AGE
10m+
Baby Yam & Chicken Patties (Baby · 10m+)
From our parent community · Digestion · Finger food
Baby Yam & Chicken Patties
Fresh yam × minced chicken — steamed into soft little patties that aid digestion, add protein and iron, and are just right for chewing practice 🍠
By 10 months, baby's tummy is slowly handling more foods — the perfect time to try gentle, nourishing Japanese yam. These yam & chicken patties mash soft steamed yam with finely minced New Zealand Hormone-Free Chicken Thigh, then cook into tender little patties — smooth in texture, mild in flavour, and a lovely way to aid digestion while adding protein and iron. One-bite size, they're easy for baby to hold and self-feed, building both chewing and grip.
Ingredients
Main
- Fresh Japanese yam (peeled)~100 g
- New Zealand Hormone-Free Chicken ThighShop ↗ (boneless, skinless, very finely minced)~50–70 g
Bind & other
- Egg yolk (to bind; omit if allergic, or use another binder)1
- Flour or baby rice / oatmeal powder (adjust for stickiness, optional)1–2 tsp
- Oil (for frying or greasing)a little
Method
- Prep the yamPeel and chop the yam, steam for 15–20 minutes until very soft, then mash and let cool. Wear gloves when handling raw yam if its sap irritates your skin.
- Prep the chickenVery finely mince the chicken thigh, making sure there are no large pieces.
- MixCombine the cooled mashed yam, minced chicken and egg yolk until evenly mixed.
- BindSlowly add flour or baby rice / oatmeal powder until slightly sticky and shapeable — don't add too much. If dry, add a few drops of water.
- ShapeWith lightly oiled or wet hands, take about 1 tbsp of the mixture, roll into a ball, then flatten into a small patty about 0.5–1 cm thick.
- Cook throughHeat a pan on low, brush lightly with oil, and cook on low-medium heat about 3–4 minutes per side until golden and the chicken is cooked through, no pink, juices run clear, and the egg yolk is fully set. Keep the heat gentle so the patties don't brown outside while staying raw inside.
- CoolPlace on paper towel to absorb oil. Cool to a safe temperature before serving. Introduce one new food at a time so you can watch for any reaction.
Safety notes
- Cook the chicken fully — cooked through, no pink, juices run clear; if you use egg yolk to bind, it must be fully set too, never underdone.
- Allergens: none of the common allergens (contains egg if you bind with egg yolk). If anything 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 yam and chicken have a natural savoury sweetness, 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 patties one-bite size, and serve warm — baby seated upright and supervised.
Why it's great for baby
Fresh Japanese yam is smooth and mild, traditionally valued for being gentle on the tummy, and mashes into an easy-to-digest base for delicate little stomachs. New Zealand Hormone-Free Chicken Thigh brings quality protein and iron to support growth; finely minced and steamed, it stays soft and easy to bite. Cooked together into little patties, they're tender, balanced and ideal for chewing practice.
Aids digestion
Quality protein
Iron
Finger food
Tips
Batch & freeze: make a few extra, cool, then freeze in portions. Reheat in the microwave or re-steam 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 or soy and a dip — one batch, two ways.
Texture by age: for younger babies, mash the yam finer and cook a touch longer for a softer patty; for older babies, leave a few small pieces of minced chicken to practise chewing.
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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)
Gentle protein, starting with one good piece of chicken 🐔
iBuddies' New Zealand Hormone-Free Chicken Thigh is hormone-free and tender — easy to mince and steam into patties for baby's delicate mouth, for protein and iron.
Shop New Zealand Hormone-Free Chicken Thigh More baby recipes