Baby-Friendly Steak Bites
A Savory and Tender Steak Bite for the Whole Family
This is a recipe for steak bites specifically designed for babies, but adults can enjoy it too! It’s a mild and tender dish perfect for family meals.
Main Ingredients
- Beef sirloin 30g (for baby; increase portion for adults)
- Rice flour 1 tsp (or cornstarch)
- Onion 25g (finely chopped)
- Carrot 10g (finely chopped)
- Bell pepper 10g (finely chopped)
- Broccoli 5g (finely chopped)
- Cherry tomatoes 4 pcs
Meat Marinade
- Sake (or cooking wine) 1/4 tsp
- Black pepper a pinch (optional, omit for baby)
Sauce
- Water 1 Tbsp
- Sugar 1 tsp
- Korean soy sauce (joseon ganjang) 1/4 tsp
- Sesame oil 1/2 tsp
- Sake (or cooking wine) 1/4 tsp
- Black pepper a pinch (optional, omit for baby)
Sauce
- Water 1 Tbsp
- Sugar 1 tsp
- Korean soy sauce (joseon ganjang) 1/4 tsp
- Sesame oil 1/2 tsp
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, cut the beef sirloin into bite-sized pieces (about 1.5cm), suitable for a baby. Finely chop or julienne the onion, carrot, bell pepper, and broccoli. Adjust the size of the vegetables according to the baby’s age for easier chewing.
Step 2
In a bowl with the cut beef sirloin, add the sake (or cooking wine) and a pinch of black pepper for marinating. (If serving to a baby, omit the pepper and use mirin or skip the sake altogether.) Gently mix the beef, then add the rice flour (or cornstarch) and mix again until the beef is lightly coated. This coating helps keep the meat tender and allows it to absorb the sauce better.
Step 3
Prepare the cherry tomatoes by removing the stems. Make shallow cross-shaped cuts on the side opposite the stem to help with peeling. Blanch them in boiling water for about 10-15 seconds, then rinse in cold water. Peel off the skins, remove the seeds if desired, and finely chop them. (Removing seeds makes it easier for babies to eat.)
Step 4
Now, let’s start stir-frying the vegetables. Heat a little cooking oil in a pan. Add the chopped carrots first and stir-fry them. Carrots are harder than other vegetables, so it’s good to cook them a bit longer initially. (Tip: Cooking carrots with oil helps increase the absorption of fat-soluble Vitamin A, maximizing nutritional benefits.)
Step 5
Once the carrots are slightly tender, add the chopped bell pepper, broccoli, and onion to the pan. Stir-fry them together. It’s best to cook over medium-low heat rather than high heat to bring out the natural sweetness of the vegetables.
Step 6
Add the finely chopped tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of water, and 1 teaspoon of sugar to the pan with the stir-fried vegetables. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until all ingredients are well combined. The tomatoes will break down slightly and contribute to the sauce.
Step 7
It’s time to cook the beef. While you could cook the beef separately in another pan, for simplicity, I added the marinated beef directly to the same pan with the vegetables and cooked them together. Use chopsticks or a fork to separate the beef pieces as they cook, preventing them from clumping. Ensure the beef is well mixed with the vegetables.
Step 8
Finally, add 1/4 teaspoon of Korean soy sauce (joseon ganjang) and stir-fry briefly to season. Just before turning off the heat, drizzle in 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil for added aroma. Your delicious steak bites are ready! Since this is for babies, the seasoning is kept very mild. For adults, feel free to adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper, or more soy sauce to your preference for an even tastier dish.
