Fun And Delicious Recipes For Cooking With Kids

The sounds and smells of the kitchen hold a lot of fascination and wonder for children. You would have noticed your child often wandering into the kitchen and enquiring about what you are doing. At times, your little one may also express his desire to help you out.

It is a good idea to take advantage of your child's curiosity and initiate him into cooking. Also, it's a joy for parents to watch their children cooking. If you pick the right recipes to cook with kids, both of you can enjoy the process and it can be a great stress-buster as well.

Cooking with kids

Cooking with kids has its share of benefits. Here are a few of them:

1. Children learn to appreciate what they make with their own hands. So, if you have a fussy eater at home, it is more likely your little one will try out new foods if you engage him in the cooking process.
2. Cooking is an important life skill; so the earlier your child learns it, the better it would be for her.
3. Your child can improve her vocabulary and develop communication skills through this exercise.
4. Mixing, pouring and other activities in the kitchen would not only teach your child about measurements but improve her hand-eye co-ordination.
5. Cooking with your child would not only bring both of you closer, but also create long-lasting memories.

Here are some fun recipes to cook at home with your little one.

Easy recipes for cooking with preschoolers (3 to 5 years)

1. Date and almond ladoos

This is an easy recipe for little children to try as there is no stove-top cooking involved.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dates (deseeded and finely chopped)
• cup roasted almonds, roughly chopped
• 2 tbsp roasted sesame seeds
• 2 tbsp roasted pumpkin seeds
• 2 tbsp poppy seeds

Method:

1. Crush the dates till they are slightly mushy.
2. In a large bowl, put all the ingredients, except for the poppy seeds.
3. Mix well in such a way that they can be shaped into small balls. The stickiness of the dates binds the ingredients together.
4. Spread the poppy seeds on a plate and roll the balls over them. Ensure all the pieces are coated well.
5. Your yummy date and almond laddoos are ready to eat at snack time.

What you can do:

• Chop, roast and crush the ingredients.
• Mix them well.

What your child can do:

• Shape the mixture into small balls.
• Spread the poppy seeds on the plate and roll the balls over them.

2. 'No-bake' pizza

Do your kids get excited at the mention of pizza? Learning to cook a pizza is easy. Here is a wholesome version you can cook with your child at home using bread and veggies. Even your four-year-old can try this one.

Ingredients:

• 4 slices multigrain bread
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 4 tbsp boiled sweet corn
• cup blanched spinach (cut into thin strips)
• cup grated cheese (cheddar, parmesan or mozzarella)
• 2-3 tbsp garlic butter

For the pizza sauce

• 2 tomatoes
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• tbsp mixed dried herbs (oregano/basil/thyme)
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp chilli flakes
• tsp chilli powder
• 1 tsp olive oil
• Salt, sugar and pepper to taste

Method:

1. To make the pizza sauce, first blanch the tomatoes in hot water for about five minutes. Remove from the water and let it cool.
2. Carefully remove the skin and puree the cooled tomatoes.
3. In a skillet, heat the olive oil and add the onions. Saut till lightly golden, then add the tomato puree. Add the salt and pepper.
4. Add the sugar, then the chilli, onion and garlic powder, and simmer for a few minutes. Add the chilli flakes and dried herbs, and mix well. The sauce should be thick and spreadable.
5. To assemble the pizza, cut the bread into equal, triangular shapes in such a way that they form a rough circle when placed together.
6. Spread a generous amount of butter on one side of the bread slices. Place them on a large plate to resemble a round shape (like a pizza).
7. Cover the slices with generous dollops of the pizza sauce.
8. Carefully arrange the tomato slices, blanched spinach and sweet corn kernels on the bread.
9. Top off with lots of cheese. The no-bake pizza is ready to eat.
10. You can also use red, green or yellow capsicum or cherry tomatoes as topping.

What you can do:

• Slice tomatoes and boil the corn.
• Blanch the spinach and tomatoes in hot water, and peel and puree the tomatoes.
• Saut the onions, pour the tomato puree and add the salt, pepper, sugar, chilli, onion and garlic powder, and mix well.

What your child can do:

• Cut the bread slices into the desired shape using a cookie cutter to make a circular pizza base (or you can also hold your child's hand and together you can cut the slices with a child-friendly knife).
• Spread the butter and pizza sauce on the bread slices.
• Arrange the tomato slices, blanched spinach and boiled corn kernels on the pizza base.
• Add grated cheese as a topping.

3. Oat and Peanut Butter Energy Bars

The sweet treats that you give your child can be healthy and packed with nutrients. Here is an energy bar recipe that is fun cooking with kids.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oats
• cup dried fruits (raisins, sultanas and dried cranberries)
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
• 2 tbsp roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp honey
• tsp butter

Method:

1. In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients. Combine well till you get a sticky mixture.
2. Lightly coat a large plate with a little butter.
3. Transfer the mixture on to the plate. Spread the oat mixture evenly on the plate and press it down with a spoon.
4. Place in the refrigerator to cool for about two hours.
5. Once the mixture sets, cut into squares and your energy bar is ready.

What you can do:

• Mix all the ingredients to prepare the sticky mixture and transfer it into the plate.
• Cut the cooled mixture into even-sized pieces.

What your child can do:

• Coat the plate with butter.
• Spread the mixture evenly using a large spoon and top it with a layer of oats.
• Keep the plate in the refrigerator to cool and settle down.

4. Banana and chocolate popsicles

This is an easy recipe for young children to make with their parents. The best part for the children will be pouring the mixture into popsicle moulds.

Ingredients:

• 2 large bananas (skin removed and frozen overnight in the freezer)
• 75g unsweetened dark chocolate chips
• 1 cup almond milk

Method:

1. Blend all the ingredients in a food processor till smooth and creamy.
2. Pour the mixture into popsicle moulds and place in the freezer to set for 3-4 hours.
3. Enjoy the cool treat with your little ones.

What you can do:

• Blend the ingredients in the food processor.

What your child can do:

• Peel the bananas and keep them in the freezer.
• Pour the blended mixture into popsicle moulds using a spoon.
• Keep them in the freezer to set.

5. Watermelon chaat

Using fruit in chaat is a great way of making this popular street food healthy for your children.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup watermelon (cut into cubes)
• 1 tomato (seeds removed and cut into small pieces)
• 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds
• Handful of coriander leaves, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp tamarind chutney
• 1 tsp black salt
• 1 tsp chaat masala
• tsp coriander-green chilli paste
• 2 tbsp sev (optional)

Method:

1. In a large bowl, take the watermelon, tomato, pomegranate seeds and coriander leaves.
2. To this, add the coriander-green chilli paste, ensuring your child does not touch the paste. If your child cannot handle spicy food, you can skip this ingredient.
3. In a smaller bowl, combine the tamarind chutney, black salt and chaat masala. Pour this over the fruit mixture and toss lightly.
4. Top it with the sev just before serving, so that it does not become soggy.

What you can do:

• Cut the fruits to required size.
• Prepare the coriander-chilli paste.
• Prepare the tamarind chutney and mix it with black salt and chaat masala.

What your child can do:

• Put the pieces of fruits in a large bowl and mix them with the tamarind chutney, and coriander-green chilli paste.
• Top the fruit chaat with sev and serve.

Easy recipes for cooking with kids (6 to 12 years)

6. Pumpkin and leek muffins

Baking is always fun for children as they can help in mixing and pouring the batter. This one is a savoury recipe with the goodness of veggies.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup refined flour (maida)
• cup whole-wheat flour
• 1 cup grated red pumpkin
• cup leek finely chopped
• 2 eggs
• cup melted butter
• 1 tsp baking powder
• tsp nutmeg powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Preheat the oven at 190 degrees Celsius.
2. Saut the leeks and grated pumpkin in one tablespoon butter on medium heat for about 2-3 minutes. They should just be fragrant, not mushy or burnt. Keep aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients.
4. Add the eggs one by one to the dry mixture and whisk them in.
5. Next, add the melted butter and whisk till well combined.
6. Fold the pumpkin and leek mixture lightly into the batter.
7. Spoon the mixture equally into buttered muffin holes or cupcake moulds. This batter makes about 10 muffins.
8. Bake in the oven at 190 degrees Celsius for 20-25 minutes.
9. Serve warm with dollops of butter.

What you can do:

• Saut the leeks and grated pumpkin.
• Mix all the ingredients with the eggs to prepare the batter.

What your child can do:

• Preheat the oven.
• Pour the mixture into the moulds with a spoon and set them in the oven to bake.

7. Zucchini cutlets

This mild-flavoured cutlet can be made in a jiffy and will disappear from the plate in minutes. This recipe is great for those evening hunger pangs.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup grated zucchini
• 1 cup grated cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 1 tsp jeera (cumin)
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• tsp ajwain (caraway seeds)
• 3 tbsp coriander leaves finely chopped
• Salt to taste
• 1 tbsp oil (for frying)

Method:

1. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients, except oil.
2. Unlike a regular cutlet mixture, this one will be of a thick pouring consistency.
3. Heat a griddle on medium flame and brush with the oil.
4. Spoon some of the batter onto the griddle and fry on both sides for about a minute.
5. Arrange on a plate and serve hot with tomato ketchup.

What you can do:

• Grate the zucchini and cheese, and chop the onions.

What your child can do:

• Mix all the ingredients.
• Spoon the batter on to the griddle and fry the cutlets (under your supervision).
• Arrange the cutlets on a plate and serve.

8. Cauliflower kebab burgers

Who doesn't love a burger? Making this nutritious version of the junk food will be fun for your children. At the same time, it will make them understand the importance of making healthy eating choices.

Ingredients:

• 2 burger buns (preferably whole wheat)
• 1 cauliflower
• cup curd
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 1 tsp jeera (cumin) powder
• 1 tsp saunf (fennel) powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tsp butter
• A few slices of cucumber
• A little oil for grilling

Method:

1. Clean the cauliflower thoroughly in running water. Cut them lengthwise in such a way that you get large, flat pieces that are about half a centimetre thick.
2. Blanch the cauliflower pieces in boiling water for a minute. Remove and pat dry.
3. In a large bowl, make a marinade by mixing curd, ginger-garlic paste, chilli powder, jeera, fennel powder, salt and pepper. Keep two tablespoons of the marinade aside for later use.
4. Pour the rest of the marinade over the cauliflower slices and coat them well. Keep aside for about an hour.
5. Take a grill pan and put it on the stove on medium heat. Brush the pan with a little oil. Now, place the marinated cauliflower pieces on the pan and cover with a lid.
6. Let the cauliflower cook for two minutes on each side or till it is cooked through and crispy on the outside. Alternatively, you can also grill the cauliflower pieces in an oven.
7. Slice the burger bun into halves horizontally and put on the grill pan for a couple of minutes to toast lightly.
8. To assemble, butter the buns and then spoon some of the reserved marinade. Place the cauliflower kebabs between the bun slices and top them off with cucumber slices.
9. Serve hot with sauce.

What you can do:

• Clean and cut the cauliflower, and blanch it.

What your child can do:

• Make the marinade of curd, ginger-garlic paste, chilli powder, jeera, fennel powder, salt and pepper.
• Coat the blanched cauliflower pieces with the marinade.
• Fry the marinated pieces of cauliflower (under your supervision).
• Cut the burger buns and toast them lightly (under your supervision).
• Assemble the burger by topping the buns with the fried cauliflower and cucumber pieces.

9. Instant Vegetable Dosa

Does your child turn up her nose at vegetables? Try this recipe with her and she might just change her attitude.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup besan (gram flour)
• 1 cup wheat flour
• 2 tbsp sooji
• 1 grated carrot
• 2 finely chopped spring onions
• 2-3 tbsp peas
• 1 green chilli, finely chopped
• 1 tsp jeera (cumin) seeds
• tsp turmeric
• tsp sugar
• Salt to taste
• Oil for frying
• Water as required

Method:

1. Mix all the ingredients with enough water, ensuring there are no lumps. The batter should be of the same consistency as regular dosa batter.
2. Heat a griddle and brush with a little oil. With a ladle, pour the batter on the griddle and cook for a few minutes. Turn and cook the other side.
3. Serve hot with chutney.

What you can do:

• Grate/chop the ingredients.

What your child can do:

• Measure and mix the ingredients to form a batter without lumps.
• Make the dosa (under your supervision).

10. Pineapple and cream cheese cupcakes

Baking sweet treats can be a fulfilling experience for children especially when they see simple ingredients turn into baked goodies that smell and taste heavenly.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup powdered oats
• cup refined flour
• cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp baking powder
• cup brown sugar/powdered jaggery
• 1 cup pineapple pieces, cut into tiny cubes
• 2 tbsp fresh pineapple juice

For the healthy cream cheese frosting:

• 200g cream cheese
• cup thick curd
• 4-5 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp fresh pineapple juice

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
2. Mix the oats, flour and baking powder in a bowl and keep aside.
3. In another large bowl, whisk together the butter and sugar, till smooth and creamy.
4. To this, add the eggs one by one and whisk to combine. Add the pineapple juice and pineapple pieces, and gently mix into the batter.
5. Line about 8 cupcake moulds with paper liners and spoon the batter into them, till they are about three-fourths full (do not fill to the brim).
6. Bake for about 20 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.

For the cream cheese frosting:

1. Whisk together the cream cheese and curd, till light and fluffy.
2. Add the honey and pineapple juice. Mix well. Spoon or pipe the frosting over the cupcakes once they have cooled.

What you can do:

• Mix the oats, flour and baking powder.
• Whisk together the butter and sugar, and combine it with eggs, pineapple juice and pineapple pieces.
• Prepare the cream frosting.

What your child can do:

• Preheat the oven.
• Line the moulds with paper liners and pour the batter into them.
• Keep the moulds in the oven and bake until done.

These fun and easy recipes will heighten your child's interest in cooking and allow the family to bond easily. Cooking with kids also helps them learn an important life skill that will help them throughout their life. So, what recipe are you going to try out today?

About the author:

Written by Sahana Charan on 1 October 2020.

Sahana Charan is an independent writer and journalist with an interest in writing about health and wellness, environment, urban living and child rights.

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