Mummy & Mini: Traybake Ragu

This Mummy & Mini Traybake Ragu is a delicious, family-friendly dish that brings a fresh twist to traditional ragu by simplifying the cooking process into an easy traybake.

By roasting all the ingredients in the oven, you get deep, rich flavours with minimal effort—a real win for busy parents.

With tender aubergine and carrots, creamy butter beans, and sweet cherry tomatoes, this dish is packed with nutrients, providing a tasty, wholesome meal for both you and your little one.

The adults get a full-bodied ragu, perfect when served with quinoa and hummus for added protein, while the mini version offers soft, manageable pieces and a creamy bean mash for little mouths.

This dish is as much about healthy, balanced eating as it is about sharing meal times together, making it perfect for those busy midweek evenings.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s a list of everything you’ll need to make this Mummy & Mini Traybake Ragu recipe:

• 1 aubergine
• 3 carrots
• 1 tin butter beans
• 1 tin cherry tomatoes
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Quinoa and hummus to serve

Why Traybake Ragu Works Wonders for Busy Families

Opting for a traybake ragu is a time-saving alternative to the classic stovetop ragu, making it an ideal choice for busy parents who want to enjoy a homemade meal without hours of cooking.

Traditional ragu recipes require frequent stirring and attention, but this traybake version lets the oven take over, allowing you to attend to other tasks while dinner cooks.

With everything roasting in one dish, you save on washing up, and the gentle roasting process enhances the vegetables’ natural flavours.

It’s an excellent solution for hectic weeknights, letting you serve up a warm, nourishing meal with minimal effort.

The Nutritional Benefits of Aubergine in Your Traybake

Aubergine, a versatile and nutritious vegetable, is packed with fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants, making it an excellent addition to any family meal.

In this recipe, aubergine’s soft, creamy texture soaks up the tangy tomato and butter bean juices, adding depth and richness to the dish.

Its high fibre content supports digestion, while its unique phytonutrient profile benefits brain health and promotes cardiovascular wellness.

The roasting process softens the aubergine, making it tender and easy to enjoy, even for young children.

This traybake ragu is a wonderful way to incorporate this healthy vegetable into your family’s diet.

Butter Beans: The Unsung Hero of Creamy, Plant-Based Meals

Butter beans, with their mild flavour and velvety texture, are a fantastic plant-based protein source that enhances the ragu’s creamy consistency.

Their neutral taste makes them a versatile addition, blending harmoniously with the sweet cherry tomatoes and roasted vegetables.

Besides being rich in protein, butter beans are loaded with fibre, iron, and folate, supporting energy levels and overall wellness.

By including them in the mini portion, you’re introducing your child to nutrient-rich legumes in a gentle, appealing way.

Butter beans make this traybake ragu feel hearty and satisfying without the need for heavy ingredients.

How to Make Mealtime Special for You and Your Baby

This traybake ragu recipe is designed to be enjoyed by both adults and little ones, making mealtime an inclusive, enjoyable experience.

By reserving a small portion of the main ingredients for the mini dish, you’re creating a shared meal that celebrates family time while catering to different needs.

Encouraging your child to try familiar yet flavourful ingredients like carrots and aubergine can help them develop a love for varied tastes and textures.

Serving their meal in a fun, colourful way—like carrot and aubergine spears with butter bean mash—adds a playful touch, making mealtime a special bonding opportunity.

Simple Serving Suggestions to Enhance Your Traybake Ragu

For the adult portion, serve the ragu with a side of fluffy quinoa and a dollop of creamy hummus.

Quinoa adds a nutty taste and extra protein, complementing the ragu’s rich, saucy flavours.

Hummus, with its creamy texture and slightly tangy taste, balances out the dish, making it even more satisfying.

For a fresh twist, garnish with chopped parsley or basil, which will add a vibrant touch and elevate the dish’s flavour profile.

If you prefer, serve the ragu with crusty bread to scoop up the sauce—a delicious option that transforms this traybake ragu into a complete, satisfying meal.

How to Make This Recipe

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Start by preheating your oven to 180°C (350°F).

Setting the temperature to 180°C ensures the vegetables roast evenly, letting them soften and caramelise without drying out.

This temperature is ideal for releasing the natural sweetness of the carrots and bringing out the earthy tones in the aubergine, enhancing each ingredient’s unique character and creating a wonderful base for the ragu.

Step 2: Prepare the Aubergine

For the mini dish, halve the aubergine horizontally and cut two small spears, setting them aside for your baby’s serving.

Then, chop the remaining aubergine into 1-inch cubes for the main traybake.

Aubergine is an ideal vegetable for this dish due to its slightly spongy texture, which absorbs the tomato and butter bean juices, creating a creamy, satisfying bite.

Plus, it’s loaded with fibre and antioxidants, supporting digestion and promoting heart health.

Step 3: Chop the Carrots

Peel the carrots, reserving two small spears for the mini version.

Halve the remaining carrots lengthwise and then chop them into 1-inch pieces.

Roasting the carrots brings out a natural sweetness that balances the other flavours, creating a more dynamic ragu.

Carrots are also an excellent source of vitamin A, supporting vision, immune function, and overall wellness—an added bonus for this tasty dish.

Step 4: Divide for the Mini Dish

Add the aubergine and carrot spears to a small baking dish, setting them aside for your baby’s portion.

This step ensures the mini portion is separate and ready to be seasoned more lightly, making it safe and palatable for little ones.

Serving the same ingredients in a simplified form can help encourage your child to explore new textures and flavours, promoting healthy eating habits from a young age.

Step 5: Season and Roast the Veggies

In a larger baking dish, combine the remaining aubergine and carrot pieces, drizzling them with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt.

Give everything a good toss to ensure each piece is coated.

The olive oil not only helps with caramelisation but also adds a rich, slightly fruity undertone that complements the savoury butter beans and sweet cherry tomatoes.

Place both dishes in the oven, allowing the vegetables to roast for about 30 minutes.

This roasting stage is where the magic happens: the vegetables soften, their flavours deepen, and their natural sweetness shines through.

Step 6: Add the Beans and Tomatoes

After 30 minutes, remove the large baking dish from the oven and add the tin of butter beans, setting aside five beans for the mini version.

Pour in the cherry tomatoes with their juices, and fill the tin with water, adding this tomato-infused water to the dish.

Butter beans lend a creaminess to the ragu that balances out the tomatoes’ acidity, creating a smooth, rich sauce.

This step transforms the traybake into a hearty, nourishing ragu, filling your kitchen with a delicious aroma as it cooks.

Step 7: Finish Roasting and Serve

Place the large tray back in the oven for an additional 30 minutes, allowing all the flavours to meld and deepen.

The final dish should be a richly sauced ragu, with tender aubergine and carrots that practically melt in your mouth.

For the adult serving, pair the ragu with quinoa and hummus for added protein and texture.

The quinoa’s nutty flavour and the creamy hummus make a perfect match for the ragu’s bold flavours.

Serve the mini portion with roasted vegetable spears and butter bean mash, offering a gentle, baby-friendly introduction to the meal’s delicious ingredients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I substitute the quinoa with something else?

Yes, you can! Rice, couscous, or pasta make excellent alternatives.

Each brings a unique texture and taste, allowing you to adjust based on your preferences or what’s available in your pantry.

Quinoa, however, is a fantastic choice for added protein and fibre, especially if you’re aiming for a lighter, nutrient-dense meal.

Is there an alternative to butter beans?

Absolutely. If butter beans aren’t readily available, cannellini beans or chickpeas are great substitutes.

They offer similar creaminess and a mild taste that enhances the ragu’s texture and flavour.

Each option has its own nutritional profile, so feel free to choose based on availability or desired texture.

Can I add other vegetables to this traybake ragu?

Certainly! This recipe is flexible, so feel free to incorporate vegetables like bell peppers, courgettes, or mushrooms.

These will roast well alongside the aubergine and carrots, adding more layers of flavour and colour to the dish.

Just chop them into similar sizes to ensure even roasting.

How long will leftovers keep?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days.

The ragu’s flavours deepen over time, making it ideal for quick lunches or dinners later in the week.

Reheat gently in the microwave or oven, adding a splash of water if necessary to refresh the sauce.

Is this recipe suitable for freezing?

Yes, the adult portion can be frozen without the quinoa and hummus.

Simply cool it completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container.

When ready to enjoy, thaw it overnight in the fridge, then reheat.

It’s a convenient option for busy days when you want a nutritious, home-cooked meal on hand.

And that’s it for this Mummy & Mini Traybake Ragu recipe. You can find the whole thing on a handy recipe card just below, so be sure to Pin it for later!

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