Feeding a baby between 6 to 8 months can feel exciting and new. This is the stage where many babies slowly start enjoying soft homemade foods along with milk feeds. Baby food recipes with nutritious rice meals can be a simple way to give different textures and natural ingredients in one bowl.
If you enjoy preparing homemade meals, you may also like our Healthy Baby Meal Plan for a Full Day (6+ Months).
For little babies, I always like meals that include a good balance of ingredients. In each recipe below, try to include:
- 2 grain ingredients
- 1–2 vegetables
- A leafy green
- A protein source
- A healthy fat
These soft baby rice recipes are simple, filling, and easy to adjust according to your baby’s stage.
🍲 Recipe 01 – Rice, Lentils & Chicken Baby Meal
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp rice
- 1 tbsp lentils
- 1 tbsp carrot
- 2 tbsp potato
- 2–3 spinach leaves
- 2 tbsp finely chopped chicken 🍗
- ½ tsp unsalted butter
Method
🔅 Add a little water to the chicken and cook until half done.
🔅 Add rice, lentils, and potato. Add more water as needed and cook well until soft.
🔅 Steam the carrot and spinach. You can also add the carrot earlier while cooking the rice mixture.
🔅 Once everything is fully cooked, mash or strain into a smooth puree. Add the spinach and mix well.
🔅 While still warm, mix in the butter and serve.
🍲 Recipe 02 – Rice, Oats & Fish Baby Meal
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp rice
- 1 tbsp oats
- 1 tbsp sweet potato
- 1 tbsp green peas
- 5–6 mukunuwenna leaves / other soft greens 🍃
- A small piece of fish
- ½ tsp ghee 🧈
Method
🔅 Lightly cook the fish with ghee.
🔅 When half cooked, add rice and oats. Add water and cook until soft.
🔅 Steam the sweet potato, peas, and leafy greens. You can also add the sweet potato earlier.
🔅 Mash everything together into a smooth baby-friendly texture.
📍 For 6 to 8 month babies, it is usually better to cook the ghee into the food rather than adding it raw at the end.
🍲 Recipe 03 – Rice, Chickpeas & Pumpkin Baby Meal
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp rice
- 1 tbsp soaked chickpeas
- 2 tbsp pumpkin
- 2–3 broccoli pieces 🥦
- 5–6 gotukola leaves / other greens 🍃
- 3–4 small dried fish pieces (cleaned well)
- ½ tsp unsalted butter
Method
🔅 Cook rice, chickpeas, and dried fish with enough water until soft.
🔅 Steam pumpkin and broccoli. Pumpkin can also be added during cooking.
🔅 Mash everything well into a smooth puree.
🔅 Finely chop the greens and mix in.
🔅 Add butter while warm and stir well before serving.
🍲 Recipe 04 – Rice, Green Gram & Egg Yolk Baby Meal
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp rice 🌾
- 1 tbsp soaked split green gram
- 1 tbsp carrot 🥕
- 1 tbsp pumpkin
- 8–10 moringa leaves / 1 tbsp dried moringa leaves
- 1 boiled egg yolk 🥚
- ½ tsp olive oil
Method
🔅 Cook rice and green gram with enough water until soft.
🔅 Steam carrot and pumpkin. These can also be added while cooking.
🔅 Once cooked, turn off the heat and add moringa leaves. Leave for a few minutes.
🔅 Mash or strain into a smooth puree.
🔅 Crumble in the boiled egg yolk.
🔅 Add olive oil while warm and mix before serving.
🍲 Recipe 05 – Rice, Cowpeas & Chicken Baby Meal
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp rice
- 1 tbsp soaked cowpeas
- 2 tbsp potato
- 1 bean pod
- 2 tbsp finely chopped chicken 🍗
- 2–3 spinach leaves
- ½ tsp coconut oil 🧈
Method
🔅 Lightly cook the chicken with a little coconut oil.
🔅 When half cooked, add rice, cowpeas, and potato. Add water and cook until soft.
🔅 When partly cooked, add the beans.
🔅 Steam the spinach separately.
🔅 Mash everything together with the spinach into a soft puree.
📍 If chicken pieces remain large, shred very finely before serving.
Important Tips for Baby Food Recipes 👶
📍 Always allergy test new foods one at a time.
📍 Do not add salt for babies under one year unless advised by your healthcare professional.
📍 Try to balance grains, vegetables, greens, protein, and healthy fats in meals.
📍 Steaming vegetables can help keep texture and nutrients.
📍 Leafy greens are often best added toward the end of cooking.
📍 Healthy fats such as butter or olive oil are usually best added while the food is still warm.
For a refreshing snack, try these Easy Mango Popsicles for Babies.
Helpful Baby Recipe Ideas
If you enjoy making homemade meals, you may also like:
- Healthy Baby Meal Plan for a Full Day (6+ Months)
- Easy Mango Popsicles for Babies
- Soft Homemade Baby Snack Ideas
FAQ
- How smooth should food be for a 6 month old baby?
Start with a smooth mashed or puree texture, then slowly move to thicker textures as your baby grows.
- Can I freeze these baby meals?
Yes, many parents freeze small portions in baby-safe containers and reheat only what is needed.
- How often should I introduce new foods?
Introduce one new ingredient at a time and watch for any reactions.
Final Note ❤️
Every baby is different. Some babies enjoy new foods quickly, while others need time. Use these Baby Food Recipes as meal ideas and always speak with your doctor, pediatrician, midwife, or healthcare nurse if you need advice about allergies, feeding concerns, or introducing new ingredients. Homemade baby meals can be simple, loving, and nourishing when made with care.
For another soft and comforting meal idea, you may also like our Healthy Sago Porridge (Sau Kenda) for Babies – Easy Homemade recipe.
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