JapaneseTofu and chicken hamburg patties for toddlers
12m+ · Soft Japanese tofu hambāgu with minced chicken and grated vegetables, in a mild tomato glaze
Tofu hambāgu is the lighter, softer cousin of the Japanese hamburg steak, and mixed with minced chicken and grated carrot it is one of the most popular toddler dinners in Japan, from a year old. The patties are tender and juicy, almost like a soft meatball, glazed with a mild tomato sauce made mostly of passata with just a spoon of ketchup. It contains soya (tofu), egg and gluten (breadcrumbs). Chef's tip: wrap the tofu in kitchen paper and press it for 15 minutes; wet tofu makes patties that fall apart in the pan.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Serves
- 4
- Per serving
- 150 kcal
Baby & toddler safety
- Age: from 12 months+.
- Allergens: contains egg, gluten (wheat, barley, rye or oats), soya. 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
For the patties
- 5 ½ oz firm tofupressed
- 7 oz chicken mince
- ½ onionvery finely chopped
- 1 oz carrotfinely grated
- ⅔ oz panko breadcrumbsabout 4 tbsp
- 1 eggbeaten
- 2 tsp vegetable oilsplit
For the glaze
- 4 tbsp tomato passata
- 1 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 3 tbsp water
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Method
0/8 doneStep 1: Wrap 5 ½ oz firm tofu in kitchen paper, weigh it down with a plate and leave for 15 minutes.
15 minStep 2: Meanwhile, cook ½ onion in 1 tsp vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium-low heat for 5 minutes, until soft and translucent. Tip into a bowl and let it cool.
5 minStep 3: Crumble the pressed tofu into the onion and add 7 oz chicken mince, 1 oz carrot, ⅔ oz panko breadcrumbs and 1 egg. Mix with your hand for a minute, until it turns slightly sticky and holds together.
Step 4: With wet hands, shape into 8 small flat patties about 1.5 cm thick, pressing a small dip in the centre of each so they cook evenly.
Step 5: Heat the rest of 1 tsp vegetable oil in the frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the patties for 3 minutes until golden underneath, turn, add 2 tablespoons of water, cover and cook over a low heat for 6–7 minutes. They are done when the juices run clear and the centre reaches 165°F. The common mistake is high heat: the outside burns before the chicken is cooked.
10 minStep 6: Mix 4 tbsp tomato passata, 1 tbsp tomato ketchup and 3 tbsp water, pour into the pan and let it bubble for 1–2 minutes, turning the patties to glaze them.
2 minStep 7: Cut a patty into small pieces for your toddler and cool until warm. Serve with rice and soft vegetables.
Step 8: Cool leftovers quickly, cover and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to a month. Reheat until piping hot all the way through, then cool before serving.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 150 kcal
- Protein
- 14 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tofu and chicken hamburg patties for toddlers take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 15 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 onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of carrot?
- Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.
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