This blog post is brought to you in partnership with our friends at Canada Beef and their Think Beef program. As always, all opinions are our own.
We know that dishes like this (aka – a pot of greyish brown stuff) can sometimes be a bit of a hard sell since our appetites begin with eyes. So why don’t you just close your eyes and picture this:
Tender, slow-braised beef, infused with the tang of sumac and warm Middle-Eastern inspired spices, and bathed in a broth of caramelized onions – it practically melts in your mouth! But that’s just the beginning. Wrapped in a warm pita, and filled with fresh tomatoes, lettuce, parsley, crunchy almond slices, and drizzled with almond tahini sauce, this sumac beef is irresistible!
The best part? The beef is 100% baby friendly!
One Family, One Meal
We are big BIG fans here at Happy Healthy Eaters in the movement to include your baby at the table with you while you eat your meals. Why is that? Oh, let us count thy ways!
- Modeling: Your baby gains so much when they eat with you, including learning how to actually eat, which is a new skill they’re developing that takes until age four to completely master!
- Earlier acceptance of family foods: Instead of getting your baby used to the flavour of baby food then switching them over to family foods in toddlerhood, your baby will get a head start in developing a palate for these tastes.
- Balanced meals: You know the drill of a balanced meal – meat (or alternative), veggies/fruit, grain, and calcium source. You’re likely already using this formula for yourself – which makes it easy to ensure baby is also getting balanced meals!
- Less work – Instead of doubling up on meal prep time, you just need to modify the meal you’re already making to make it safe and nutritious for your baby!
- Less pressure – Some babies greatly dislike when they’re at center stage. When your baby joins you at the table, it becomes less of a show of watching your baby’s every eating move, and more of a moment for family bonding.
- Makes it easier to ensure the parents get nourished too! -Have you ever carefully crafted gourmet, balanced meals for your baby only to sit back, tired out from the effort, and grab a bag of chips for yourself to eat? Let’s avoid that, shall we? Put that effort into a meal you can ALL eat!
How do I know I’m buying Canadian beef?
We love a good rhyme…so here’s one you can memorize. Pick the beef with the leaf! Look for the Canada Beef logo on the label—this ensures you’re getting 100% Canadian beef.
If you don’t see this label (see image below), just ask your local butcher or someone who works in the meat department. It’s quite likely they’ll be able to provide you with answers!
Buying budget friendly beef
We remember what life was like having a baby…you’re trying to stretch your dollar and make the most out of the food you purchase! Actually, we’re STILL trying to do that! Those kids just get more expensive as the years go on (hello there, hockey enrolment and piano lessons!).
When purchasing beef, here are some tips you can keep in mind to save money:
- Go for budget-friendly cuts – Ground beef, chuck, brisket, and stewing beef tend to be more affordable and cook up beautifully in slow-cooked or one-pot meals.
- Buy in bulk & freeze portions – Larger “family” style packs often cost less per pound. Once you bring them home, divide them into meal-sized portions and freeze for easy, budget-friendly meal prep.
- Shop for sales & markdowns – Keep an eye on grocery store flyers and clearance sections. Some stores discount meat close to its sell-by date—perfect if you’re planning to cook or freeze it soon!
- Stretch it further – Boost volume and nutrition by adding lentils, beans, or finely chopped veggies to ground beef dishes like tacos, chili, or pasta sauce – kinda like what we did for our Sofrito Beef, Rice and Beans dish and our Prune Beef Burger recipe!
- Consider local butchers or farms – If you have access to a local farm, buying beef directly (or as part of a meat share) can be more cost-effective than grocery store prices in the long run.
Suggested reading: Make The Most of Your Beef (free download!)
But, can my baby have spices?
Short answer: Yes! Babies can and should enjoy flavourful foods.
Long answer: There’s no need or scientific reason to serve babies bland meals—introducing different herbs and spices early helps expand their palate and makes mealtime more exciting.
Having said that – babies, just like adults- are all uniquely wired! Some babies may find strong flavours overwhelming and may prefer more bland food. It’s all about experimenting to find what your baby enjoys best!
This Sumac Beef recipe features fun flavours like sumac, coriander, cardamom, and garlic, all of which are completely baby-friendly. At Happy Healthy Eaters, we encourage feeding your baby meals that reflect how your family eats.
Something however to keep in mind is to avoid cayenne, hot chili flakes, and spicy chili powders—not because they’re unsafe, but because they can cause discomfort or pain for your baby who is just learning to eat.
How to adapt Sumac Beef for your baby’s age and stage
- Puréed Texture: Combine shredded beef mixture in a blender or food processor. Blend until you reach a consistency that suits your baby’s ability, adding water, breastmilk or formula if necessary. Serve tahini sauce alongside or fold it into the mixture.
- Chunky Mash: Use clean kitchen scissors to cut the beef into small pieces. Serve tahini sauce alongside or fold it into the mixture.
- Toddler Finger Foods: Serve shredded beef mixture with rice or bite-sized pieces of pita. Offer tahini sauce alongside or drizzle it over the beef.
How can this be customized for my family?
One of the reasons we adore this recipe is because it can be served in so many ways. Here’s just a few options but please don’t stop here. We’d love to hear how you plan to enjoy it:
In a pita: serve the sumac beef over a pita, loaded with your desired toppings (lettuce, tomatoes, sliced almonds, etc) and the almond sauce.
Along with naan: we’ve also loved this with a soft buttery naan with a salad on the side.
In a bowl: got rice? Serve the sumac beef over long grain rice, with your topping and sauce.
Deconstruct it: if you have a toddler who prefers deconstructed meals, this is easy to do with sumac beef. Depending on their abilities, you can even encourage them to self-plate. Toddlers love to make their own decisions!
Recipe FAQs
Can I freeze this recipe?
Yes! This recipe freezes beautifully. We love to make a large batch and then freeze flat into resealable bags to use as a quick meal for our future tired selves! You can also freeze into ice cubes to defrost and reheat as needed for a baby-sized portion.
Are there any top allergens?
The sumac beef does not contain any top allergens. The tahini sauce contains sesame seeds and almonds (tree nuts). It’s best to introduce those two ingredients separately to assess for tolerance before serving together. For the most up to date recommendations on introducing your baby to the top allergens, see our e-course Start Solids Confidently!
What exactly is sumac?
Sumac is a spice made from the berries of the sumac flower. It tastes earthy and citrusy, lending a bit of acidity to the dish.
I don’t have an oven safe dish, what do I do?
No big deal – if you have a slow cooker that will do just fine! After searing the beef, transfer to a slow cooker and cook on low heat until the beef easily falls apart when pulled with two forks.
Want more baby friendly beef recipes? You’re going to love this Baby at The Table resource from our friends at Canada Beef and their Think Beef program!
FREE Recipe Booklet!
Want more baby friendly beef recipes? You’re going to love this Baby at The Table resource from our friends at Canada Beef and their Think Beef program!
Watch how to make this recipe!
Pull Apart Sumac Beef with Almond Tahini Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp ground sumac
- 1 tsp EACH ground allspice and coriander
- ½ tsp EACH ground cardamom, cumin and pepper
- ¾ tsp *salt (approx, optional)
- 2 lb Beef Blade Pot Roast
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 red onions thinly sliced
- 12 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup beef broth (sodium free or low sodium)
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
Almond Tahini Sauce
- 1 head garlic
- ½ cup olive oil, divided
- ¼ cup tahini
- 3 tbsp almond butter
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp *salt (optional)
To Serve
- Pitas
- Diced tomatoes
- Torn lettuce
- Sliced almonds
- Chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Combine sumac, allspice, coriander, cardamom, cumin, pepper and *salt to your taste (if cooking for baby omit salt at this stage). Set aside.
- Pat roast dry with paper towel. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven or enamelled cast-iron roaster; brown beef all over, turning with tongs, for about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Add onions, garlic and spice mixture to pot; cook, stirring for 1 minute. Stir in broth and lemon juice. Return meat and any accumulated juices to pot.
- Cover and cook in preheated 325°F (160°C) oven for 2 to 3 hours or until fork-tender.
- Almond Tahini Sauce: Meanwhile, slice about ¼ inch off the head of garlic to expose the cloves. Place garlic on a sheet of foil. Drizzle a little olive oil on the exposed cloves. Fold the foil around the garlic to enclose. Place foil packet in a small baking dish and roast in the oven, alongside the beef, for 45 minutes, until very soft.
- Unwrap garlic and let cool slightly. Squeeze soft garlic out of the skins into blender; discard skins. Add remaining oil, tahini, almond butter, lemon juice and ¼ cup water. Blend on low speed, then gradually increase to high speed and blend until smooth. Stir in *salt to your taste (if cooking for baby omit salt at this stage). Set aside.
- Transfer beef roast to a bowl. Cut off strings; use two forks to shred the meat. Skim fat from the sauce and combine with the shredded meat.
- To serve for Baby/Toddler, see modified textures (above). For the rest of the family, season beef and sauce mixture with salt to taste. Serve in a pita or over rice with tomatoes, lettuce, almonds, and parsley, as desired. Drizzle with a spoonful of Almond Tahini Sauce.
