Italian
Gluten freeOmogeneizzato di carne fatto in casa
Homemade meat puree for babies
6m+ · Italy's homemade baby meat purée: lean turkey, chicken or veal cooked and blended silky
In Italy, little jars of omogeneizzato di carne line every supermarket shelf, but plenty of mothers in Milan, Bologna and Naples make their own: a lean piece of turkey breast, chicken or veal cooked with a carrot and blended with its own broth into a very smooth cream. A teaspoon or two is stirred into the baby's midday pappa of crema di riso in brodo vegetale from about six months, giving iron and protein. For babies there is no salt, stock cube, sugar or honey. It is free of the major allergens. Chef's tip: blend the meat while it is still hot with plenty of its broth, then sieve; cold meat goes grainy and never turns properly creamy.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Serves
- 8
- Per serving
- 25 kcal
Baby & toddler safety
- Age: from 6 months+.
- Allergens: none of the common allergens found in the ingredients. 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
- 5 ½ oz lean turkey breast, chicken breast or vealtrimmed of all fat and sinew, cut in 2 cm cubes
- 1 carrotsmall, peeled and sliced
- 1 ¾ cups water
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What you'll need
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put 5 ½ oz lean turkey breast, chicken breast or veal, 1 carrot and 1 ¾ cups water in a small pan and bring slowly to a simmer over a medium heat, skimming off any foam.
8 minStep 2: Cover and simmer gently for 25 minutes, until the meat is tender and cooked right through: chicken or turkey must reach 165°F in the centre with no pink, veal at least 160°F.
25 minStep 3: Lift the meat and carrot into a blender with about 120 ml of the hot broth and blend for 2 minutes, until completely smooth. Common mistake: adding too little liquid; the purée turns into a dry paste, so keep adding broth until it is creamy.
2 minStep 4: Press through a fine sieve for a silky texture. Stir 1–2 tsp into your baby's usual vegetable-broth rice cream or vegetable purée and cool to lukewarm.
Step 5: Cool the rest quickly, spoon into an ice-cube tray, cover and freeze for up to 1 month, or keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat a portion only once until piping hot, then cool before serving.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 25 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 1 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does omogeneizzato di carne fatto in casa take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of carrot?
- Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.
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