Eggplant Balls

Cook eggplant until very soft (roast, steam, or braise), then scoop the soft inside away from the skin. The skin can be tough and chewy, so it is easiest to leave it off at this stage. Serve the soft flesh warm as a mash or stirred into a purée.

Onion is usually a flavor base rather than a food on its own at this age. Cook it down until very soft and blend it into purées, mashes, or sauces. Raw onion is sharp and firm, so keep it out for now.

Garlic adds depth to early meals without any salt. Finely mince or mash a small amount and cook it soft into purees, mashed vegetables, beans, or sauces. It is a seasoning rather than a finger food, so a little stirred through a dish is all a baby needs. Skip raw garlic and whole cloves at this stage.

Lightly toast bread so it holds together, then cut it into finger-width strips your baby can grip. Toasting helps it firm up instead of turning gummy in the mouth. Most bread contains wheat, so introduce it on its own and watch for a reaction. Choose lower-salt bread when you can.

Hard-cook the egg until both white and yolk are solid, then mash it smooth, or offer a well-set scramble or a soft omelet. A small amount, about a third of an egg, is plenty for a first taste.

Cilantro (also called fresh coriander leaf) has a bright, fresh flavor and is a simple way to vary early tastes. Finely chop a small amount of the soft leaves and stir it through purees, mashed beans, soft rice, or yogurt. Chopping it small lets it blend in smoothly with the food.

Cook chickpeas until fully soft, then mash or flatten them well. A smooth no-salt hummus-style mash works nicely, or stir the mash into other purées. Never offer a whole, intact chickpea at this stage.