Hello, fellow parents! I’m Brooke, a mom to three amazing kids who has developed a passion for creating baby-friendly recipes over the years. Today, I’m excited to share my codfish meatballs recipe that’s perfect for little ones. It’s a great way to introduce fish without worrying about bones or choking hazards, and the meatballs are just the right size for tiny hands. Trust me, your babies are going to love it!
How to Make Baby-Friendly Codfish Meatballs
Let’s start with desalting the codfish. Soak the codfish flakes or shreds in a bowl of cold water for about 40 minutes. If you’re using larger pieces like loins or fillets, adjust the soaking time accordingly.
After soaking, chop the codfish into even smaller pieces for easy chewing. Next, soak some stale or sandwich bread in milk for 5 minutes. Once softened, squeeze out excess liquid.
In a bowl, combine the codfish, eggs, soaked bread, and a generous amount of finely chopped parsley. Mix everything until you have a uniform mixture. If it’s too wet, add some breadcrumbs to thicken.
Shape the mixture into small balls and coat them lightly with flour. Then, fry them in hot oil for about 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Place the fried meatballs on paper towels to drain excess oil.
Ensure the meatballs are warm (not hot) before serving them to your baby. Cut one in half to check the temperature.
Tips and Tricks
- Substitute milk with salt-free vegetable or fish broth for soaking the bread.
- As your baby gets better at chewing, leave the codfish pieces slightly larger.
- For extra juiciness, simmer the meatballs in a simple sauce like green sauce after frying.
- Accompany these meatballs with white rice, cooked peas, or fried potatoes for a complete meal.
Recipe Summary
| Ingredient | Preparation | Cooking |
|---|---|---|
| Codfish | Desalt and chop | Fry |
| Bread & Milk | Soak and squeeze | Mix in |
| Eggs & Parsley | Mix in | – |
| Flour | – | Coat meatballs |
| Oil | – | Fry meatballs |