Chicken Broccoli & Sweet Potato Purée

Why This Purée is Great for Babies

Nutrient-Dense Ingredients: Sweet potato is rich in vitamins A and C, which support healthy vision, immune function, and skin development. Broccoli is a powerhouse of nutrients, including fiber, vitamin K, and folate, which aid digestion and promote overall health. Chicken provides a high-quality source of protein and iron, which is crucial for your baby’s growth, muscle development, and brain function.

Balanced Macronutrients: The combination of protein from chicken, healthy fats from olive oil, and carbohydrates from sweet potato ensures a balanced meal that supports your baby’s energy needs and growth. The olive oil also adds heart-healthy fats essential for brain development and cell function.

Easily Digestible: Steaming the ingredients helps retain the nutrients and ensures the food is soft and easy to digest. This purée is smooth (or textured to your baby's preference), making it ideal for babies just starting solids or those ready for more complex textures.

Allergen-Friendly: The recipe contains simple, wholesome ingredients less likely to trigger allergies than highly processed baby foods. Chicken, sweet potato, and broccoli are all commonly introduced early in baby food weaning, making this a safe and gentle choice for many babies.

Supports Immune Health: Vitamin C from the broccoli and sweet potato helps boost your baby’s immune system, helping them fight infections. The vitamin A in sweet potatoes further supports immunity, skin health, and eye development.

Promotes Healthy Growth: Chicken protein is essential for building muscles and tissues. As babies grow quickly, ensuring they get enough protein supports their physical development and helps them reach milestones like crawling and walking.

Versatile and Customizable: This purée's texture can be adjusted as your baby ages. It can be blended smoothly for younger babies and left chunkier for babies with more developed chewing skills. You can modify the recipe by adding other baby-friendly ingredients like peas or carrots as your baby grows and tries new flavors.

Chicken Broccoli & Sweet Potato Purée Recipe 

Ingredients:

• 1 medium sweet potato
• 120g boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh
• Half a small head of broccoli florets
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup of water (you can use the leftover water from cooking for added flavor and nutrients)

Instructions

1. Prep the Ingredients: Peel and chop the sweet potato into small cubes. This will help it cook faster and evenly. Chop the chicken into small pieces that are easy to cook through and blend smoothly. Cut the broccoli into small florets.

2. Steam the Sweet Potato and Chicken: Place the chopped sweet potato cubes and the chicken pieces into a steaming basket or a steamer. Steam the sweet potato and chicken for about 10 minutes or until they are almost fully cooked. Check the sweet potato by piercing it with a fork—it should be tender.

3. Add the Broccoli: When there are about 5 minutes left of cooking, add the broccoli florets to the steamer with the sweet potato and chicken. Steaming for 5 minutes until the broccoli is tender and the chicken is fully cooked.

4. Prepare for Blending: Once everything is cooked, remove the sweet potato, chicken, and broccoli from the steamer and allow them to cool slightly before blending.

5. Blend the Mixture: Add the steamed sweet potato, chicken, and broccoli to your baby food blender or food processor. Pour in 1 tablespoon of olive oil (this helps to provide healthy fats and makes the purée smoother). Add 1 cup of water (you can use the water left over from steaming, as it contains nutrients from the vegetables and chicken). Blend until smooth or to the desired texture.

6. Serve: Spoon the purée into your baby’s feeding bowl. Allow the purée to cool to an appropriate temperature before serving it to your baby.

Tips for Success

Use Fresh Ingredients: Sweet potato, chicken, and broccoli provide your baby with the best flavor and nutrients. Fresh ingredients are also more likely to be easier to digest, which is especially important for babies.

Steaming vs. Boiling: Steaming is the best cooking method because it helps retain more nutrients than boiling, where some nutrients leach into the water. Steaming preserves the vitamins and minerals in the ingredients, making them healthier for your baby. Use a steaming basket or a steamer to ensure the ingredients cook evenly. If you don't have a steamer, you can also use a metal sieve placed over a pot of boiling water, ensuring the food does not touch the water directly.

Check for Doneness: Ensure the sweet potato is soft enough for easy blending and fork-tender. The chicken should be fully cooked and without pinkness in the center. You can cut a piece of chicken open and check that the juices run clear.

Cut Ingredients Small: Cutting the sweet potato into small cubes and the chicken into small pieces helps them cook faster and more evenly. This also ensures smooth blending and doesn't require extra time to break down large pieces.

Monitor Broccoli Texture: Broccoli can cook quickly, so keep an eye on it. Overcooking it can produce a mushy texture, which may be fine for some babies but may lack the flavor you want. Steaming the florets until just tender is ideal.

Adjust the Consistency: The amount of water you add will affect the consistency of the purée. Start with 1 cup, but if the purée seems too thick, add more water or breast milk/formula. For older babies with more developed chewing skills, you can leave it a bit chunkier if they prefer.

Flavor Enhancements: While this recipe is balanced and flavorful, experiment with mild seasonings (if your baby is ready), such as a pinch of cinnamon or mild garlic. Avoid adding salt or sugar at this stage to keep the flavors pure and healthy.

Use Olive Oil for Healthy Fats: Adding olive oil helps with the texture and introduces healthy fats to your baby’s diet. Healthy fats are important for brain development, so don’t skip this step.

Cool the Purée to the Right Temperature: Always make sure the purée has cooled down to a safe eating temperature before feeding it to your baby. You can test the temperature by putting a small amount on the inside of your wrist.

Suggestions: Serve the purée independently or with other baby-friendly foods to create a balanced meal (e.g., with mashed avocado or a soft scrambled egg). To make the eating experience more comfortable, serve it as-is or spoon it into a bowl with a soft spoon designed for babies.

Portion and Store Wisely: Divide the purée into small portions appropriate for your baby’s age. Use ice cube trays or silicone molds to store portions in the freezer for easy access to a quick meal. Label your freezer portions with the date to know when to use them. Frozen purées typically last up to one month.

How to store

First, allow it to cool completely before storing the Chicken, Broccoli, and Sweet Potato purée in storage containers. If you plan to use it within a few days, store the purée in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Make sure to label the container with the date it was made so you can keep track of its freshness.

If you want to store it longer, consider freezing the purée. Pour the purée into ice cube trays or silicone molds to do this. This method allows you to freeze small, portioned amounts easily and defrost. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe bag or container and label it with the date. Frozen purée can be kept for up to two months.

When ready to serve the purée, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight or use the defrost setting on your microwave. If you reheat it, ensure it is heated evenly and check the temperature before serving it to your baby.

Equipment

• Baby food maker
• Airtight containers 
• Baby safe bowl

Nutrition 

Suitable for 6 months +

• CALORIES: 75KCAL 

• CARBOHYDRATES: 12G 

• PROTEIN: 5G 

• FAT: 2G

•  SODIUM: 30MG

• POTASSIUM:400MG

• FIBER: 2G

• SUGAR: 4G

• VITAMIN A: 4000IU

• VITAMIN C: 20MG

• CALCIUM: 30MG

• IRON: 1.2MG

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