Our Favourite Baby Purees

Today I thought I would share some of our favourite baby purees to make for Thomas. I used to think that it would take so long to make a puree from scratch and that it would require so much cooking. But I was completely wrong! Once I got the hang of it, I became a lot more confident of trying new flavours together. And Thomas has loved trying out all my creations!

Apple Chicken

Put about 20g of finely chopped onion into a saucepan with a bit of unsalted butter and stir for 2-3 minutes until it softens, but doesn't brown. Add about 100g of chopped chicken and stir until cooked through, but try not to let it go brown (I say try because I always get paranoid about chicken and would prefer for it to be over done than raw!). Then add about 300g of thinly sliced sweet potato, about 3/4 of grated apple (granny smiths work well!) and pour over 200mls of chicken stock. Cover and simmer until everything is super soft and then blend it to your babies favourite consistency! 

The apples create such a sweet flavour which is enough to satisfy most babies sweet teeth! Chicken is also a great source of vitamin B12 as well as protein which will keep baby fuller for longer! 

Fish, carrot and Tomato

I found this one in a book, but cheated a little. And here's how:

Boil about 250g of peeled and sliced carrots until soft (takes about 20 minutes). Meanwhile, take a couple of fish fingers (good ones, with the lowest salt count you can find!) and cook in the microwave. 

Melt a little unsalted butter in a pan and add some peeled and chopped tomatoes (about 2 big ones) and 50g of cheese. 

Remove the fish fingers from the microwave and take off the breadcrumb coating. Flake into the pan with the tomatoes and cheese and add the carrots. Puree to desired consistency. 

If your baby is starting to take more lumpy foods, flake the fish in at the end and leave it just flaked. To be honest, this puree is perfect for babies starting on lumps because carrots are always quite difficult to puree to a super smooth texture so it always comes out a little lumpy!

 Potato, Leek, Carrot and Pea

Melt some unsalted butter in a pan and add some chopped baby leeks (about 3 little ones). Add some potatoes and carrots (thinly sliced) and pour over 300mls of vegetable stock (chicken stock also works fine!). Bring to the boil and leave to simmer for about 10 minutes. Then add a handful of frozen peas and cook for a few more minutes. Then just puree! 

This one is super easy, and you can just change the vegetables around. Try sweet potato instead of normal ones, or courgette instead of carrot! 

 Potato, Courgette and Pea

Quite similar to the last one. Melt some unsalted butter in a pan and add about 50g of chopped onion until soft. Add 60g of chopped courgettes and cook for about a minute and a half. Then add in 150g of chopped potatoes (normal or sweet, up to you!) and pour over 125mls of chicken stock. Cook for 15 minutes and then add a handful of peas. Cook for a few minutes and then puree to your babies favourite consistency. I find this one goes really well with a little sliced toast! 

Fruit Purees

These are the easiest to do as they require no cooking and very little effort. When making a fruit puree, I find it's always best to start with banana as the base, as this always purees down super duper smooth! Here are some ideas for combinations: 

Apple and Banana

Mango, Banana and Apple

Pear and Banana

Peach, Banana and blueberries

Apricot, Banana and Pear

Finger foods are also quite fun to give to Thomas. We started giving him these at about 6 and a half months but I remember Alice wasn't ready for them until she was nearer to 8 months! Our favourites are fingers of toast, slices of banana, cubes of cheese and strawberries!

Purees are so simple to do and of course, all the ones listed above can be frozen and defrosted when needed! Fruit ones are always nice for pudding! 

Happy Puree making! 

xx