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Sopas for toddlers
Creamy chicken macaroni soup
12m+ · Creamy Filipino chicken macaroni soup with carrot, cabbage and evaporated milk
Sopas is the creamy chicken macaroni soup that Filipino mothers make on rainy afternoons, and it is a childhood favourite across the islands: soft elbow pasta, shredded chicken, carrot and cabbage in a broth made milky with evaporated milk. This toddler version leaves out the usual sliced hot dogs and patis and uses no-salt stock, so it suits little ones from a year old. It contains gluten (wheat pasta) and milk. Chef's tip: add the evaporated milk at the end and keep the soup just below a boil, so it stays smooth and doesn't split.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Baby & toddler safety
- Age: from 12 months+.
- Allergens: contains milk, gluten (wheat, barley, rye or oats). 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
- ½ oz unsalted butter
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 2 garlic clovescrushed
- 9 oz chicken breast
- 1.2 litres no-salt chicken stock
- 1 carrotfinely diced
- 1 celery stickfinely diced
- 4 oz elbow macaroni
- 3 ½ oz cabbagefinely shredded
- ¾ cup evaporated milk
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Melt ½ oz unsalted butter in a large pan over a medium heat. Cook 1 onion and 2 garlic cloves for 4 minutes, until soft but not browned.
4 minStep 2: Add 9 oz chicken breast and 1.2 litres no-salt chicken stock, bring to the boil, then simmer gently for 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and reaches 165°F in the thickest part. Lift it out and shred finely.
15 minStep 3: Add 1 carrot, 1 celery stick and 4 oz elbow macaroni to the broth and simmer for 10 minutes, until the pasta is soft (a little softer than al dente for toddlers).
10 minStep 4: Return the chicken, add 3 ½ oz cabbage and cook for 3 minutes until tender.
3 minStep 5: Turn the heat to low and stir in ¾ cup evaporated milk. Heat for 2 minutes until steaming, without letting it boil. The common mistake is boiling after the milk goes in, which makes it grainy.
2 minStep 6: Ladle a small bowl and cool until warm before serving. Adults can season their own bowls with salt or patis.
Step 7: The pasta keeps absorbing liquid, so add a splash of water when reheating. Cool leftovers quickly, cover and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days (it doesn't freeze well). Reheat until piping hot, then cool before serving.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 280 kcal
- Protein
- 20 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sopas for toddlers take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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