Pimp Their Plate: Fish & Chips

Welcome to Pimp Their Plate, where we take a simple plate of food and sprinkle a little sensory science to open a world of taste and texture adventures.

Today we're pimping up everyday fish and chips. Just a couple of simple tweaks will elevate the flavour profile of this go-to kid's dinner in seconds. Let's get started!

First, let's think about why. Building an adventurous, rounded eater is all about exposure to a wide variety of tastes and textures. There's a window of opportunity around 6-9 months of age where this is particularly important. In fact, research strongly supports the notion that the more variety you offer during this window, the better your chances of minimising picky eating. 

Option 1

Add fresh mint to the peas to offer a refreshing flavour profile. This is an effective way to introduce your little one to fresh herbs.  Chop your fresh mint finely for 6+ months or into small pieces or thin ribbons for 9+ months. 

Give the fish fingers a zing with a squeeze of lemon for a citrus flavour profile. You can increase exposure to these new ingredients by letting your baby handle the lemon, exploring the waxy, textured exterior and the fleshy interior pulp. Squeezing the lemon will also release aroma volatiles that will fill the air with the scent of lemon.

Option 2 

Feeling a little more adventurous? Here's how to elevate your fish and chips a little further. Switch the shop-bought fish fingers for homemade panko breadcrumb cod bites and the oven chips for sweet potato & garlic mash. You can incorporate the tips from option 1, add mint to the peas, and squeeze lemon to finish.

The panko breadcrumbs add a lovely crunch on the outside that gives way to the delicate flakes of cod on the inside. You can even add a little desiccated coconut to the panko breadcrumb mix for another flavour profile.

Panko Breadcrumb Cod Bites

What you'll need

• Skinless cod loins
• Panko breadcrumbs (desiccated coconut optional)
• 1 x egg beaten
• Flour
  

Method

1. Cut the cod fillet into strips or chunks (depending on the age of your baby)
2. Coat each piece in the flour, the beaten egg, and the panko breadcrumbs. Use a shallow wide bowl for each of these steps to make it easier to roll and coat the pieces of cod thoroughly
3. Pop in a preheated oven (180℃) (or air fryer) until golden brown and cooked through. Approximately 15-20 mins.

Sweet Potato & Garlic Mash

What you'll need

• 1/4  sweet potato peeled and cooked until soft
• 1/4 teaspoon of crushed garlic

Method

1. Boil or steam the sweet potato until soft
2. Fold in the crushed garlic

Three Ingredient Tartare Sauce

What you'll need

• Mayonnaise
• Sweet pickle
• Lemon juice

Method

1. Stir the ingredients together in a bowl
2. Chill before serving - it's as simple as that!