Are babies allowed to eat dashi? It’s good for them, here’s why
Dashi’s in a lot of Japanese dishes so when ordering takeout or going to a restaurant with your kid, it’s a great question: can babies actually eat dashi?
Yes, babies can eat dashi. Baby food in Japan is often flavored with dashi and it’s one of the first foods they’ll taste. The umami flavor is suitable and enjoyable for babies and it’s made from dried seaweed and bonito (fish) flakes and can be used similarly to chicken broth.
Let’s look at everything that’s in there and why it might be beneficial for your child.

Dashi comes in different varieties such as Kombu dashi that is made from kelp and Katsuo dashi that is made from dried bonito flakes. Iriko dashi is made from anchovies and sardines and has a fishier flavor.

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Read for freeWhy is dashi good for babies?
Dashi is a clear light broth and has a lot of flavor without any hard to chew or swallow food chunks. Introduce your baby to new flavors with a dashi broth to get your baby accustomed to the taste. If your baby has dashi early on they will be more likely to enjoy the umami flavor of dashi in soups and stews as they grow up. All things should be eaten in moderation and that rule applies to dashi as well. Listen to your doctor and watch out for food allergies, and consume with caution as you should with any food.
Also read about the other common Japanese ingredient: can babies eat miso paste?
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Bitemybun's family recipes with complete meal planner and recipe guide.
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Read for freeJoost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.