Creamy Tomato & Mozzarella Quinoa Risotto {for Babies & Toddlers}
Fill your freezer with a big batch of this healthy, filling risotto for babies and toddlers! This is a part rice / part quinoa risotto which means extra nutrition, protein and texture. With creamy tomato sauce, peas and fresh mozzarella, this is a healthy meal which the whole family can enjoy. Freeze leftovers in baby or toddler portions and you'll have a nutritious lunch or dinner in minutes.
Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 Tbsp of mixed Italian herbs
- ¾ cup (150 g) risotto (arborio) rice
- ¼ cup (42 g) quinoa
- 1 can chopped tomatoes, 400g / 15oz size
- 3 cups water
- 2 cups frozen peas
- 2-3 heaping spoonfuls of mascarpone*
- 1 ball of fresh mozzarella, this would usually be around 125g / 4.4oz
Instructions
- In a deep pan or skillet, saute garlic for a couple of minutes until fragrant.
- Add the herbs, risotto rice and quinoa and continue to saute for a few more moments.
- Add the tinned tomatoes and a cup of water.
- Simmer, stirring regularly, until most of the liquid is absorbed. Add more water, about a cup at a time, stirring regularly, until the rice and quinoa are cooked and the sauce is thick. This should be 20-25 minutes total.
- Add the frozen peas and stir in until defrosted.
- Add the mascarpone and mozzarella, and keep over the heat until the mascarpone is mixed through and the mozzarella has melted.
- Garnish with basil if desired.
Notes
STORAGE: I use a large silicon baby food storage tray to freeze small lunch portions of this risotto. One defrosted portion works great for lunch alongside some fresh fruit or applesauce and a couple of crackers with peanut butter. (You'll want to use two portions for hungrier babies or older toddlers.)
Because this risotto recipe is designed for babies and toddlers, it uses water and canned tomatoes for the sauce instead of broth to keep the sodium levels down. If you're less concerned with sodium go ahead and use broth.
*I love mascarpone for the sweetness, but you could definitely use a heavy cream or plain cream cheese.
Calories: 106kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 10mg, Sodium: 96mg, Potassium: 130mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 278IU, Vitamin C: 10mg, Calcium: 64mg, Iron: 1mg
