'Easy and healthy' veggie rice balls that are perfect for babies and toddlers
If your little one is just learning how to feed themselves, trying to find meals and snacks that are easy to eat yet still taste good can be a real struggle.
And for those of us with busy schedules, it's not always possible to spend ages in the kitchen preparing the perfect meal. This is where preppable snacks can come in really handy, so you've always got something to grab when hunger strikes.
For a healthy yet tasty treat, these veggie rice balls shared on TikTok by @ashleigh.cooks are the perfect option, and they're so versatile too as you can use pretty much any vegetables you have in the fridge.
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Ashleigh, who often shares easy baby and toddler-friendly recipes with her 118k followers, said they're ideal for youngsters because they're easy to eat, can be prepped ahead of time, and they're packed full of goodness too.
Writing in the caption, she said: "These veggie rice balls are perfect snack for little hands! They’re soft, yet keep their shape well, and are a little sticky, making them the perfect baby led weaning food.
"They include broccoli, cauliflower and pumpkin, but you can use any veggies that steam or grate easily."
People in the comments were full of praise for this simple yet tasty recipe, with many parents saying they were keen to try it out for their own children at home.
One person said: "Definitely going to make these!!" Meanwhile another wrote: "These look amazing."
Here's everything you need to make this recipe.
Veggie rice balls
Ingredients
100g/3.5oz broccoli, cauliflower, pumpkin (100g each)
Two cups cooked rice
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
One egg
1/2 cup grated cheese (mild cheddar)
Method
Preheat your oven to 180C/350F.
Steam and mash up your vegetables, then add the rice, breadcrumbs, eggs and grated cheese and combine with your hands until everything is well mixed together.
Roll the mixture into small bite-sized balls, and bake for 25 minutes until nice and golden.
Ashleigh highlighted that you can freeze these for up to three months, and you can use the oven, microwave or air fryer to reheat them.
