Baby Bean Sliders
Author: Andrea Carpenter, RD
Recipe Type: Entree (first foods)
Serving: 12 sliders
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup water
1 can organic black beans
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 TBSP organic cumin powder
1/2 TBSP organic paprika powder
3 TBSP oil (coconut, avocado) for cooking + more for frying
1 TBSP organic iron-fortified infant cereal
DIRECTIONS:
Drain and rinse the beans well until all bubbles disappear.
Add the oil to a medium sized pot and heat to medium high. Add the garlic and spices, stir frequently and cook 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. Add the beans and water to the pot and reduce heat to low. Cook for 20-30 minutes or until most of the water has cooked down and the beans are soft.
Mash the beans with a potato masher and continue to cook on low heat until they become pasty. Optional to use a blender for this step if your baby enjoys smooth textures. Once blended, add back to the pot and continue to cook until pasty.
All the bean mixture to cool completely before forming sliders. This can be made ahead of time and left in the fridge overnight.
Divide the mixture into 12 portions and form into small sliders using your hands to mold them.
In a shallow bowl or on a plate, add the infant cereal and coat each slider in the cereal, patting them gently to ensure they are well coated. Note: if your mixture is very crumbly, add some oil or water to loosen the mixture; if your mixture is too wet, add some cereal to thicken the mixture up.
Heat a non-stick pan on medium-high heat and add a drizzle of oil. Once the oil is heated, add the sliders to the pan, cooking them 1-2 minutes per side, or until crispy.
Optional additives:
I have also added plain cashew cheese to mixture for extra fat and flavour. The cheese can be mixed in prior to allowing the slider mixture to chill. If you are looking to add some extra veggies, try adding grated carrots, zucchini, or sweet potato into this mixture. Add the grated vegetables at the beginning so they can be cooked through and release any excess moisture.