AGE
10m+
Minced Vegetable Prawn Cakes (Baby · 10m+)
From our parent community · Protein · Finger food
Minced Vegetable Prawn Cakes
Tiger prawn paste × colourful veggies — pan-fried into soft, one-bite cakes that pack in protein and let baby practise their grip 🦐
Once baby is past 10 months, they love grabbing food with their own little hands. These vegetable prawn cakes use Vietnam Jumbo Tiger Shrimp, finely minced into a paste and folded through carrot, zucchini and sweetcorn, then gently pan-fried into soft little cakes — sweet prawn, fresh veg, plenty of protein, and good practice for gripping and chewing. Fry them golden and the grown-ups can enjoy them too: an easy share-with-adults finger food.
Ingredients
Main
- Vietnam Jumbo Tiger ShrimpShop ↗ (2 pcs, peeled, deveined, very finely minced)~100 g
- Mixed vegetables (e.g. carrot, zucchini, sweetcorn kernels — all finely minced or grated)1/4 cup
Bind & flavour
- Egg (optional, lightly beaten or finely minced)1
- Cornstarch (or baby-friendly potato / tapioca starch)1 tsp
- Egg white (lightly beaten, optional, helps it bind)1/2 cup
- Sesame oil (optional, for older toddlers, for aroma)a drizzle
- Water or a little oil (for cooking)as needed
Method
- Prep the prawnsPeel and devein the prawns, rinse and pat dry, then very finely mince into a smooth, paste-like consistency.
- Prep the veggiesFinely mince or grate the carrot, zucchini and sweetcorn. Blanch or steam firmer vegetables first, then squeeze out excess water so the mixture isn't too wet.
- CombineMix the prawn paste, vegetables, cornstarch and egg (or egg white) until thoroughly combined and sticky enough to hold its shape.
- ShapeWith lightly wet hands, form into small flat cakes about 0.5–1.5 cm thick — perfect for little hands to grip.
- Steam or pan-frySteam, or pan-fry gently in a little oil until golden on both sides. Cook until the prawn is cooked through, no longer translucent and firm in the centre, and any egg is fully set — never leave it underdone.
- CoolLet cool to just warm before serving. Introduce one new food at a time so you can watch for any reaction.
Safety notes
- Cook prawn and egg fully — prawn cooked through, no longer translucent and firm in the centre; egg fully set, never underdone.
- Allergens: prawn (shellfish) and egg. If either is new, introduce one new food at a time and watch for 2–3 days for any reaction.
- No added salt, sugar or honey under 1. The prawn and vegetables are naturally sweet, so no extra seasoning is needed.
- Seasoning is for adults / 1y+ only: after you've set aside baby's portion, the grown-ups' share can be salted or soy-seasoned; any soy sauce is for 1 year and older and in tiny amounts.
- Mince everything fine, keep the cakes one-bite size, and serve warm — baby seated upright and supervised.
Why it's great for baby
Vietnam Jumbo Tiger Shrimp is tender, lean and high in protein — a quality protein source for growing babies. Minced into a paste and pan-fried into a soft cake, it's easy to bite and swallow. Folded together with carrot, zucchini and sweetcorn, it adds vitamins and fibre, plus bright colour to spark the appetite. Shaped one-bite size, it's just right for baby to hold and self-feed — great grip and chewing practice.
Quality protein
Colourful veg
Grip practice
Finger food
Tips
Batch & freeze: make a few extra, cook and cool, then freeze in portions. Reheat in the microwave or back in the pan when you're short on time.
Share with adults: set aside baby's portion first, then season the grown-ups' share with a little salt, soy or chilli — one pan, two ways.
Texture by age: for younger babies, mince the prawn and veg finer and make the cakes thinner and easier to bite; for older babies, leave a few small veg pieces to practise chewing.
"
Shared by the iBuddies parent community 💛 — thank you to all the parents swapping baby-recipe ideas. Want to share your version? Come join us in the community.
Recipe card (save it)
Protein, starting with one sweet tiger prawn 🦐
iBuddies' Vietnam Jumbo Tiger Shrimp is tender and already prepped — easy to mince and pan-fry into cakes, for protein-rich baby finger food.
Shop Vietnam Jumbo Tiger Shrimp More baby recipes