Apple Broccoli Puree

Reasons To Love This Purée for Babies

Nutrient-Rich: Both apples and broccoli are packed with essential nutrients. Apples provide fiber and vitamins like vitamin C, which support your baby's immune system. Broccoli is rich in vitamin K, folate, and iron, which are important for bone health and red blood cell production.

Easy to Digest: The combination of apple and broccoli is gentle on your baby’s developing digestive system, making it a great first food. Both ingredients are soft when steamed, and blending them into a smooth purée ensures it's easy for babies to swallow.

Supports Healthy Growth: Olive oil's healthy fats contribute to brain development and overall growth. Since babies need healthy fats for optimal development, this purée provides a great source.

Simple and Pure Ingredients: With just a few basic ingredients, like apple, broccoli, and olive oil, this purée is free of preservatives or added sugars, giving you full control over what your baby eats.

Versatile and Easy to Make: This purée is simple to prepare and can be conveniently made in bulk. You can easily adapt it by adding other vegetables or fruits as your baby’s palate develops.

Great for Introducing New Flavors: The naturally sweet taste of apples balances the mild bitterness of broccoli, making it ideal for introducing a green vegetable to your baby’s diet.

Supports Healthy Habits: Offering vegetables like broccoli early in life encourages healthy eating habits. This purée provides a positive first experience with nutritious veggies.

Customizable Consistency: You can easily adjust the texture by blending it to your baby’s preferred consistency, whether smooth for younger babies or chunkier for older ones.

Perfect for Meal Prepping: You can prepare large batches of this purée, store it in the fridge or freezer, and have ready-made meals for your baby throughout the week.

Apple Broccoli Puree Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 apples 
• 1 small head of broccoli
• 1 tbsp olive oil 

Instructions:

1. Prepare the ingredients: Peel and core the apples. Cut them into small chunks to help them cook faster. Wash the broccoli and cut it into small florets.

2. Steam the apples and broccoli: Combine the apple chunks and broccoli florets in a steamer basket. Steam them together for about 7–10 minutes, or until the apples and broccoli are soft and tender.

3. Blend the mixture: Once steamed, transfer the apple and broccoli to a baby food blender or food processor. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the mixture. The olive oil helps add healthy fats and gives the purée a smoother consistency. Blend until smooth or textured. You can add a little water, breast milk, or formula to reach the desired consistency if needed.

4. Cool and serve: Allow the purée to cool to a safe temperature before serving it to your baby. Serve in small portions and refrigerate any leftovers for up to 2 days.

Tips for Success

Choose Fresh Ingredients: Select ripe, firm apples (like Fuji or Gala) that will cook nicely into a smooth purée. Opt for fresh, tender broccoli. If the broccoli is too old, it can have a stronger, less appealing flavor for babies.

Adjust Consistency Gradually: For younger babies (around 6 months), keep the purée smooth and thin by adding a little extra water, breast milk, or formula. As your baby gets older and starts to develop more chewing ability (around 8 months+), you can leave it chunkier to help them get used to different textures.

Steam, Don't Boil: Steaming preserves more nutrients than boiling, which is ideal for your baby’s developing digestive system. Steaming the apples and broccoli together makes the process more efficient and ensures they cook evenly.

Be Mindful of Temperature: Before feeding, always test the temperature of the purée to avoid serving it too hot. It should be lukewarm. Let the purée cool down fully before storing it in the fridge or freezer.

Experiment with Flavor (After 6 months): Once your baby is accustomed to simple flavors, you can add a pinch of mild spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to enhance the taste. Be cautious with any new ingredients, and introduce them one at a time, waiting 3–5 days to monitor for any allergic reactions.

Use Olive Oil Sparingly: Olive oil provides healthy fats for brain development, but you don’t need to add too much. A tablespoon is enough for a smooth, rich texture.

Keep Portions Small: Start with small portions to see how your baby reacts to the taste of apples and broccoli. You can always offer more once they seem comfortable.

Freezing and Storage: To make meal prep easier, freeze the purée in ice cube trays. Each cube is about one serving size. If storing in the fridge, use the purée within 3 days for the best taste and texture.

Be Patient: Babies may take a while to warm up to new tastes, especially if this is one of their first solid foods. Be patient and offer the purée a few times before deciding if they like it.

Serve with Confidence: Babies are often more likely to try new things if they sense you are calm and confident in offering them new foods. Encourage them with positive expressions and a relaxed atmosphere!

Serving suggestions 

Pair with Other Purées: You can mix the Apple and Broccoli Purée with sweet potato purée for added flavor and nutrients. The sweetness of the sweet potato complements the slight bitterness of the broccoli. Carrots also pair well with broccoli and apples, giving your baby a variety of flavors and textures. If your baby likes peas, combine pea puree with apple and broccoli for an extra boost of protein and vitamins.

Offer as Part of a Meal: Once your baby is ready for finger foods, you can offer small pieces of soft, whole-grain toast as a side. Let your baby dip the toast in the purée for a fun and engaging meal. Mix the apple and broccoli purée with some unsweetened oatmeal or porridge for a warm, comforting breakfast. Mix the purée with soft, cooked rice or quinoa for a more filling meal, which provides additional texture and sustenance.

Make It a Smoothie: For a nutritious snack, you can blend the apple and broccoli purée with a small amount of water or breast milk to make a thin, drinkable smoothie. Add a few pieces of banana for extra sweetness.

For Dipping: If your baby is ready for finger foods, you can serve the purée in a small bowl and let them dip small pieces of soft vegetables (like cucumber or avocado) or pieces of soft, steamed chicken. It can be a fun way to introduce new textures and encourage self-feeding.

Serve as a Side Dish: If you're eating a meal and want to offer your baby a side dish, serve the purée alongside your own meal. This can make it easier for you to sit down to eat together while encouraging your baby to explore new foods.

Freeze into Popsicles (for warm weather): For a cool treat, freeze the apple and broccoli purée in small popsicle molds. This is especially fun for teething babies. The cold purée will soothe their gums while offering a nutritious snack.

Combine with Protein: If your baby is older and ready for protein, you can combine the apple and broccoli purée with a small amount of well-cooked chicken, turkey, or tofu. Blending the protein will create a balanced meal with added nutrition.

Flavor Variations: For a mild flavor variation, you can add a small amount of lemon juice or mild herbs (like thyme or basil) for added taste. Always make sure the flavors are baby-friendly and not too strong.

Serve Warm or Cold: You can serve the purée at room temperature or slightly warm. Avoid serving it too hot; you can always offer it cold if your baby prefers a cooler meal (especially in warmer months).

How to store

After preparing the purée, allow it to cool completely to room temperature. Once cooled, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freezing is a great option if you want to keep the purée longer. 

Pour the purée into ice cube trays and freeze it in individual portions. Once frozen, transfer the cubes into a freezer-safe bag or container, and they will keep for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use, thaw the purée in the fridge overnight or heat it gently in a saucepan or microwave, ensuring it’s at a safe temperature before serving.

Equipments

• Baby food maker
• Airtight container 

Nutrition 

Suitable for 6 months +

• CALORIES: 35KCAL

• CARBOHYDRATES: 7G

• PROTEIN: 1G

• FAT: 2G

• SODIUM: 10MG

• POTASSIUM: 150MG

• FIBER: 1.5G

• SUGAR: 5G

• VITAMIN A: 240IU

• VITAMIN C: 28MG

• CALCIUM: 20MG

• IRON: 0.5MG

Note: Nutritional values are estimates and may vary based on ingredient brands and portion sizes.