Lunch for one 9-month-old

Soft, moist fingers for a child who is developmentally ready for finger foods. Offer according to appetite; there is no need to finish the portion.

1. Use the listed ingredient amounts. Remove any bone, gristle and tough connective tissue from the lamb, then mince it very finely. Keep raw lamb and its utensils separate from cooked food.
2. Put the rice in a small saucepan with enough water to cook it without drying out. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer gently for about 15–20 minutes, or according to the packet instructions, until very soft. Drain any excess water and mash thoroughly.
3. Meanwhile, peel the eggplant and cut it into small pieces. Remove the bell pepper's stem, seeds and pale ribs, then cut it into broad strips. Steam both vegetables for 12–15 minutes, or until easily crushed with a fork. Let them cool just enough to handle, remove the pepper skin, then mash both vegetables.
4. Mix the mashed rice and vegetables with the minced raw lamb. Add a little cooking water only if needed to keep the mixture moist. Shape immediately into loosely formed, flattened fingers about 5–6 cm long, 2 cm wide and no more than 1.5 cm thick.
5. Place the fingers in a single layer on a shallow heatproof dish in a covered steamer. Steam for about 15–20 minutes, until the lamb is fully cooked and the centre of each finger reaches at least 75°C. Check with a food thermometer and continue cooking if necessary.
6. Cool before serving. Check that the fingers are moist and squash easily between thumb and forefinger, with no firm meat pieces or tough vegetable skin. Seat the child upright and supervise closely throughout eating.

Storage

Cool untouched leftovers promptly in a shallow container and refrigerate within 1 hour. Use within 24 hours. Reheat only once, until steaming hot throughout and at least 75°C in the centre, then cool before serving. Discard food left on the child's plate.

Allergens

None of the listed ingredients is a common major allergen, but individual allergies are possible. Check any packaging for allergen and cross-contact information.