These pumpkin baby food recipes make good use of all that spare pumpkin from Halloween - but pumpkin is a nutritious food for baby at any time of the year!
The orange colour of pumpkin tells us that it is rich in beta-carotene, an important anti-oxidant that the body converts to vitamin A. It also contains vitamin C, potassium and calcium.
When selecting a pumpkin to prepare for your baby, make sure that it is hard and heavy for its size - this indicates that it is of good quality. Avoid a soft pumpkin, or one that seems quite light for it's size.
TIP: Don't let the seeds go to waste - roasted pumpkin seeds make an excellent high energy snack for the adults! Simply wash the seeds to remove the strings and blot dry. Then toss with a little vegetable oil and spread in a single layer on a shallow baking sheet. Bake at 250 deg F for 10-15 mins, stirring two or three times. If you wish, you can add salt, then cool before storing.
Pumpkin baby food recipes - Simple pumpkin and peach rice
This yummy recipe is ideal for older babies who are enjoying lumpier textures.
4oz cooked brown rice 8oz pumpkin, peeled and diced, with seeds removed 1/2 small, ripe peach, peeled and diced water or homemade chicken stock
Place the diced pumpkin and peach into a saucepan and cover with the water or stock (we like to use stock as it gives a richer flavour). Simmer for around 20 mins, then stir in the brown rice. Continue to cook for 10 mins, adding more water/stock if the mixture becomes too dry. Serve to your baby - either as a side dish or a complete meal. The sweetness of the peach makes this a really tasty dish - your little one will never eat plain old rice again!
8oz pumpkin, sliced 2tsp butter 7 fl oz water little milk (you can use formula/breastmilk if you wish) pinch freshly ground black pepper 2 drops of maple syrup
Place the sliced pumpkin in a pan with the water and butter. Simmer until very tender. Puree, then use a little milk to thin the mixture to a creamy consistency. Add the black pepper and maple syrup, then return to the pan and heat through. If your baby is enjoying finger foods, you can serve this with strips of lightly toasted bread, or even make some "baby croutons". Simply slice wholemeal bread into strips, then bake in a low oven until dry and hard!
1 lb pumpkin, cut into 1 inch strips 5 fl oz water 1tsp butter 1tsp flour 5 fl oz milk (you can use formula/breastmilk if you wish) pinch cinnamon pinch freshly ground black pepper
Place the pumpkin strips in a saucepan with the water and butter and simmer until very tender. Drain, reserving the cooking liquid, and place in a warm dish. Mix the flour and milk together to form a smooth paste, then stir in the water you used to cook the pumpkin. Pour mixture back into the saucepan and boil for a few minutes, stirring constantly. Add the pepper and cinnamon, then pour the sauce over the pumpkin strips. Mash lightly with a fork, or puree if necessary.
Pumpkin baby food recipes - Pumpkin 'n pasta (7 months+)
8oz pasta shapes 4oz cream cheese 2oz grated Parmesan cheese 2oz butter 2 fl oz milk (use breastmilk/formula if you prefer) 4oz cooked pumpkin, mashed pinch nutmeg
Cook the pasta according to the directions on the pack. Place the cream cheese, Parmesan, milk and butter in a saucepan and cook gently until the cream cheese has melted, stirring often. Add the cooked pumpkin and nutmeg and continue to cook until heated throughout. Toss with the pasta and serve, chopping the pasta shapes as necessary.
Have fun making these pumpkin baby food recipes - and if you have any recipes you'd like to share, please contact us - we'd love to hear from you!
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