Your Baby Food Ideas

We always love to hear your baby food ideas - and on this page we publish our favourite entries from our Homemade Baby Food Recipes competition.

If you'd like to enter YOUR recipe in our competition for a chance to win a $60 Amazon voucher (or local equivalent), please visit our competition page and complete the simple entry form.

Many of our visitors love to read about what other parents are making for their little ones - so this is a great way to share ideas and discover new recipes!

Please note that recipes on this page are accompanied by comments from the parents who submitted these baby food ideas. The suggested ages for introduction of these recipes are, therefore, from other parents - you should seek advice from a medical professional before introducing any new foods to your baby.

Winning Entry for Feb/March/April

Thanks to everyone who sent in their entries over the last three months!

Our favourite was this interesting idea from Kristina Starnes in the United States, which combines nutritious avocado and banana with basil, forming an easy to eat finger food. It may sound like a strange combo, but basil tastes lovely with these fruits and we're sure this simple dish is something your baby will enjoy!

Congratulations, Kristina, on your win - and thank you very much for sharing your recipe idea with us and our readers :)

Your Baby Food Ideas - Avocado Basil Banana Cakes

1 avocado, pitted
1/4 banana
1/2 cup crushed crisped rice or 1/2 C panko
3 to 4 fresh sprigs of basil
pinch of salt if desired (not recommended before 12 months)
olive oil for pan

1. In a processor or blender blend the avocado, basil and banana. Add a tbsp of water if needed.
2. Add the panko crumbs or rice crisped rice ( this makes it gluten free!) Consistency should be similar to playdough!
3. Drizzle oil in pan on stovetop on medium high heat.
4. Form avocado mixture into patties and brown on each side for about 4 minutes or until golden.
5. For added pizazz, puree a few partially thawed frozen strawberries and drizzle on top. Enjoy!

We all enjoyed this one..even the adults!!

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Your Baby Food Ideas - Sweet Orangey Salmon

6-8 oz salmon fillet
1 large sweet potato or yam
1 large orange, juiced
1 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped or 1 tsp dried dill
1 tsp onion powder or 1 tbsp grated fresh onion

1. Peel the sweet potato and chop into even sized chunks (the smaller the quicker it will cook).
2. Place the sweet potatoes in a large sauce pan and cover with filtered water.
3. Boil uncovered until the potatoes are tender.
4. Once they are soft, stir in the onion, dill and the orange juice.
5. Add the salmon (no skin or bones) to the top of the potatoes and turn the heat down to med-low. Cover and poach the salmon for 10-15 minutes, or until soft and cooked through.
6. Puree all the ingredients together in the food processor to your babies preferred consistency!

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Other favourite recipes from Feb/March/April's competition

Your Baby Food Ideas - Protein Rich Recipe

From Javeria in Pakistan

2 tbsp quick oatmeal
1/2 of medium sized onion, chopped
1/2 cup chicken broth
pinch of coriander powder
2 tsp of any kind of pulse (beans, peas, lentils etc)
1/2 tsp olive oil

1. Heat olive oil a little into a pan.
2. Add chopped onion, stir for 30 secs.
3. Add chicken broth, coriander powder and pulse. Cook over a low flame till pulses become completely tender.
4. Now add oatmeal and cook for 5 mins over a low flame. Done!

Now you can blend the mixture when cool. Add salt and black pepper to taste. DD loves it because she doesn't like sweet tastes. It's a protein rich meal. I sometimes add cheese to enhance the taste.

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Your Baby Food Ideas - Almost Apple Pie

From Sarah in the United States

apple sauce (natural, no added sugar)
baby oatmeal
1 banana, mashed
1 tsp. cinnamon
very crushed graham cracker (NOT with honey!)

1. Use equal parts applesauce and oatmeal. Mix thoroughly.
2. Add cinnamon (adjust to taste)and banana and mix.
3. Sprinkle in a dash of crushed graham cracker. Tastes just like apple pie filling! YUM!

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Your Baby Food Ideas - Tropical Yum

From Laurel in the United States

1/4 cup fresh pineapple
1/4 cup frozen or fresh mango (defrosted if frozen & peeled cubed if fresh)
1/4 cup peeled and rough chopped kiwi
1/4 cup shredded coconut
3 ripe bananas

1 bag of dried tropical mix (pineapple, mango, kiwi) may be substituted instead of the first 3 ingredients

If using dried mix, steam until fruits are rehydrated.

If using fresh/frozen, add all together in blender & puree to desired consistency.

Your Baby Food Ideas - Italian-Style Green Beans

From Laurel in the United States

4 cups frozen green beans or equal amount of fresh
1/4 medium onion, chopped
1/4 red bell pepper, chopped
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
half a (15 oz) can diced organic tomatoes

Steam the first 6 ingredients together until tender. Add diced tomatoes and puree.

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Your Baby Food Ideas - Italian Bread Soup

From Katarina in Australia

1 small handful whole meal Ciabatta bread, cubed
3 large tomatoes, deseeded
1/2 clove garlic
1 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3-4 basil leaves
2 tbsp water
tiniest pinch of salt (optional) / fine ground pepper

This is actually a quick microwave lunch I used to prepare for my 8 month old. She's now two and still loves it!

1. Dice the tomatoes finely and place in a microwave dish, along with the seasoning, (if any) olive oil, and water.
2. Using a microplane, grate the garlic clove over the tomatoes. If you don't have one of these, dice it as finely as you can and add it to the dish.
3. Chop the basil as finely as possible and add this to the tomatoes, stirring to combine.
4. Microwave on high for 1 minute, or until the tomatoes break down but don't completely lose their shape.
5. Add the bread cubes, a few at a time and stir into the tomatoes. Microwave for a further 30-50 seconds and stir again, the bread should absorb the moisture and break down into a sort of thick soup with the other ingredients.
6. Allow to cool thoroughly before serving.

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Your Baby Food Ideas - Baby Tomato and Bean Casserole

From Melanie in the United Kingdom

3 tbsp olive oil
1 large white onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tsp mixed herbs
450g fresh ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 tin butter beans, drained
1 tin cannellini beans, drained
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp sundried tomato pesto
3 tbsp chopped coriander

1. Preheat the oven to 200C.
2. Cook the white onion and garlic in the olive oil for 5 minutes. Add the mixed herbs and tomatoes, and cook covered for a further 5 minutes.
3. Add all the other ingredients, and cook for a further 10 minutes, covered, stirring occasionally.
4. Transfer to a casserole pot, cover, and place in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, and set aside a portion, and mash this thoroughly- this will be the baby's meal. With the rest of the casserole, season it to taste with salt, pepper and sugar, and this is the meal for the parents- eaten with hunks of buttered bread! Or alternatively, all of this casserole can be mashed and then frozen in convenient "baby-sized" portions, to last for a month on the freezer.

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Your Baby Food Ideas - Finger Fritters

From Liz in South Africa

1 cup fresh corn, chopped cucumber & peas (mixed)
1/2 cup whole wheat infant cereal (depending on the age)
3 tablespoons powdered milk for babies (I use nestle Nido +1, also depends on the age)
2 eggs
oil to fry

1. Mix together the veggies, cereal, eggs and powdered milk in a small bowl.
2. Heat a little oil in a pan & fry tablespoons full until golden brown on both sides (about 3 minutes on each side)
3. Place on paper towels to remove excess oil, then serve chilled.

I normally make one big fritter (like an omelet) then cut it into strips to resemble fish fingers.

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Your Baby Food Ideas - Sweet Purple Turkey

From Kelsea in Canada

This recipe makes about twelve 5 oz freeze-able cups.

1 pound ground turkey
2 cups fresh blue berries
1 mango, cored and sliced
2 apples (sweet is best)
3-4 med size beets
2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil

1. Boil apple, mango, and beets until soft (save broth to thin later if necessary).
2. In a pan, cook the turkey in coconut oil at med-high. Add blueberries to pan once turkey is cooked, to warm and soften.
3. Add all to food processor and pulse to desired consistency. If your food processor is too small, pulse in batches and mix in a bowl once done.

I created this for my son yesterday and he loved it!

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THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who sent in their recipes - we're sure that babies everywhere will be enjoying your homemade baby food creations!