Rice Porridge for Babies

Super simple to prepare, this chicken and vegetable rice porridge for babies is easy to digest, nutritious, and perfect for little ones 6 months and older. It's also an ideal meal for when your child is feeling unwell or teething. 

Though I’m calling it baby porridge, this dish is suitable for all ages! Rice porridge is a staple in many Asian cultures, often enjoyed as a hearty savory breakfast. Warm and comforting, it's the perfect meal when you're feeling under the weather.

If your child has a fever, is teething, or experiencing diarrhea, make this porridge right away!

Porridge is a fantastic way to add variety to your baby’s diet! You can make it with any type of meat, seafood, vegetables, and other flavorful toppings. Is rice safe for babies?

Is rice safe for babies?

As an Indian family, we eat a lot of rice. As per the report, I learned that rice contains about 10 times more inorganic arsenic than other cereal crops, and my anxiety spiked. Perhaps you can relate.

Why does rice have so much arsenic? It's due to the way it's grown, as rice tends to absorb more heavy metals from the soil.

Arsenic is particularly concerning for babies and young children. Their small bodies get much higher exposure than adults, and arsenic, being a neurotoxic compound, can impair brain development. I know, it’s scary.

BUT! Don’t let fear get the best of you. I share this information because knowledge is important. It helps us to learn and make informed decisions.

What this knowledge further motivated me to do, and I hope it does for you, is to focus on offering a wide variety of grains instead of relying heavily on rice.

Oatmeal, barley, quinoa, and wheat contain much lower amounts of inorganic arsenic. 

How to cook rice for baby 6 months and up

Resource

Here’s a simple way you can significantly reduce arsenic from rice while preserving its nutrients.

According to the research, parboiling rice removes about 54 percent of arsenic in brown rice and about 73 percent in white rice, while retaining the most amount of the nutrients potassium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorous, and manganese.

For this recipe, not only will this extra step remove the arsenic content considerably, but it will also shorten the cooking time.

Ingredients

Rice – Sushi, Sonamasuri, or jasmine rice will work best. I don’t recommend basmati as it doesn’t break into a creamy, “gluey” consistency. 

Vegetables

Feel free to use whatever vegetables you wish – bell pepper, broccoli, asparagus, spinach…endless possibilities!

You can finely chop using a knife or a food processor. I like to prep a lot while the baby is napping so this manual food chopper is my go-to (link). It’s super quiet, lightweight, and powerful.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. cook chicken in oil

2. Add onion and garlic

3. add parboiled rice

4. add the rest of the vegetables

5. Add water and cook for 15-20 minutes

6. Add a drizzle of sesame oil before serving

Expert Tips

You must stir frequently. The more you do so, the more the rice will break down and become silky.

While water is used in this recipe, you can use stock for more depth of flavor. Just be sure to use low-sodium or no-salt-added variety.

Storage Suggestions

Leftover porridge can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 day. The longer it sits, the thicker it gets. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop. Stir in a little water, breastmilk, or formula to loosen it up, if necessary.

How to freeze baby porridge

If you plan to freeze the porridge, let it cool first. Don’t leave it in the large pot at room temperature to cool. Instead, put it in shallow containers (I prefer dividing it into single servings) and place them in the fridge before moving to the freezer.