The fragrant, rich porridge of salmon is combined with vegetables that are not only delicious but also provide additional nutrients for your baby. Let’s go to the kitchen with TasteVN to make a very simple yet appealing porridge for your little one!
1. Salmon and Broccoli Porridge
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
30 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Salmon and Broccoli Porridge For 1 person
Salmon fillet 112 gr Broccoli 125 gr Unsweetened yogurt 1 tablespoon Lemon zest 1 teaspoon Olive oil 1 tablespoon (or cooking oil separately for the baby) Dill 1 teaspoon
How to Choose Good Broccoli
- The darker the green of the broccoli, the better it is, so observe the color of the broccoli when selecting it.
- Next, use your hand to feel the stem of the broccoli; those with stems that are still firm and not soft are fresh broccoli.
- Broccoli with florets that stand up high is tastier than those with flat florets.
- Additionally, you should pay attention to the florets; if there are no holes in the florets, choose that one. Because the tighter the broccoli and the fewer holes it has, the tastier it will be.
See more details: 6 wonderful benefits of broccoli and 6 tips for proper preparation
Tools needed:
How to prepare Salmon Broccoli Porridge
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Prepare salmon and broccoli
You should buy pre-fileted salmon at supermarkets or reputable food stores to save time. Then, use a knife to cut off the skin and check for any remaining bones; if there are any, use tweezers to remove them.
Next, rinse the piece of salmon gently under clean running water. Use a clean towel to pat the surface of the salmon dry.
For the broccoli, cut it into small florets, about 3 – 4cm in height. For the stem, peel off the tough outer layer (if any) and cut it into pieces similar to the florets. Then, rinse with diluted salt water and wash again with clean water, letting it drain.
Tip: You should soak the salmon in fresh milk for about 30 minutes to eliminate the fishy smell, making it easier for the baby to eat.
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Steamed broccoli
Place a pot on the stove, add about 500ml of filtered water, then place the steamer basket into the pot, boil for about 10 minutes on medium heat to stabilize the pot’s temperature.
Next, add the chopped broccoli to the steamer basket. Cover the lid and steam for about 10 minutes until the broccoli is cooked.
Tip: You can directly boil the broccoli in the pot of water without using a steamer, then remove it to a colander to drain.
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Pan-seared salmon
Heat a pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, when the oil is hot, add the salmon to sear. Wait until one side of the salmon turns slightly golden and firm, then use a spatula to flip the salmon until the other side is also cooked evenly before turning off the heat and removing the salmon.
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Blend the ingredients
Sequentially add the broccoli, salmon, 1 tablespoon of yogurt, 1/2 teaspoon of dill, 1 tablespoon of lemon zest, and 120ml of broccoli cooking water into a blender. Blend all the ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and fine.
Note: You can use either a blender or an immersion blender for this step.
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Final Product
Salmon and Broccoli Porridge with the natural fat of salmon, along with a bit of tangy yogurt will delight the baby with the flavor of the porridge.
2. Salmon and Taro Porridge
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
50 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Salmon and Taro Porridge Serves 1
Salmon 100 gr Rice 1 cup (sticky rice/ regular rice) Water 7 cups Taro 1 piece Dried seaweed 2 sheets Shallots 1/2 piece Cooking oil 1 tablespoon
How to choose delicious taro:
- Size: Choose those tubers that are medium-sized, not too large or too small.
- Shape: Choose those that are round and even, shaped like chicken eggs, with a rough skin, many roots, and dirt clinging to the surface.
- Color: Choose taro with a milky white interior, with many purple veins.
See more details: 8 benefits of taro for health and dishes from taro
How to prepare Salmon Taro Porridge
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Prepare the ingredients
Peel the taro, wash it clean, and use a grater to shred the taro into small strands. Place a pot on the stove, add about 3 cups of water along with the shredded taro to boil over medium heat.
Wash the salmon thoroughly, rub salt on the fish skin to remove the fishy smell, and rinse again with clean water. You can also wash the fish with a diluted mixture of lemon + vinegar for more effective odor removal. Then cut the salmon fillet and take the meat.
Peel the shallots and chop them finely.
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Pan-fried salmon
Place a pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, then add chopped shallots and sauté until golden and fragrant. Next, add the salmon to the pan and wait until the fish is firm and both sides are evenly golden, then turn off the heat and transfer it to a plate. Use a fork to flake the salmon apart.
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Cook the porridge
Place a pot on the stove, add 1 cup of rice and 7 cups of water, cook over medium heat until the water in the pot starts to boil, then reduce the heat and simmer the porridge for 30 minutes until it is soft.
In the next step, pour all the porridge and salmon into the pot of taro water, mix well to combine the ingredients. Cook the porridge for another 5 minutes over low heat, then turn off the heat.
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Final product
Sprinkle some finely chopped seaweed on top to enhance the flavor of the porridge. The porridge grains are soft, and the rich taste of the fish combined with the creamy texture of the taro will surely become a favorite dish for your child.
3. Salmon porridge with soft tofu
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
30 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Salmon Tofu Porridge For 1 person
Tomato 1 piece Soft tofu 1 piece Salmon 80 gr White porridge 2 bowls Green onion 1 stalk Cilantro 1 stalk
How to choose fresh and delicious tomatoes
- You should choose tomatoes with smooth skins, plump and juicy, bright red color, and green stems.
- Avoid choosing tomatoes that are bruised or have small black spots, or those with uneven colors of both green and red.
- If you touch them and they feel too soft or too hard, or if juice comes out, do not buy them, as they may be spoiled.
How to prepare Salmon Tofu Porridge
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Prepare the ingredients
Peel and chop the tomatoes finely. Mash the soft tofu.
For the salmon fillet, you can buy it pre-prepared at the supermarkets to save time on preparation. After that, rinse it clean with water.
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Sauté the ingredients
Place a pot on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil into the pot. Sear the salmon on medium heat until the fish is firm, then turn off the heat. Next, chop or use a fork to mash the salmon.
Using the same pot, add the tomatoes and soft tofu, stir well over medium heat. Then add the minced salmon and 2 cups of water to the pot, season with 1 teaspoon of fish sauce, and simmer for about 10 minutes on low heat.
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Cook the porridge
Once the water starts boiling, add 2 cups of plain porridge to the pot, mix well to combine the ingredients. When the porridge begins to simmer, chop the scallions and cilantro and add them in, then turn off the heat.
Note: If the porridge is too thick, you can add more water to make it thinner so that it is easier for the baby to eat.
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Finished Product
The porridge grains are soft and fragrant. The combination of fish and soft tofu gives the dish a naturally creamy and rich flavor. Although this porridge is simple, it is full of nutrients for your baby.
How to choose fresh salmon
For whole live salmon
- Observe the eyes of the fish; they should be clear, not cloudy, and not turning yellow, which indicates fresh fish. Additionally, fresh fish should have slightly bulging eyes; if the eyes are sunken, the fish is not good.
- The body of the fish should be bright and shiny. The skin should be tightly adhered to the body, without any peeling, impact marks, or scratches.
- For the gills, you can easily observe them with the naked eye. If the gills are bright red and not torn, the fish is still fresh. Avoid buying fish with gills that have turned dark red or pale. Moreover, the gills should not have any signs of blood clots.
- Fresh fish has a characteristic fishy smell and does not have a foul or chemical odor. Also, fresh fish has vibrant colors, not dull or lighter, and the flesh has good elasticity.
For filleted fish
- Fresh salmon meat should be bright pink or orange. If the flesh turns darker, it means the fish is starting to spoil or is close to decomposition.
- Additionally, good meat will have extremely good elasticity. When you press your finger into the flesh, if it leaves an indentation but quickly returns to its original state, the fish is still fresh.
- Examine the surface of the fillet; it should be dry, not wet or leaking any strange fluids. The fat lines on the fish should be evenly colored and bright, not dull or with brown spots.
- Moreover, fresh filleted fish will have a characteristic pleasant smell, without any strange or rancid odors.
See more: How to choose good salmon, how to process and preserve fresh salmon properly and for a long time
The effects of salmon on health
- Salmon is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation, lower the risk of cancer, and control blood pressure.
- It provides protein for the body, slows down the aging process, heals wounds, and maintains stable weight.
- Reduces the risk of heart disease.
- Helps your body control blood sugar and lowers the risk of stroke.
- Protects the brain and nervous system from inflammation and prevents skin damage.
- The types of fats in salmon can reduce belly fat and support weight loss.
- Additionally, salmon can help improve symptoms for those with chronic diseases.
- Reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
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