Is your bub ready to explore solids beyond rice cereal? It’s actually really easy … so don’t be scared to make your own baby food at home. Kick-off their culinary adventures with these easy baby food recipes!
It’s always recommended to have your bub or toddler try a new food by itself before mixing it with others, especially if food allergies run in your immediate family. It’s better to err on the side of caution, right!? As always, never let a baby eat unsupervised and watch in awe as they explore new flavours.
Remember it’s completely normal for your bub to reject a spoon of something new or unfamiliar, spitting it back out at you in seconds. Give them a minute and try offering it again, usually by the second or third attempt, it’s devoured with gusto!
Every baby is a mini savage food critic, persistence is key. via GIPHY
How to make puree recipes silky smooth
The art to getting a smooth and silky finish on these baby food recipes is to boil or steam until the vegetables are tender and then push through a fine mesh sieve or even better (and quicker), use a stick blender and give it a quick whizz! Adding a teaspoon or two of boiled water can make all the difference in texture too.
5 Home-made baby food recipes your bub will love
1. Carrot and pea puree recipe
Ingredients
- 200g carrots, sliced
- 40g green peas
Method
- In a small saucepan, boil the carrots until tender.
- Add the peas to the carrot and boil for an extra couple of minutes.
- Drain the vegetables, and reserve the liquid. Using a stick mixer, blend the vegetables until smooth. Add some of the reserved cooking water to loosen it up if the mixture is too thick.
2. Banana and Berries Puree Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp water
- ½ tbsp baby rice cereal
- 1 banana, chopped
- 10 berries (raspberries or strawberries, fresh or frozen)
Method
- In a small saucepan, bring the water to boil over medium-high heat.
- Add the banana, berries and rice cereal. Simmer gently for five minutes, stirring from time to time to prevent it sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Push the mixture through a sieve to achieve a light and silky smooth puree. Add a splash of boiled water if bub prefers a looser consistency.
3. Sweet Potato and Cinnamon Puree Recipe
Ingredients
- 200g sweet potato
- A pinch of ground cinnamon
Method
- Peel and cut a 200g sweet potato into chunks.
- Cover with cold water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Drain and add a pinch of cinnamon to the potato.
- Mash with a fork or potato masher for a lumpy texture. Use a stick blender for a smoother pureed texture (add a splash of boiled water to loosen it up).
4. Very Good Vegetable Medley Puree Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup of peeled carrot, cut into chunks
- ½ cup of peeled pumpkin, cut into chunks
- ½ cup of peeled potato, cut into chunks
- 3 tbsp peas
- 3 tbs corn kernels
Method
- Place the chunks of potato, pumpkin and carrot into a small saucepan. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil, cooking until fork tender.
- Add the peas and corn and boil together until tender.
- Drain and puree until smooth, adding a little boiled water if needed to loosen up the mixture. Mash with a fork or potato masher for a lumpier texture, suitable for older babies.
TIP: This is a great recipe to add shredded chicken to, making it a one-pot meal! Simply add shredded cooked chicken before pureeing OR stir it through the fork mashed mixture. Easy!
5. Broccoli, Spinach and Apple Puree Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 head of broccoli, stem removed
- 1/3 cup baby spinach leaves, chopped
- 1 small pink lady apple, peeled
Method
- Cut the broccoli into florets and the apple into small chunks. Steam or boil until tender, drain and add the spinach leaves to wilt completely over the hot broccoli and apple.
- Using a stick blender, puree the broccoli, spinach and apple until smooth in texture. YUM!
Just the tip of the puree iceberg
Of course, there are SO many other puree combinations and baby food recipes you can make at home, from apple and pear to pumpkin and all the delicious fruits (mango, blueberries, peaches!) and veggies in between. As your baby gets older you can add cooked meats and yoghurt to the blends. Before you know it, they’re eating the same as everyone else in your family with confidence!
Made too much? Freeze it!
Good news mamas! You can TOTALLY freeze these baby food recipes. Because babies don’t tend to eat a lot in one sitting – and we inevitably make more than what we need, most baby food can be frozen, thawed and reheated with ease.
You can buy some really handy and cute baby food storage containers/pouches/jars available or you can just load up an ice cube tray with your purees and pop them in a freezer for an hour until frozen and then release the cubes into an airtight container to use later. Looking for the perfect ice tray? Check out this Target Silicone 15-hole Ice Tray with Lid ($5).
Does your bub have a favourite flavour combination or any baby food recipes they like much more than others? Let us know and inspire other mums by leaving a comment below!
