Shallot
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- medium
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- low
Not an allergen · raw form is firm and slippery
When can babies eat shallot?
When can babies have shallots?
Shallots can be offered once baby is ready for solids, from about 6 months. They are a relative of the onion and have been cooked with for hundreds of years. Their exact origin is unknown, most likely Central Asia. Like garlic, they form several bulbs under the ground. They taste sweeter and milder than onion. They are used raw, cooked, in sauces and pickled.
Nutrition
They contain fiber, folate, potassium and vitamin B6, with a little iron. They also carry plant compounds such as kaempferol, carotenoids and polyphenols.
How do you prepare shallot for babies?
Preparation basics
In the early months serve it well cooked. After 12 months raw shallot can be tried in very thin slices or finely chopped. After 24 months, a child with molars who chews well can have fried shallots that are not too sharp or hard. Start with just a few pieces.
Preparation by age
The same food is served differently at each age. What matters is how your baby sits, grasps and chews, more than the calendar.
6 months
6 months · Well cooked, mixed into soft foodmash
Cut: Finely chopped
Cook shallots until very soft and mince or chop small. Stir into spoonable foods such as casseroles, grains, legumes, stews or rice. You can also add them to finger foods like frittatas, omelets, bean patties or meatballs. Pickled shallot is acceptable once it is completely soft and chopped small.
9 months
9 months · Small chopped cooked piecescube
Offer cooked shallot in small chopped pieces or soft thin slices. Serve alone or mixed into family meals such as soup, stew, frittata and meatballs. Pickled shallot can be chopped and offered if softened.
12 months
12 months · Larger cooked piecescube
Cut: Large piece
Larger well-cooked pieces help build chewing and swallowing skills. You can keep serving cooked chopped shallot.
12 months · Thinly sliced or finely chopped rawslice
Slice raw shallot paper thin or chop it finely. It is milder than onion but can still be firm and slippery. Keep the child seated.
Is shallot a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: medium
Raw shallot can be firm and slippery. Cook it well and chop small, or slice very thin.
Choking risk
Raw shallot can be firm and slippery, which raises the risk. Prepare it for the child's age and stay within arm's reach during meals.
Raw pieces
Do not give raw shallot slices or large raw pieces to young babies.
Is shallot a common allergen?
Allergen status
Shallots are not a common allergen. Reactions are rare, but allergy to other onion-family members has occasionally been reported. People sensitive to garlic or onion may react to shallots too.
Cut raw shallot releases a compound called thiopropanal sulfoxide. It is not an allergen, but it can irritate eyes, airways and skin. Cooking breaks it down and reduces irritation. Start with a small amount.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about shallot
How is shallot different from onion?
Shallot is sweeter and milder, which suits eating raw. They are in the same family.
Can I give pickled shallot?
Completely soft and chopped small, it can start at 6 months. Remember pickles can be salty.
Shallots sting my eyes. Will they bother baby?
Raw shallot releases an irritating compound for eyes and airways. Cooking reduces it.
Sources for this page
- Imran M, Salehi B, Sharifi-Rad J, Aslam Gondal T, Saeed F, Imran A, et al. (2019). Kaempferol: A Key Emphasis to Its Anticancer Potential. Molecules. doi:10.3390/molecules24122277
- Larsen E, Christensen LP. (2005). Simple Saponification Method for the Quantitative Determination of Carotenoids in Green Vegetables. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. doi:10.1021/jf050622+
- Albanesi M, Pasculli C, Giliberti L, Rossi MP, Bona DD, Caiaffa MF, et al. (2019). Immunological characterization of onion (Allium cepa) allergy. Postepy Dermatologii i Alergologii. doi:10.5114/ada.2019.82829
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. (n.d.). Choking Prevention.
Guides on iron, allergen introduction, gagging and drinks. Read the starting solids guides
Medical note
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your pediatrician before any feeding decision, especially about allergen introduction and reactions.
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Astro Tasarım Simay Yenice · Türkiye · merhaba@lokmini.com