It’s not easy to understand children’s sense of taste. One moment they like something, next they hate it. It’s easy to give up on fish altogether and resign yourself to spaghetti and hotdogs. But it’s not impossible to change your children’s food habits. Don’t give up on fish until you’ve tried our super-child friendly recipes for kids below.
But before we get to the recipes, remember not to mix different types of food if you want it to appeal to the kids. There’s nothing worse than a thick gloop of mashed potatoes with veg and fish mixed in. Don’t give the kids cold food either. Slicing and presenting food attractively helps too. And if dinner isn’t ready when those little stomachs are rumbling, children’s appetites disappear before the food is even on the table.
Now for the fish recipes your kids will love.
Salmon and vegetables in the oven (4 servings – 20–40 min)
Ingredients:
- 1.3 lb skinless and boneless salmon fillet
- 1 red onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- ½ a leek
- 1 carrot
- ½ a courgette
- 8 cherry tomatoes
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- pinch thyme
- pinch oregano
- salt and pepper
- light sour cream
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
- Cut the salmon into serving pieces.
- Cut the onion into wedges, peppers into chunks, and leek, carrot and squash into slices.
- Mix the olive oil, thyme, oregano and vegetables in a bowl and pour the mixture into an ovenproof dish.
- Drizzle a couple of tablespoons of water over the vegetables and place the salmon slices on top.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cover the dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake in the oven for about 35 minutes.
- Serve with a light sour cream.
Hot tip 1! You can vary the vegetables and herbs as you like. Add sweet chili sauce, soya sauce or lemon juice to give the fish a different taste.
Hot tip 2! Give the dish a fun name like “Ninja salmon” or “princess fish” to make it more tempting for little ones.
Salmon in taco shells (4 servings – 20 min)
Ingredients:
- 1.3 lb skinless and boneless salmon fillet
- 2 tbs canola oil
- 1 tsp taco seasoning
- 2 tbs fresh coriander
Spice dip:
- 7 tbs light sour cream
- 7 tbs mayonnaise
- ½ tsp mustard
- ½ tsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp taco seasoning
- 2 tsp sugar
- salt and pepper
Garnish:
- 8 taco shells
- 50 g cheese, grated
- mixed salad
Method:
- Cut the salmon fillet into thin slices and fry in canola oil for about 1 minute on each side.
- Lay aside and sprinkle with taco seasoning and chopped cilantro.
Spice dip
- Mix all the ingredients for the dip, season with salt and pepper.
- Add more taco seasoning if you want more flavour.
Garnish
- Heat the taco shells according to the instructions on the package.
- Place grated cheese, lettuce and spice dip in bowls for serving.
- Fill taco shells with grated cheese, lettuce and spice dip, and top with the fried salmon slices.
Hot tip! Since taco seasoning contains salt, you won’t need extra salt on the salmon.
Homemade nigiri sushi with salmon (Serves 4 – 45 min)
Ingredients:
- ½ a pound of sushi-quality salmon
- 1.7 lb sushi rice
- 3½ tbs rice vinegar
- 3 tsp of sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- wasabi to taste
- pickled ginger to taste
- soya sauce to taste
Method:
- Cook the rice according to the instructions on the package. Mix rice vinegar, salt and sugar in a bowl and stir until everything is dissolved. Slowly pour the liquid over the rice and stir gently. The rice should be sticky.
- With a sharp knife, cut 2-3 mm thin slices of salmon. Use your fingers to add some wasabi to each slice.
- Wet your hands and place a slice of fish in your left hand. Take an appropriate amount of rice in your right hand and squeeze into an oval rice pillow. Place the rice on the fish.
- With your left thumb, gently pinch the middle of the rice. Then press the sides of the sushi with your right thumb and forefinger. Finally, press with two fingers on top of the sushi to clamp it firmly.
- Turn the nigiri sushi so the fish faces upwards, and press with two fingers on top of the sushi. Press the sides of the sushi with two fingers and serve.
Hot tip! Forcing children to eat something they don’t like is hardly positive for their appetite. Instead, ask them to have a small taste, preferably every time a new dish is served – and suddenly one day they will enjoy it!
Möller’s Omega-3 Fish is at least one fish you can be sure your little ones will enjoy. These small jelly fish, with a tasty fruit flavor, ensure your child gets the right amount of vitamin D, as well as healthy fatty acids from fish.