The rice and fish croquettes are an option delicious, nutritious and easy to prepare for babies and toddlers. Its soft texture and pleasant makes them a perfect choice for children's nutrition, allowing the inclusion of fish in the diet of the little ones without complications.
In addition to being an excellent way to take advantage of leftover rice and fish, this recipe is a rich source of quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids y carbohydrates, essential for the child growth and development.
Benefits of rice and fish croquettes in children's diet
Homemade croquettes provide multiple health benefits for children, including:
- Source of essential proteins: Fish provides essential amino acids for muscle and brain development.
- Rich in omega-3: The fatty acids contained in fish contribute to the development of the nervous system and cognitive function.
- Easy to digest: Thanks to its soft texture, are ideal for babies who are starting solid foods.
- Customizable: They can be enriched with vegetables such as spinach, carrot or zucchini to provide more vitamins and minerals.
- Perfect for BLW: If you follow the Baby Led Weaning method, these kibbles are ideal since babies can easily hold them with their little hands.
Ingredients
To make rice and fish croquettes for babies you will need:
- 240 g cooked rice.
- 1 small onion, finely chopped.
- 20 g of butter.
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- 300 g of hake without bones.
- Salt and pepper to taste (avoid in babies under 12 months).
- 2 tablespoons of grated cheese.
- 2 eggs.
- 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.
For breaded:
- 1 or 2 beaten eggs.
- Breadcrumbs or oatmeal for a healthier version.
Step-by-step preparation
- Cook the rice: Boil the rice in twice as much water until it is very tender. Allow to cool.
- Sauté the onion: In a frying pan, heat the oil and melt the butter. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent.
- Cooking the fish: Add the shredded hake to the pan and cook until fully cooked.
- Form the dough: In a large bowl, mix the cooked rice, the fried onion and fish, the grated cheese and the cornstarch.
- Shaping the croquettes: With wet hands, take small portions of the mixture and mold them into croquette shapes.
- Rebozar: Dip each croquette in beaten egg and then in breadcrumbs or oat flour.
- Cooking: Fry in plenty of hot oil until golden or, for a healthier option, bake at 180°C for 20 minutes.
Tips and Variations
- Non-frying alternative: Cook the croquettes in the oven or in a non-stick pan with a little oil.
- Enrich with vegetables: You can add grated vegetables such as carrots, zucchini or peppers to make them more nutritious.
- Freezing: They can be frozen before cooking and prepared when needed.
- Alternative ingredients: If you don't have hake, you can try another white fish such as cod or whiting.
Rice and fish croquettes are a great way to include fish in children's diets in an appealing way. They are easy to prepare, adaptable and perfect for both babies who follow the method Baby Led Weaning (BLW) as well as for older children. Whether fried or baked, they will be a hit at any meal.