baby nutrition Omega-3 · iron · calcium
Sardine balls
Tiny nutrient powerhouses — sardines bring omega-3, iron and (from their soft, edible bones) calcium, mellowed with potato and carrot into a soft, grab-able ball.
Ingredients
- Canned sardines, drained & rinsed90 g
- Cooked potato80–100 g
- Egg (or 7 g ground flax + 45 ml water)1
- Oat flour20 g
- Carrot, finely grated25 g
Method
- Heat the oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with paper. Rinse the sardines really well under cold running water to wash off the salty brine, then drain and let them sit in a sieve. This step stays on your worktop — the Thermomix has no bake or fry function.
- Grate the carrot finely straight into the mixing bowl, then scrape down the sides. 8 Sek. / Stufe 5
- Add the cooked potato and the drained sardines — soft, edible bones and all — to the bowl. Add the oat flour and the egg (or the ground flax and water mix if you are going egg-free).
- Mix gently on reverse blade to a soft, rollable dough that just holds together. 6 Sek. / Stufe 4 / Linkslauf If it feels sticky, add a little more oat flour and pulse again. 4 Sek. / Stufe 4 / Linkslauf
- With clean, damp hands, roll the mixture into about 10 small, slightly flattened ovals (a little squashed, never round) and space them out on the lined tray.
- Bake for 18–20 minutes at 180°C, turning once, until golden and set through (baking happens in the oven — the Thermomix has no bake function). Squish-test one, then let them cool to just-warm before serving.
Salt caution — read first: canned sardines are naturally salty, so rinse them really well under cold water before you start. For babies under 1, serve these only 1–2 times a week and don't add any salt elsewhere in the meal. The soft bones are an excellent, safe source of calcium once they're mashed right into the mix.
Finger-food safety: squish-test every ball — it should flatten easily between your thumb and finger. Shape them small and slightly flattened — a little squashed, never round — and softer than firm, so they're easy to gum. Always stay within arm's reach, keep baby seated upright, and never let them eat while walking or reclining.
Allergens: this recipe contains fish, and egg if you use it. Fish is a common allergen — if it's new for your baby, introduce it on its own on a calm day and watch for any reaction over the next 3 days before pairing it with other new foods. The egg is optional; swap in the flax-and-water mix to keep it egg-free.
Storage & freezing: freezer-friendly. Cool the balls fully, then freeze in a single layer for up to about 1 month. Reheat until piping hot the whole way through, then let them cool to just-warm before serving.
Cooking with a Thermomix? Every mixing step shows the exact TM6 setting for guided cooking. Older models — follow the same settings without the on-screen guidance.
Want a full day-by-day plan around meals like this?
Get a gentle, evidence-based rhythm of iron-rich meals, snacks and finger foods — sent straight to your inbox.
Get the free 7-day plan See the age plans