Lentil chickpea curry for baby-led weaning is a delicious protein alternative to meat.

It’s great to serve with rice and naan bread or eat it alone.

Babies and toddlers will love this flavorful curry dish with its bright aroma and spices.

This dish isn’t just for kids though, the whole family will enjoy eating it together.

lentil chickpea curry for baby in a Pyrex container with bread on the side, baby-led weaning and toddler meals

You should also try – Easy Lentil Chicken Stir Fry For Baby

Why I Love Chickpea Lentil Curry For Baby-led Weaning

It’s an Easy to make Meal

Chickpea lentil curry is one of my favorite baby-led weaning dishes.

There is so much variety to what you can serve with it.

I usually make it on busy nights when I don’t have time to run to the supermarket.

We always keep lentils, chickpeas, and brown rice in our pantry. So it’s easy to whip up something like this at the last minute.

A great alternative to meat protein

I know there are a lot of vegetarian families now who introduce their babies and toddlers to the lifestyle at a young age.

So this chickpea and lentil curry is a great replacement for the protein in meat.

Lentils have been proven to contain the same amount of protein as meat (12 grams) when combined with a whole grain like bread or rice (source).

Gluten-free

Lentils and chickpeas are naturally gluten-free. So they’re great for those who need to live a gluten-free lifestyle.

You should also try – Simple Chickpea Muffins For Baby & Toddlers (No Added Sugar)

Ingredients For Baby-friendly Chickpea Lentil Curry

Onion and garlic – help bring out the flavor of the chickpea and lentil curry.

Lentils – any lentil will work. I used canned ones, but you can make them from dried lentils that have been pre-cooked.

Chickpeas – I used canned versions because they’re easier to cook with.

Chicken broth or water – this is needed to help soften the chickpeas and lentils as they cook.

Spices – I choose to use thyme, curry powder, turmeric, and onion powder. Together they help enrich the lentil chickpea curry and bring out their flavor.

Jump to Recipe

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

Saute the onion & garlic

Step 2

Add the lentils and cook

Step 3

Add the chickpeas and spices

Step 4

Add the chicken broth and simmer until done

Why Lentils and Chickpeas are Good For Babies and Toddlers

Chickpeas and lentils are great vegetables for babies and toddlers because of their nutrient content.

We’ve already discussed that they are packed with protein for building muscles and bones.

They also contain lots of fiber and carbohydrates that your kids need to grow (source).

What To Serve With Lentil Chickpea Curry For Babies & Toddlers

Serve with some Naan Bread

Naan bread is one of my favorite things to serve with lentil chickpea curry. The texture and flavor of the Naan is a great contrast to the curry.

Serve with a side of rice

Rice is a great side dish for lentil and chickpea curry. The combination is something that a baby can easily scoop with their hands to feed themselves.

Serve with steamed vegetables

Steamed veggies like carrots and broccoli are great additions to lentil chickpea curry. Especially if you have rice on the side as well.

How To Serve Lentil Chickpea Curry For Baby-led Weaning

6-9 Months old

For babies between 6 and 9 months, lentil chickpea curry can be served in a bowl for easy scooping.

Babies should be allowed to eat the meal with their hands to avoid frustration.

9-12 months old

Babies between 9 and 12 months old can be served a preloaded spoon of chickpea lentil curry.

Consider mixing the curry with rice to help thicken it up for spooning.

12- 24 months and older

Toddlers between 12 and 24 months can be encouraged to scoop up lentil chickpea curry with a spoon.

This will help develop their independence and confidence with eating.

You can assist by preloading the spoon if they get too frustrated with self-feeding at mealtime.

Cooking Directions For Chickpea Lentil Curry Soup

Place a pan on medium heat and add the oil when the pan is hot.
saute the onion and garlic until fragrant.
Add the drained and rinsed can of chickpeas and lentils.
Add the chicken broth, turmeric, curry powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme bouillon powder, and cover the pan.
Reduce the heat to low. Simmer until the lentils and chickpeas are tender and breaking apart. Adjust spices to taste. Add more broth or water if the curry is too thick.
Remove from the heat and serve warm.

Storage Tips for Chickpea Lentil Curry

Can I refrigerate this baby-friendly chickpea lentil curry?

Yes, you can refrigerate this lentil and chickpea curry for up to a week.

To refrigerate, store it in a container like a Pyrex to keep it fresh.

Can I freeze this Chickpea lentil curry?

You can freeze this lentil chickpea curry for as long as you need. They’re great to freeze for postpartum meal preps.

Reheating BLW sweet potato tots For Baby

On the stovetop

If your chickpea lentil curry is frozen, you’ll have to defrost it before reheating.

You can then pour it into a saucepan to reheat slowly on low heat.

In the microwave

You can reheat defrosted chickpea lentil curry in the microwave on high power for about 2-3 minutes or until it’s evenly heated.

Tips for Picky Eaters

Don’t pressure

Give your baby or toddler a chance to say no. It’s okay if they don’t like what we serve them. Keep trying.

It takes at least 30 exposures for a baby to begin liking a food, so don’t give up.

Make it into a game

Sometimes I create games around the food I serve to get my kids interested in eating.

A game we’ve played in the past is called “Here comes the airplane… open the garage”. This encourages them to open their mouth as I bring the food in like an airplane.

Sometimes my kids will try new foods this way.