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Mabele porridge for babies
6m+ · Smooth, gently tangy South African sorghum porridge, unsweetened for babies
Mabele, sorghum meal, has fed families across South Africa, Botswana and Lesotho for centuries, and a smooth, soft version is a traditional first porridge for babies, especially in Sotho and Tswana homes where the grown-ups eat it for breakfast. It is a warm pinkish-brown, with a faintly nutty, slightly sour taste. For under-ones it is cooked plain, without the sugar older children like. Sorghum is naturally gluten free, and the porridge contains none of the common allergens (milk, egg, gluten, peanut, tree nuts, soya, sesame, fish). Chef's tip: mix the meal into cold water first; poured straight into boiling water, it forms lumps that never cook through.
- Total time
- 27 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Baby & toddler safety
- Age: from 6 months+.
- Allergens: none of the common allergens found in the ingredients. Offer one new allergen at a time, in the morning, so you can watch for a reaction.
- Texture and choking: purée or mash smoothly for 6–9 months, then soft, finger-sized pieces that squash between your fingers. Cut round foods such as grapes and cherry tomatoes into quarters lengthways, never give whole nuts, and always stay with your child while they eat.
- Under 1: no honey, no added salt or stock cubes, and no added sugar.
Every child is different. If you are unsure, especially about allergies, check with your health visitor or paediatrician.
Ingredients
- 1 ⅜ oz fine sorghum meal (mabele)
- 1 ¾ cups water
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What you'll need
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Stir 1 ⅜ oz fine sorghum meal (mabele) into 100 ml of 1 ¾ cups water in a bowl until it is a smooth, runny paste.
Step 2: Bring the rest of the water to the boil in a small pan. Pour in the sorghum paste, whisking all the time.
3 minStep 3: Turn the heat right down, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the porridge is thick and glossy and the raw, dusty taste has gone. Taking it off too early is the common mistake; sorghum needs the full time to soften.
20 minStep 4: Whisk well or push through a sieve for a completely smooth texture, adding boiled water to loosen it to a soft, spoonable consistency.
Step 5: Cool your baby's portion until just warm before serving. Older children can have a little milk and sugar stirred in.
Step 6: Cool leftovers quickly and refrigerate covered for up to 2 days, or freeze. Reheat once with a splash of water until piping hot, stir and cool before serving.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 36 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mabele porridge for babies take?
- About 27 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
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