What you need
Ingredients
Allergens warning
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- This product is suitable for:
Method
Peel and very finely chop the onion and celery, then sauté over a medium/low heat in a pan with a splash of oil for about 5 minutes until soft. Crush in the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the tinned tomatoes, tomato purée and herbs and cook for about 10 minutes until the flavour intensifies. This makes the basic tomato sauce, which can be blended to a smooth consistency, or left chunky.
Meanwhile, peel and finely chop the carrots and leeks (into baby bite size pieces), then steam the carrots for about 20 minutes, adding in the leeks for the final 5 minutes of cooking time.
Cook pasta according to pack instructions, then drain and tip into a large baking dish. Drain the steamed vegetables and add to the tomato sauce in the pan. Stir to combine then pour over the pasta.
If using the mixed seeds, crush with a pestle and mortar and sprinkle on top of the pasta bake, then grate a little cheese over the top. Place in a preheated oven at 200°C / 180°C fan / gas mark 6. for around 15 minutes or until the cheese and seeds are golden.
To serve, scoop out a portion onto your little one's plate and allow to cool slightly.
If you like, shape pasta bake into a carrot shape, then top with finely cut two mini celery and carrots then top with two tiny cucumber squares, one pea for a nose, and one more celery slice for a mouth!
This classic dish is sure to quickly become one of your family's favourite vegetarian pasta bake recipes!
We've chosen to use carrots and leeks in our vegetable pasta bake for toddlers and babies, but you can use any seasonal veggies you like. We would not recommend using potatoes in your pasta bake as they are too stodgy.
The dish is a toddler friendly pasta bake as it is, but it can also be mashed or blended to a consistency that's right for your little one.
Small & baby pasta shapes can also be used if your little one prefers to eat their baby pasta bake with a spoon. Alternatively, some older babies like to pick up regular size fusilli or penne pasta with their fingers and take a bite - try both and see which they prefer.