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Vary sosoa for babies
9m+ · Madagascar's soft, soupy rice cooked with plenty of water and mashed with pumpkin and mild greens
Vary sosoa, rice cooked with lots of water until soft and soupy, is the classic Malagasy breakfast, eaten in Antananarivo and the highland villages before the day's work starts, and the food given to the sick and the very young. For babies from about nine months it is cooked with diced pumpkin and finished with a handful of mild greens, then mashed. It is gentle, sweet and creamy. Skip brède mafane (paracress), the tingling green used for grown-ups' romazava, as it numbs the mouth; spinach or sweet potato leaves are kinder. It is free of the major allergens: no milk, egg, gluten, nuts, soya, sesame or fish. Chef's tip: use a short, starchy rice such as vary gasy or any broken rice; it releases more starch and makes the creamiest sosoa.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 3
Baby & toddler safety
- Age: from 9 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 ¾ oz short-grain or broken rice
- 2 ½ cups water
- 2 ⅞ oz pumpkinpeeled and cut into 1 cm dice
- ⅔ oz spinach or sweet potato leavestough stems removed, finely chopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Rinse 1 ¾ oz short-grain or broken rice once and put it in a heavy pan with 2 ½ cups water and 2 ⅞ oz pumpkin.
2 minStep 2: Bring to the boil, then turn the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring often, until the grains have burst and the rice is loose and soupy. Common mistake: covering the pan and leaving it; vary sosoa boils over and sticks, so leave it uncovered and keep stirring.
30 minStep 3: Stir in ⅔ oz spinach or sweet potato leaves and simmer for 3–4 minutes, until wilted and tender.
4 minStep 4: Mash everything with a fork or masher into soft lumps, adding hot water if it is too thick. Cool until just warm before serving.
2 minStep 5: Cool leftovers quickly, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days, or freeze in small pots for up to 1 month. Reheat only once, with a splash of water, until piping hot all the way through, then cool before serving.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 70 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 15 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does vary sosoa for babies take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 3 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.
- What can I use instead of short-grain or broken rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
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