also makes a soya cheese sauce...tesco has a much better 'free from' range than asda, asda only sell soya milk and yoghurts, but i'm quite impressed with tesco. hth xx
Guest
Hi - you can lots of different soya cheeses on the GoodnessDirect website including ones which say a dairy free alternative to cheddar so presumably can be grated. Hope that helps. Lucy
Guest
hi iam just wonering where to buy the soya grated cheese from my daughter has galactosemia which means she can't have any dairy products and I find it hard to get more milk in her diet thanks tasha
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