Carrot Purée for Baby
Sweet carrots steamed until very soft and blended silky smooth. One of the easiest first purées to make in a batch and freeze.
Ingredients
Makes about 1½ cups
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Method
- 1
Steam the carrot rounds for 12–15 minutes, until a fork slides through with no resistance.
- 2
Blend the carrots with 4 tbsp of the liquid and the oil until completely smooth.
- 3
Add more liquid a spoon at a time until the purée drops easily off a spoon.
- 4
Cool to lukewarm and check the temperature before serving.
Serve it by age
6 months
Offer the smooth purée on a spoon, starting with 1–2 spoonfuls.
7–8 months
Mash the steamed carrots with a fork instead of blending, so the purée has soft lumps.
9–12 months
Serve soft-steamed carrot cut into small pieces, not whole rounds, that squash easily between your thumb and finger, or stir the purée into pasta or oatmeal.
health_and_safetyAllergens
None of the top 9 allergens in the purée itself. The butter swap adds milk, the pasta serving idea adds wheat, and oats may contain wheat; offer these only after each has been introduced on its own.
sync_altSwaps
- swap_horizUnsalted butter instead of the oil (contains milk).
- swap_horizMix half carrot, half sweet potato or butternut squash for a thicker purée.
- swap_horizBlend in a few spoons of cooked red lentils for extra iron.
kitchenStorage
Fridge up to 3 days in a covered container. Freeze in ice cube trays, then bag, up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and stir well. For batches you plan to freeze, blend with water or cooking water and stir in breast milk or formula when you serve each portion.
Safety reminders
- No added salt, sugar or honey before 12 months.
- At 6 months, blend until completely smooth with no lumps or skins; move on to thicker, lumpier textures over the next few weeks.
- Stay with your baby and keep them seated upright while eating.
- This recipe is general guidance for healthy, full-term babies and children. Ask your pediatrician first if your child was born early, has a medical condition, allergies or feeding difficulties (medical disclaimer).
