8 Nutritious and Delicious Squid Porridge Recipes for Babies

Squid porridge for babies is an appealing weaning dish with a natural sweetness, a lightly crunchy-chewy texture, and easy pairing with many kinds of vegetables. To make your baby’s weaning menu more varied, mothers, join Ola Squid in learning the details of its nutritional value as well as the ways to cook delicious, properly flavored squid porridge for babies below.

At how many months can babies eat squid porridge? Nutritional benefits of squid porridge

When starting to introduce seafood to their child, many mothers wonder at how many months a baby can eat squid, so as to ensure good absorption while avoiding the risk of irritation.

Recommended age milestone for babies to eat squid

According to nutrition experts, the suitable time for mothers to start cooking squid porridge for babies is from 10 to 12 months of age.

Mothers should not give children squid or sea seafood too early (under 10 months). The reason is that a child’s digestive system at this stage is still very immature and does not yet secrete enough of the enzymes needed to metabolize and absorb seafood protein. Eating it early can cause the baby digestive disorders and bloating or increase the risk of food allergies.

Nutritional value of squid porridge for babies

Fresh squid is a source of nutrients for a child’s physical and brain development in the first year of life:

• Notable nutrient groups: Squid is very rich in easily absorbed protein, zinc, selenium, copper, iron and especially Omega-3 fatty acids (DHA, EPA).
• Brain and vision development: The abundant Omega-3 content supports the completion of the brain’s structure and strengthens the baby’s eyesight.
• Boosting immunity and physical development: Zinc and selenium play a role in strengthening the immune system, helping the baby eat well and reach standard height and weight.

8 ways to cook squid porridge with vegetables for weaning babies

The combination of fresh squid and vegetables not only balances nutrition but also creates attractive colors that stimulate the child’s appetite. Below are 8 simple squid porridge recipes for weaning babies that are easy to make at home.

Squid and carrot porridge

Carrots contain a lot of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A, very good for the baby’s eyes.

Ingredients to prepare: 30g regular rice, 20g fresh squid, 20g carrot, 1 teaspoon of baby weaning cooking oil.

Steps:

• Step 1: Wash the rice clean, put it in a pot and cook it into plain porridge simmered until very soft.

• Step 2: Peel the carrot, wash it clean, steam it until cooked, then mash it smooth or blend it finely.

• Step 3: Clean the squid, mince it finely or blend it depending on how coarse a texture the baby can eat. Put a little cooking oil in a pan and stir-fry the squid fibers until just cooked.

Step 4: When the porridge is cooked very soft, add the squid and carrot and stir well, bring back to a boil for about 3-5 minutes, then turn off the heat. Scoop into a bowl, let it cool slightly, then feed the baby.

Squid and pumpkin porridge

Pumpkin is mildly sweet, rich in fiber and vitamins, helping the baby digest easily and have bright eyes.

Ingredients to prepare: 30g rice, 20g fresh squid, 20g pumpkin, weaning cooking oil.

Steps:

• Step 1: Simmer plain porridge until the rice grains swell and burst completely.

• Step 2: Peel the pumpkin, remove the seeds, cut into small pieces, then steam until cooked and blend smooth.

• Step 3: Clean the squid, mince it very finely or blend it depending on how coarse a texture the baby can eat, then toss it quickly in a hot pan.

• Step 4: Add the pumpkin and squid to the pot of porridge, stir evenly over low heat so the ingredients blend together, and simmer gently for about 3 minutes to finish.

Squid and sweet potato porridge

The natural sweetness of sweet potato combined with squid creates a fragrant, creamy porridge that helps prevent constipation effectively.

Ingredients to prepare: 30g regular rice, 20g fresh squid, 20g sweet potato (Japanese sweet potato or honey sweet potato), weaning cooking oil.

Steps:

• Step 1: Wash the rice and put it on the stove to cook into thick porridge.

• Step 2: Peel the sweet potato, wash off the sap, steam until cooked and mash smooth through a sieve.

• Step 3: Clean the squid thoroughly of its fishy smell, mince it finely or blend it depending on how coarse a texture the baby can eat, then stir-fry until just cooked.

• Step 4: Pour the sweet potato and squid into the pot of porridge, stir well until smooth, and cook for another 3 minutes so the porridge cooks uniformly.

Squid and tomato porridge

Tomato brings a mild sourness that stimulates the baby’s appetite, while also supplying plenty of vitamin C

Ingredients to prepare: 30g rice, 20g fresh squid, 1/2 ripe tomato, weaning cooking oil.

Steps:

• Step 1: Cook plain porridge until very soft at a ratio suited to the baby’s texture level.

• Step 2: Wash the tomato, blanch it in boiling water to peel off the skin, remove the seeds, then mince finely.

• Step 3: Wash the squid, mince it finely, mince it to a paste or blend it depending on how coarse a texture the baby can eat. Put a pan on the stove, add a little cooking oil and stir-fry the tomato until soft, then continue adding the squid and stir-fry until firm.

• Step 4: Pour the whole squid and tomato mixture into the pot of porridge, stir evenly and bring to a boil for 3 minutes.

Squid and straw mushroom porridge

Straw mushrooms are rich in plant protein and minerals, giving the porridge a wonderfully appealing natural delicate sweetness.

Ingredients to prepare: 30g regular rice, 20g fresh squid, 20g fresh straw mushrooms, weaning cooking oil.

Steps:

• Step 1: Put the pot on the stove and cook plain porridge until the rice grains are soft.

• Step 2: Soak the straw mushrooms in diluted salt water for 10 minutes, wash clean, cut off the mushroom stems, then mince finely, mince to a paste or blend depending on how coarse a texture the baby can eat.

• Step 3: Prepare the squid to remove the fishy smell, mince it to a paste or blend it depending on how coarse a texture the baby can eat. Lightly stir-fry the squid and straw mushrooms until just cooked.

• Step 4: Add the squid and mushrooms to the pot of porridge, stir evenly over low heat for about 5 minutes so the mushrooms cook completely.

Squid and broccoli porridge

Broccoli is a food rich in fiber, vitamin C and folate, suitable for weaning babies.

Ingredients to prepare: 30g rice, 20g fresh squid, 20g broccoli, weaning cooking oil.

Steps:

• Step 1: Simmer plain porridge until very soft and smooth.

• Step 2: Soak and wash the broccoli clean, boil until cooked, then mince very finely, mince to a paste or blend depending on how coarse a texture the baby can eat.

• Step 3: Clean the squid, mince it to a paste or blend it depending on how coarse a texture the baby can eat, and sauté until fragrant and cooked.

• Step 4: Add the squid and broccoli to the pot of porridge, stir well and bring back to a boil for about 2-3 minutes, then turn off the heat.

See more: How to make delicious, crunchy cauliflower stir-fried squid, the more you eat the more you crave

Squid and onion porridge

Onion is warming in nature, helps relieve colds, is antibacterial and removes the characteristic fishy smell of seafood.

Ingredients to prepare: 30g regular rice, 20g fresh squid, 15g onion, weaning cooking oil.

Steps:

• Step 1: Cook the pot of plain porridge until very soft.

Step 2: Peel the onion, wash it clean, dice it very small, mince it to a paste or blend it depending on how coarse a texture the baby can eat.

Step 3: Clean the squid, mince it finely, mince it to a paste or blend it depending on how coarse a texture the baby can eat. Put a little cooking oil in a pan, stir-fry the onion until fragrant and silky, then add the squid and toss together until cooked and firm.

• Step 4: Pour the mixture into the pot of porridge, stir well and simmer over low heat for another 3-5 minutes until the onion is completely soft and cooked.

See more: Guide to making simple, delicious dried squid stir-fried with onion

Squid and sweet leaf porridge

Sweet leaf (rau ngót) cools the body, is rich in iron and B-complex, and is an excellent choice for a child’s weaning porridge.

Ingredients to prepare: 30g rice, 20g fresh squid, 15g sweet leaves, weaning cooking oil.

Steps:

• Step 1: Simmer plain porridge until very soft and smooth.

• Step 2: Pick the leaves off the sweet leaf stems, wash clean, rub them gently, then mince or blend finely.

• Step 3: Clean the squid, mince it to a paste or blend it depending on how coarse a texture the baby can eat, and lightly stir-fry with a little weaning cooking oil.

• Step 4: When the porridge is cooked, add the squid and sweet leaves and stir well, bring to a boil for another 3 minutes until the leaves are just cooked, then turn off the heat.

See more: How to cook delicious, nutritious dried squid porridge with no fishy smell

Notes when cooking squid porridge for weaning babies

Preparing seafood for young children requires greater care than ordinary meats to avoid the risk of poisoning or allergy. When following these ways to cook squid porridge for babies, mothers should keep the following notes in mind:

• Only feed at the right age: Babies aged 10-12 months should only then start practicing eating squid, do not feed it too early.
• Control the portion: Each weaning meal for the baby should only use about 20-30g of fresh squid.
• Reasonable frequency: Feed the baby about 1-2 meals per week, and do not feed it continuously every day to avoid overloading the digestive system.
• Introduce it little by little: Start with a small amount of squid in the first meal, and only increase gradually in later meals if the baby’s body adapts well.
• Cook thoroughly: Cook completely, and do not let children eat rare or undercooked squid.
• Cook over low heat: When adding the squid to the pot of porridge, lower the heat and stir evenly so the porridge does not burn or scorch.
• Monitor for allergies: Always observe the child’s reaction after eating. If you see signs of hives, vomiting, difficulty breathing or diarrhea, mothers need to stop feeding immediately and take the baby to the nearest medical facility.

How to choose and prepare fresh squid to remove the fishy smell for babies

Ingredient quality determines 90% of how delicious and safe the dish is. Mothers can refer to the tips for choosing fresh squid from Ola Squid below.

Signs of fresh, good squid

So that the porridge is not crumbly or fishy, mothers should choose fresh squid by the following characteristics:

• Squid body: Taut and glossy, smooth, milky white or with evenly colored pinkish-brown spots, not dull yellow or blackish.
• Squid eyes: Transparent, slightly bulging eyes with a clearly visible pupil, not cloudy or leaking fluid.
• Springiness: Press lightly on the squid body with your hand; the flesh is firm and springs back immediately.
• Tentacles: The squid tentacles stick firmly to the head, not mushy or loose.
• Ink sac: The ink sac inside is still intact, not broken or crushed.
• Smell: A characteristic light sea smell; absolutely do not choose squid with a strong foul smell or a chemical smell.

Effective steps to remove the fishy smell

Preparing squid properly helps remove the unpleasant fishy smell and helps the baby eat better:

• Step 1: Clean the surface: Peel off the thin purple outer skin and gently rinse the squid under clean running water.

• Step 2: Remove the innards: Gently pull the head out of the body, and remove all the innards, ink sac, eyes and beak (the hard round lump in the middle of the tentacles).

• Step 3: Peel the inner membrane: Peel off the thin sticky membrane inside the squid’s belly and pull out the cuttlebone.

• Step 4: Remove the fishy smell: Soak the squid in a little diluted white wine or gently squeeze the squid with coarse salt for about 2-3 minutes to remove the smell.

• Step 5: Finish: Rinse the squid several times with clean water, let it drain thoroughly, then slice/mince it finely depending on how coarse a texture the baby can eat.

I hope that with the sharing above from Ola Squid, mothers have picked up many appealing and safe recipes for squid porridge for babies. Wishing you success, and don’t forget to visit the Ola Squid website to see many more appealing cooking recipes!