Vegetable Puree for Baby: Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Spinach
As soon as my kids were old enough to start eating solids, this vegetable puree with spinach, broccoli, and cauliflower was one of my favorite blends. It was a great way to introduce greens without overwhelming their little tummies or taste buds. This puree is nutrient-dense, takes just 20 minutes to make, and freezes well, making it ideal for busy moms.
Servings: 100 tablespoons
Calories: 17.4kcal
Ingredients
- 5 cups frozen organic broccoli
- 5 cups frozen organic spinach
- 10 cups frozen organic cauliflower
- At least 16oz water - more for a thinner puree
Instructions
- Put all of the frozen veggies in your steamer and steam for 5 minutes until the broccoli and spinach is bright green.
- Put into a blender in batches (there will be too much to put in all at once). Add water to thin the puree.
- Pour into ice cube trays, allow to cool, cover/wrap 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
- My #1 Secret Tip for this vegetable puree recipe is to stop steaming as soon as the vegetables turn a vibrant green color. This is how I keep the flavor mild and prevent it from becoming dull. Remember, babies start seeing color between 1-3 months, and vivid hues are great for their visual stimulation, cognitive development, and help them focus and engage.
- Add breast milk or formula: Thinning the puree with breast milk or formula is a great way to include a familiar taste, making it more palatable.
- Water down for stages: For stage 1 feeding at around 6 months, I would make a very thin, almost soupy consistency, then thicken it up slowly.
- Never season: Never add any kind of salt, sugar, honey, or pepper to the food, as your baby’s system is not developed enough to handle it yet.
- Test your baby: Before feeding my baby's blends, I first tested purees with 1 ingredient to identify any potential allergies.
- Never refreeze: Once you have thawed frozen puree, do not refreeze it, as it becomes unsafe for your baby to consume.
Nutrition
Serving: 4tablespoons | Calories: 17.4kcal | Carbohydrates: 3.5g | Protein: 1.6g | Sodium: 22.5mg | Potassium: 204.6mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g