1. Bring a medium pot of water to a gentle boil. Add 60 g quinoa pasta and cook until very soft (follow package guidance but aim for a softer-than-normal texture for easy chewing), about 8–12 minutes. Reserve 1–2 tbsp (use a little later if needed) of the cooking water, then drain the pasta.
2. While the pasta cooks, peel and cut 80 g carrot into batons about 4–5 cm long and ≈1 cm thick so they’re easy for little hands to grasp. Steam the carrot batons and 40 g peas together until very soft and easily mashed with a fork (carrots usually 8–12 minutes, peas 4–6 minutes).
3. Prepare 60 g navy beans (if canned, rinse and drain well; if cooked from dry, ensure they are very soft). Warm the beans gently in a small pan with 5 g olive oil and a tablespoon of reserved pasta water; lightly mash with a fork so there is some texture (not fully smooth) — this helps them bind to the pasta while remaining safe for baby-led weaning.
4. In a mixing bowl combine the drained quinoa pasta, steamed carrot pieces (reserve some whole or split pieces for finger-size serving), peas (you can leave whole if very soft or lightly mash), and the mashed navy beans. Add a small drizzle of the remaining olive oil to help cohesion. Adjust texture with a splash of reserved pasta water if mixture seems dry.
5. Form the mixture into toddler-friendly shapes: small sausages (thumb-length) or flattened patties that are easy to grasp and soft to bite. Press gently so pieces hold together but remain soft. For an alternative, leave the pasta and vegetables as loose pieces for self-feeding.
6. Optional: To lightly caramelise and help hold patties, warm a non-stick skillet over low heat, add a very small swipe of olive oil and cook patties 1–2 minutes per side until just golden—do not overcook; they should stay soft inside. Alternatively serve without frying.
7. Allow pieces to cool to lukewarm. Always test temperature and softness before offering to the child; pieces should be easy to squash between finger and thumb (or with gums). Supervise closely while the toddler eats.

Summary

Simple, nutritious lunch combining quinoa pasta, soft steamed carrot & peas and mashed navy beans. Sized and textured for baby-led weaning from 10+ months: protein-rich, fibre-filled and easy for little hands to pick up.

Storing

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 48 hours. To freeze, portion on a tray until firm then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat until steaming, then cool to lukewarm before serving.

Allergies & Side effects

Contains legumes (navy beans, peas) which can cause gas in some infants. Check the quinoa pasta packaging if gluten or other allergies are a concern—many quinoa pastas are gluten-free but not all. Introduce new foods one at a time and watch for signs of allergic reaction. Never leave a toddler unattended while eating and ensure pieces are soft and appropriately sized to reduce choking risk.