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Nasi tim ayam for toddlers
Steamed chicken and mushroom rice
12m+ · Soft rice steamed in bowls over chicken and mushroom, lightly seasoned for small children
Nasi tim ayam comes from the Chinese-Indonesian kitchens of Java, and is the meal many Indonesian children eat when they first move on from porridge: rice steamed slowly in a bowl over diced chicken and mushrooms until very soft, then turned out like a little dome. For toddlers the seasoning is just garlic, ginger, a few drops of sesame oil and a little low-salt soy sauce. It contains soya and gluten (soy sauce) and sesame. Chef's tip: use no-salt stock in the rice; it soaks up the flavour of the chicken as it steams.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Baby & toddler safety
- Age: from 12 months+.
- Allergens: contains gluten (wheat, barley, rye or oats), soya, sesame. Offer one new allergen at a time, in the morning, so you can watch for a reaction.
- Texture and choking: purée or mash smoothly for 6–9 months, then soft, finger-sized pieces that squash between your fingers. Cut round foods such as grapes and cherry tomatoes into quarters lengthways, never give whole nuts, and always stay with your child while they eat.
- Under 1: no honey, no added salt or stock cubes, and no added sugar.
Every child is different. If you are unsure, especially about allergies, check with your health visitor or paediatrician.
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 garlic clovesfinely chopped
- 1 tsp fresh gingergrated
- 9 oz boneless chicken thighsskin removed, cut into 1 cm dice
- 4 fresh shiitake mushroomsdiced
- 1 tsp low-salt soy sauce
- ½ tsp sesame oil
For the rice
- 7 oz jasmine ricerinsed
- 2 cups no-salt chicken stock
- 2 pak choichopped, to serve
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What you'll need
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and fry 2 garlic cloves and 1 tsp fresh ginger for 1 minute until fragrant, without browning.
1 minStep 2: Add 9 oz boneless chicken thighs and 4 fresh shiitake mushrooms and stir-fry for 4 minutes until the chicken is white all over. Stir in 1 tsp low-salt soy sauce and ½ tsp sesame oil, then take off the heat.
4 minStep 3: Divide the chicken mixture between 4 heatproof bowls. Share 7 oz jasmine rice between the bowls on top, then pour in 2 cups no-salt chicken stock until it covers the rice by about 1 cm.
3 minStep 4: Set the bowls in a steamer over simmering water, cover and steam for 40 minutes, topping up the water as needed. The rice is ready when it is soft and swollen and all the stock has been absorbed; the chicken should reach 165°F. The common mistake is too little stock, which leaves the rice firm on top.
40 minStep 5: Steam 2 pak choi for the last 3 minutes, then chop finely.
3 minStep 6: Turn a bowl out onto a plate so the chicken sits on top, break it up with a spoon for your toddler, add the greens and cool until warm before serving.
Step 7: Cool leftovers quickly, cover and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to a month. Reheat by steaming until piping hot, then cool before serving.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 16 g
- Carbs
- 42 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does nasi tim ayam for toddlers take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of fresh ginger?
- ¼ tsp ground ginger per tbsp fresh (add it with the spices).
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