Nigerian soups are packed full of nutrients and you may want to introduce them to your baby from 7-8 months old.
Rather than giving him/her your fingers to lick from your own soup (I am equally guilty of that sometimes), make a baby version that can be given as a complete meal. Making strictly baby’s own soup is in my opinion a better way of making this introduction.
The family soup will definitely contain salt and it is medically advised to avoid adding salt to baby’s food. This is because their kidneys are not completely developed to withstand processing all that.
Okro soup is always a kids favourite and therefore a good soup to start baby with from 6 months. Inorder to make it tasty, without adding salt or seasoning, I use crayfish, onions, flaked mackerel fish and then sometimes add a little scent/basil leaf (nchuanwu/effirin).
Baby’s Okro Soup Recipe
Ingredients:
- 5-6 fingers Okro
- 2-3 medium cuts of mackerel fish
- 1 medium onions
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons crayfish
- 2 tablespoons red palm oil
- 1-2 cups water
Method:
- Wash fish and put in a pot with 2 cups of water. Finely chop half of the onions and garlic, add to pot and cook till fish is cooked (this will take about 10-15 minutes)
- Remove the fish and allow to cool before de-boning completely and flaking. Please be careful to remove all the bones in the fish. Meanwhile, drain the fish stock into a fresh pot with a sieve to ensure all the onions, garlic and any bone particles have been removed.
- Blend the remaining onions and crayfish together. Chop Okro in chunks and blend with a little water till smooth.
- Set pot of stock on medium heat again and once it boils, add the palm oil, flaked fish, blended onions and crayfish. Stir and simmer for about two minutes.
- Pour in the blended okro, stir well and remove from heat once done. The okro is blended, so the heat from the soup will cook it well without killing the nutrients.
- Serve with a small portion of very soft eba.
Note: You can add more or less water to loosen the thickness of the soup to your baby’s preference.
There is another okro soup for older kids or the whole family. Leave a comment below. Follow Mummy’s Yum on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more interaction and sharing of information and ideas.
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Thank u for this my baby really enjoyed it..
You are very welcome Stephanie
Wow. A great and simple recipe for babies. I loveeet. God bless you richly ma.
Bless you too Ayobami. Thanks
Happy I came across your page.my baby will be 6months next week.can I start him with okro soup now?he wants to eat whatever I eat now.
Thanks
Hello Nene, it is fine as long as you make the baby version for him. Find recipes by exploring the website
Hi, am new here and my baby will soon turn six months. I love what you do here and I’m benefiting a lot especially being a first time mum. How do I subscribe?
Welcome Uche and thanks for this. You can subscribe using the subscribe button on the webpage or download plantain ebook button
Should I add salt and seasoning to the fish or the okro soup to give it taste?
No Ibukun. Not at all because your baby doesn’t need that and the fish has made it tasty already.
Good morning ma,
Ha! I’ve been given my 6months baby family food and he’s 10months.how I have not caused him harm?
Please aunty chioma, he started drinking tea @ 10 months (Milo and baby’milk) how bad is it?
Is oat good for him? Quarter
Hello Akuchukwu, it is not really ideal to have been giving him family food unless you cook with less salt but well done for introducing him to solid food.
I wouldn’t advise you to give milo to your baby because it is not a drink for babies and is full of sugar which is equally not good.
Quaker oats or any other brand of oats is perfectly the best for baby.
I just want to say Thank You so o o o o o o o much for setting up this website. I just stumbled on it and it’s been so amazing and informative. My triplets just clocked one and it’s been difficult trying to make the right food for them but your writeups have given me great ideas. Thanks a lot. Kisses.
You are so welcome Irene. I am just laughing here.