Baby Food With Peas (Pea Puree For Baby)
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.Simple to make baby food with peas, a pea puree for baby, is rich in protein, folic acid, and vitamins and minerals. This stage one baby food can be served to your baby as young as 4 months. It has a fresh flavor and can be combined with fresh herbs for an earthy flavor.
Making homemade baby food peas might seem intimidating, but it’s actually super easy and much more budget friendly than store bought baby food!
This baby food with peas is simple, easy and a great source of nutrients for your baby. It’s creamy, has a mild taste, and can be customized in so many different ways to support your baby’s growing body (and growing taste buds!)
Latest Recipe Video!
If it’s your first time making your own baby food at home, check out my quick start guide here! And then, when your baby is ready to start solid foods, try this recipe for pea puree baby food.
One of the best things about this recipe is, you can actually make a huge batch and store it for later – making quick meals for your baby ready in minutes!
Table of Contents
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👩🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Super easy recipe
- Only one ingredient, plus water
- Great first food
- Several cooking methods
- Healthy
- Mild flavor, easy to mix with other purees
- Budget friendly: cheaper than buying Gerber baby food peas or other store bought baby food
- Rich source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals
- Stage 1 Baby Food: Introduce between 4-6 months of age
🥬 What Are The Health Benefits Of Peas?
Sweet peas are a powerhouse vegetable, are nutrient rich, and are so healthy for babies! Here’s why:
- Great source of vitamins and minerals including Vitamins A, B6, C, K, Folate, Iron and Zinc, which helps support baby’s immune system, build strong bones, form red blood cells, and fight infections.
- High in protein
- High in fiber, which helps support baby’s digestive system
- Good source of antioxidants and phytonutrients
🥘 Ingredients
Baby food with peas is so easy to make! All you need is two simple ingredients. For detailed instructions and nutritional information, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Frozen Green Peas: I recommend using frozen peas. They are flash frozen right when they’re picked, and no extra prep or work is needed. If you can, get organic frozen peas from your local grocery store to reduce your baby’s exposure to pesticides. I use 2 bags of 16 oz peas. This will make a large quantity, but it’s great for freezing! You can use garden peas or fresh peas, it will just require more prep time, especially if the peas are still in their pods!
- Water: Start with 8 ounces of filtered water. If you think the peas need to be watered down a bit more, add water one ounce at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
📖 Peas Baby Food Combinations
There are so many baby food combinations with peas, the possibilities are almost endless! Here are some of our favorite creamy combos of this simple puree:
- Baby Food Peas And Apples: Some babies may not like peas on their own, but they can be made palatable immediately by mixing with another fruit puree! Apples and peas go really well together, as do fruits like pears, banana, peaches, and mango.
- Baby Food Peas And Carrots: Smashed peas and carrots is a classic combination! Carrots are slightly sweet and mix nicely with this baby pea puree recipe. You can also try other vegetables like sweet potato, butternut squash, cauliflower, or regular potatoes!
- Combine with Other Green Vegetables: Add fresh peas to any other green veggie to create a green fresh vegetables puree. Try adding spinach, zucchini, green beans, or broccoli to the puree for a nutritional powerhouse!
- Add Protein: You can mix this pureed peas for baby with chickpeas, lentils, yogurt, or even soft tofu for a protein boost!
- Add Healthy Fats: Try some ground flaxseed, avocado, or a little bit of olive oil, coconut oil, organic ghee or butter! You can also mix this easy peas puree with breastmilk or organic baby formula right before serving (but do not mix it with breastmilk or formula and store it for later).
Adding Spices And Herbs To This Baby Peas Recipe
Adding spices and herbs to your baby’s food is an easy way to start developing their palates early. For this baby food with peas recipe, you can try adding fresh herbs like mint, basil, parsley, or cilantro.
Spices or other flavors that your baby might enjoy include: a splash of lemon juice or lime juice, a pinch of ginger powder, a pinch of garlic powder, or a little bit of cumin.
🔪 How To Make Pea Puree For Baby
Making baby food peas is super easy and takes just a few steps! Here’s how you do it:
Steam The Peas: Add a little water to a large pot and add a steamer basket on top. Steam your peas for 3-5 minutes.
Puree Peas: Once the steamed peas are green and tender, pour them into a blender or food processor and add enough water to give you a smooth but not runny consistency. You can also use a hand blender if you add the water to the pot itself and then blend with a hand blender in the pot. I used about 8 ounces of water, but you might need a little more or less. Blend until smooth. Add more water if needed one ounce at a time until this peas puree for baby has reached your desired consistency.
Note: You can also boil the peas in a little bit of water. If you do choose to boil the peas, add the peas and water to a pot over high heat. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer until the peas are cooked but not mushy (about 5-7 minutes). Add both the cooked peas and the water you cooked them in to the blender when pureeing, and only add additional water if you need a thinner puree.
Prepare For Freezing: Pour into ice cube trays, allow to cool, wrap/cover, and freeze. Cubes will keep in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Thaw For Use: Thaw in the fridge in a small bowl the night before use, or thaw by putting the ice cube in a bowl over a bowl of hot water on the counter until completely defrosted. Serve baby food with peas at room temperature or very slightly warmed.
🧊 How To Store
Refrigerator Storage Instructions
- Allow the baby food with peas to cool completely.
- Transfer to an airtight container.
- Place in the fridge and use within 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave slightly and test how warm it is before serving to your baby. A little warmer than room temperature (or just at room temperature) is perfect.
Freezer Storage Instructions
- Allow the green pea baby food puree to cool completely.
- Transfer to ice cube trays. I recommend using durable, covered, ice cube trays for freezing. I like these from Mumi & Bubi because they come with a cover, a recipe book, and the cubes are super easy to get out. A covered silicone ice cube tray is also a great option. If you don’t have covered ice cube trays, wrap your trays in plastic wrap.
- Store in the freezer for up to 4 months. After freezing overnight, you can pop the cubes out of the tray and store in a zip top freezer bag with all air pushed out. Label with contents and the date.
- To defrost: When you’re ready to thaw the cubes, transfer the pea baby food cubes you plan on serving to the refrigerator overnight. The next day, stir the puree, then warm slightly in the microwave (to just slightly warmer than room temperature).
❓Recipe FAQs
When can babies start eating peas?
Babies can start eating peas as soon as they are ready to start solid foods, typically between 4-6 months of age. At that age, you’ll want to puree the peas or mash them before serving them to your baby.
Are peas a good first food for babies?
Absolutely! Peas have a mild flavor, are allergen friendly, and can be one of the best first food options for babies. They’re packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein, which also makes them great nutritionally for your baby’s development.
Are frozen peas ok for baby food?
Yes, you can use frozen peas when making this english pea puree for baby. But do not serve your baby frozen peas without pureeing them, as they are a choking hazard.
Even if you steam frozen peas, they are still a choking hazard (similar to grapes) until your baby is about 3 years old.
Once your baby gets closer to 12 months of age, you can defrost frozen peas, steam them, mash them, and then use the mashed peas as a finger food.
Can you use canned peas for baby food?
I do not recommend using canned peas for baby food. Some cans still contain BPA. Also, they are not as fresh or flavorful. In fact, they can have quite a pungent smell, and acidic flavor. Using fresh or frozen peas will ensure that your baby enjoys this healthy stage 1 recipe!
Do peas make babies gassy? Do peas make babies constipated?
Peas should not cause gas or constipation in your baby. Peas are high in fiber, so they should actually help to alleviate constipation because the fiber helps to soften your baby’s stool and make it easy to pass.
🍽 Tips For Feeding
How Do I Introduce Peas To My Baby?
Once your baby is ready for solids, you can add a little bit of green pea puree to a small baby safe spoon and let your baby experiment with it. Let them touch it, put little bits in their mouth, and see how they like it.
Alternatively, you can feed it to them directly if they are leaning forward and opening their mouth already.
When you start solid foods, 1 tablespoon of green peas puree is more than enough for a “meal.” So start with small amounts and work your way up from there as your baby gets used to eating!
If your baby turns up their nose to peas, try adding some fresh herbs, or other fruit and veggie purees (see the variations above)
What Food Should I Try On My Baby First?
Typically, I recommend starting with mild tasting vegetables. Since breastmilk and formula is already sweet, your baby’s palate is already used to sweet tastes.
When it comes to starting solids, the best way to ensure your child becomes an adventurous eater (and not a picky eater), is to expose them to different tastes and different textures (beside sweet, soft foods) early on.
I like starting with vegetables like green beans, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and of course, this peas baby food recipe! If you want to start with a fruit first, start with avocados, and then move onto some of these milder vegetables.
Other Quick Feeding Tips
- Follow your baby’s lead! Don’t try to make your baby eat once they’ve indicated they are full or done (e.g. they have turned away from the spoon, stopped opening their mouth, or started playing with or pushing away the food). It’s also ok to let your baby explore with the spoon and the food on their own. It will make a mess, but it encourages your baby to develop key skills for self feeding.
- Be persistent! Sometimes it can take up to 50-100 tastes of new foods for a baby to accept it. If your baby doesn’t like the puree at first, keep trying and don’t give up!
- Add spices! Don’t be afraid to expose your baby to all kinds of tastes and flavors. Feel free to serve these green peas for baby with a variety of spices. Don’t use “hot” spices like chili powder, cayenne, red pepper, etc. but mild and sweet spices (and all herbs) are great options.
💭 Tips For Making Baby Food
- Use baby food storage containers. This allows you to make one batch, freeze, and have for the entire month or more! You’ll save tons of time, and have a variety of fresh and homemade purees to give to baby.
- For a super smooth puree, I recommend investing in a high powered blender. I used our Vitamix to puree large quantities at the same time. It pulverizes everything and you end up with a smooth texture (similar to what you’d find in store bought baby food). You don’t need a “baby food maker” – any great blender will do. And if you have a Vitamix you can use it for so many other things besides baby food!
- Make sure you have all the necessary tools. You don’t need anything fancy for this sweet pea puree. A good blender is essential. I also suggest having a steam basket so that you can easily steam your vegetables without having to submerge them in boiling water.
- Don’t overcook the peas! They don’t need a ton of time to steam. You want them to turn a bright green color, and become slightly soft in texture – that’s when they are perfectly cooked. Once that happens, remove them from the steam basket, and submerge them in an ice bath to stop the cooking process. All of your green veggies should remain bright green after they have been cooked – that’s how you know they have been cooked properly.
- Adjust consistency as needed. If the baby puree is too thick add more water. Or add breast milk, or formula just before serving to your baby.
- For an on-the-go option: There will be times you’re on the go and need a healthy pre-made option for your little one. And in those cases, I’d recommend buying one of the pouches on my list of the healthiest baby food pouches.
🥣 More Baby Food Recipes!
- 10 Easy Baby Food Recipes for Beginners
- Zucchini and Apple Puree
- Baby Led Weaning Foods
- Butternut Squash Puree
- Superfoods for Babies and Recipe Ideas
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📋 Recipe Card
🎥 Watch How to Make It
Baby Food With Peas: Pea Puree
Simple to make baby food with peas, a pea puree for baby, that is rich in protein, folic acid, and vitamins and minerals. This stage one baby food can be served to your baby as young as 4 months. It has a fresh flavor and can be combined with fresh herbs for an earthy flavor.
Servings: 14 ounces
Calories: 52kcal
Ingredients
- 2 lbs organic frozen peas about 2 (16 oz) bags
- 8 oz water more or less depending on how thin or thick you want your puree to be
Instructions
- Steam your peas for 3-5 minutes
- Once the peas are green and soft, pour them into a blender and add 8oz water. Puree until smooth. (You may want to start with less water and keep adding more until your puree has reached its desired consistency).
- Pour into ice cube trays, allow to cool, wrap/cover, and freeze.
- Thaw in the fridge the night before use, or thaw by putting the ice cube in a bowl over a bowl of hot water on the counter to defrost.
Notes
- Mix with your baby’s favorite fruit or some sweeter veggies (butternut squash works great) to make peas more palatable!
- This recipe can make anywhere from 12-16 ounces depending on how much water you use.1 ice cube = 1 oz of food
- Stage 1 Food: 4 months and up
- Use baby food storage containers. This allows you to make one batch, freeze, and have for the entire month or more! You’ll save tons of time, and have a variety of fresh and homemade purees to give to baby.
- For a super smooth puree, I recommend investing in a high powered blender. I used our Vitamix to puree large quantities at the same time. It pulverizes everything and you end up with a smooth texture (similar to what you’d find in store bought baby food). You don’t need a “baby food maker” – any great blender will do. And if you have a Vitamix you can use it for so many other things besides baby food!
- Don’t overcook the peas! They don’t need a ton of time to steam. You want them to turn a bright green color, and become slightly soft in texture – that’s when they are perfectly cooked.
- Adjust consistency as needed. If the baby puree is too thick add more water. Or add breast milk, or formula just before serving to your baby.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ounce | Calories: 52kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.05g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 158mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g
Your photos are absolutely gorgeous – I don’t have a baby but wow!
Thanks so much! 🙂
Hi was wondering if you had any good fruits that went together with peas? My little one did not like peas alone and I want to continue to give to him maybe disguised. Thanks.
Hi Kim! My daughter loved pea puree + whole milk plain yogurt (I have no idea why haha but it worked!). You can also try mixing peas with a sweeter fruit like pears or apples. Those would be my first suggestions, and if that doesn’t work you can try mixing it with a few other veggies and fruits like squashes and apples/pears!
Firstly, I hope this message finds you well. Your blog has been so incredibly helpful on my baby food journey. I did not even know where to start before finding you & you’ve become my go-to resource. I really appreciate how you make everything so simple and every recipe has turned out great!! I have one question- our frozen veggie selection has been very slim since the pandemic. Would you recommend making my own non-organic pea and green bean purées or opt for organic pre-made until I’m able to get organic frozen veggies? I’m a bit torn & would appreciate your input. Thank you!
Hi Katy! Thanks so much for reaching out and I’m so glad my blog has been helpful for you! 🙂 To your question – totally hear you on the frozen veggies right now. You can use non-organic peas for your pea purees — peas are on the “clean fifteen” list so non-organic is ok! Green beans, unfortunately are on the “high in pesticides” list according to EWG, so I would go with organic pre-made for green beans puree until you are able to get organic frozen veggies. Or you can use organic fresh green beans as well in the puree and follow the same directions as if they were frozen! Hope that helps!
Great! Thank you so much for the helpful response!
No problem at all! 🙂
Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes. I do have a question about storage. The only organic peas and green beans I was able to find were frozen. Once cooked and blended can I re-freeze to store it? I’ve always heard you can freeze something twice. Thank you!
Hi Sandra! In the case of frozen vegetables, it’s totally fine to cook them and then re-freeze them. The “no-defrost-then-refreeze” rule mostly applies to meat, dairy, etc. So yes, should be fine to cook, blend and then re-freeze the organic beans and peas!
What vitamix container do you recommend for making baby food? The 64 ounce seems to require I make too much.
Hi Cherry! I would just recommend the standard Vitamix container – you don’t have to fill it up (in fact, you can literally just blend a couple ounces in the container if you wanted to!
Hi I love your recipes! I will be making homemade food for my 5 month old soon. I have a baby bullet ( not opened yet) What other blender do you recommend For making baby food purée? I’m debating whether or not to use the baby bullet.
Hi Sonia! Honestly, I wouldn’t use a baby bullet — I’d get a really awesome blender like the Vitamix which makes super smooth baby food purees, but that you can also use for a variety of other things (smoothies, soups, baking/pancake mixes, etc.!) The baby bullet is basically useless after you’re done making purees — and since you need purees for only about 6 months, I don’t think it’s worth it. Hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions!
Dear Anjali! I have been following your site and doing your recipies since my daughter was 7 months old. You have helped me so much to make my baby girl real food. But i have a question. Soon she will be 1 year old and I will be very happy if you have also recipies for babies over 1 year. Thank you very much, Amanda
Hi Amanda! I’m so happy my recipes have worked well for your daughter! 🙂 Here is a list of 30 recipes that work well for kids age 1 and up. And if you’re looking for even more recipes including toddler finger food ideas, check out my cookbook (which has over 150 recipes for kids aged 1-4!) Hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions!
I tried making the peas for my 4 and a half month old and the shells of them did not blend smooth enough for a brand new eater. Any tricks? Or is this recipe not good until they are older?
Hi Tova! There are a few ways to get the puree super smooth: 1) Boil/steam the peas first until they are super super soft (think: overcooked) 2) Blend the peas in a really high powered blender like a Vitamix 3) If, after blending, it’s still not super smooth (although it should be), you can strain the puree through a strainer if you want to remove any small bits that didn’t get fully pureed. As they get older though, you don’t have to have the puree be super smooth and you can leave the chunky bits in. Hope that helps!
Hi Anjali,
So do we have to boil whole peas along with pod all together and blend it to smooth paste?
I’d recommend using frozen peas so that they are already out of the pod, and then yes – steaming those and blending them is perfect!
Are the frozen organic green peas with salt OK to give my baby? She is 7 months old 🙂 From what I can find, the bags do not state “no added salt”.
Hi! Good question! Until your baby is 1, I’d avoid giving her food with added salt wherever you can help it, since babies only need a tiny amount of salt in their diets, and that need is generally met through breast milk or infant formula. Adding too much salt to a baby’s food can be harmful to their immature kidneys, which might not be able to process the excess salt. Most frozen organic vegetables don’t have salt added. I’d just buy a brand that either says “no salt added” on the front of the bags, or look for a brand where the ingredients list just lists “organic frozen green peas” on it (and doesn’t list “salt” as an ingredient). Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions!
wow you are such a great mom…you seem to be making baby food on your own….such an inspiration for soon to be mom’s like us….I will definitely be trying these out when my little one is out….still 6 weeks to go….
BTW when did u start giving solids to layla, at which month??
You are very sweet Jyo! Oh you have a lot of time until you start solids — we started with Layla around 5.5 months. Wishing you all the best with the rest of your pregnancy and the start of new motherhood! 🙂