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How to cook zucchini baby food


Zucchini Baby Puree - Healthy Little Foodies

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This zucchini (courgette) baby puree is mild tasting and a great first stage puree. Serve it as it is, mix with other purees or add fresh herbs for flavour.

Reasons to Love this Puree

  • TEXTURE – Zucchini (courgette) has a high water content which makes the puree nice and thin and easy for your baby to swallow. It is fantastic for thinning out thicker vegetable/meat purees.
  • TASTE – Zucchini has a delicate flavour making it a great first taste food. It combines well with a range of vegetables, meats and is a good canvas for experimenting with different herbs and spices.
  • NUTRITION – Zucchinis are a good source of vitamins and minerals including beta carotene (which converts to vitamin A), vitamin C, Vitamin B6, folate, vitamin K, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium.
  • FREEZER FRIENDLY – Prep ahead for busier nights.

Watch How to Make it (Video)

Zucchini is the only ingredient needed to make zucchini puree. Due to their high water content, no extra liquid is needed.

Basil (or herb of choice) adds flavour, try serving it with and without herbs to provide your baby with a variety of flavours.

How to Choose and Store Zucchini

  • Look for zucchinis that are small to medium-sized (no larger than 15 – 20cm (6 to 8 inches)), larger zucchinis tend to be more watery, flavourless and have larger seeds.
  • Choose zucchinis with vibrant, smooth skin free of nicks and cuts.
  • Ensure your zucchinis are dry and store them in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator. Do not wash them until just before using. Avoid wrapping in plastic bags, as they can cause excess moisture and the zucchini can get soft/slimy.

Process Shots and Cooking Tips

  1. WASH & SLICE: Wash, top and tail the zucchini. Cut zucchini in half lengthwise and then slice.
  2. STEAM: Steam for around 8-10 minutes or until soft and tender.
  3. MASH / PUREE: Puree smooth or mash to offer your baby a more textured puree. It is always good to start adding texture and not only offer smooth purees.

Zucchini Baby Puree Combinations

Zucchini has quite a mild flavour and is a good canvas for adding other flavours. Good partners with zucchini include:

  • corn puree
  • pea puree
  • eggplant puree
  • butternut squash puree
  • bell pepper
  • lentil puree
  • eggs
  • chicken puree
  • mashed potato
  • sweet potato puree

Try changing up the flavour by adding…

  • basil
  • garlic
  • lemon
  • marjoram
  • onion
  • parsley
  • thyme

Storage Instructions

Store in the refrigerator for 2 days or freeze for up to two months. Read more on how to safely store baby food.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Is zucchini a common food allergen?

Zucchini is not a common allergen although cases of zucchini allergy have been reported. (1)

What age is this puree suitable from?

Zucchini puree can be introduced once your baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. It is a great stage one/first tastes puree.

Should I peel the zucchini skin?

No, there is no need to peel the skin. When zucchini is cooked the skin is soft and perfectly edible. Most of the nutrients in zucchini are contained in the peel so it is best to leave it on.  

Do I need to remove the seeds?

No, the seeds in zucchini are very soft and are easily pureed/mashed.

Looking for zucchini finger food ideas? Why not try

  • Zucchini Bites
  • Zucchini Muffins
  • Zucchini Fritters

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5 from 1 vote

Zucchini (Courgette) Puree

Zucchini steamed and pureed. Delicious on its own or mixed with other purees.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

  • ▢ 2 medium zucchinis
  • ▢ 1 or 2 basil leaves (optional)

  • Wash and remove the ends of the zucchinis. Slice into rounds.

  • Steam the zucchini for 8-10 minutes or until soft.

  • Add cooked slices to a blender along with the basil. Blend until smooth.

Basil is optional or can be replaced with a different herb such as parsley or thyme. 

As babies age, you want to add more texture. This puree can be easily mashed for a chunkier texture. 

I find you need 2 zucchinis for a larger blender to blend properly. If you have a smaller blender or plan to mash then you can half the recipe. 

Nutritional information is a rough guide only, calculated using an online nutrition calculator.  

Nutrition Facts

Zucchini (Courgette) Puree

Amount Per Serving

Calories 7 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Sodium 3mg0%

Potassium 103mg3%

Carbohydrates 1g0%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 83IU2%

Vitamin C 7mg8%

Calcium 6mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course:Baby Food

Cuisine:Puree

Keyword:Courgette Puree, Zucchini Puree

Did you make this recipe?Tag me on Instagram at @healthylittlefoodies or leave me a below.

References

  1. Reindl, J., Anliker, M. D., Karamloo, F., Vieths, S., & Wüthrich, B. (2000). Allergy caused by ingestion of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo): Characterization of allergens and cross-reactivity to pollen and other foods. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 106(2), 379–38

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the personalised care and advice given to you by a health professional. You should never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen here. Please refer to our full disclaimer for more info.

Meet Amy

Amy Whiteford runs the blog Healthy Little Foodies. She is a mum to two, has a BSc (Hons) Food Science, PGDE Primary Education and a Certificate in Childhood Nutrition. She uses her experience and knowledge to create healthy and delicious recipes for kids. Explore the site for creative ideas, tips, and inspiration! Read more

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Favorite Zucchini Baby Food

Learn the easiest way to make flavorful Zucchini Baby Food—with options for baby-led weaning zucchini and also zucchini puree—with one simple method. Plus: Find storage tips and serving tips.

Zucchini Baby Food

All year round, though for sure more in the warmer weather, zucchini is always available as an easy veggie option. And it’s such a great baby food since it’s quick to cook, endlessly versatile, and can be prepared one way to serve baby-led weaning style or as a puree.

This easy method takes about 15 minutes start to finish, freezes well, and can be combined with other baby foods if you want to add other nutrients and flavors.

It’s a great Stage 1 baby food, Stage 2 baby food, baby led weaning food, or even a simple sauce for pasta for older babies (and even parents!).

Ingredients You Need

To make zucchini baby food, either for blw or as a puree, here’s what you’ll need:

  • Zucchini: I prefer to start with fresh zucchini since you have more ability to change the shape to suit baby-led weaning.
  • Olive oil: Or another cooking oil you like, or even unsalted butter.
  • Optional for the puree: Basil, parsley, or spinach leaves to add a little extra flavor and keep the puree green.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at how to make this baby food recipe so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full information.

  1. Cut the zucchini into sticks about the size of your finger. (Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise, then in half again, then in half as many times as is needed to get pieces about the width of your finger.)
  2. Add the olive oil to a pan and warm. Add the zucchini.
  3. Cover and cook, flipping once halfway through, until very soft.
  4. Serve to a baby-led weaning fed child.
  5. To make puree: Add to a blender. Add the optional ingredients if using.
  6. Blend very smooth.

TIP: If your puree is very thick, you can add a few drops of water or no-salt-added broth to help thin it out as it blends together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can babies eat zucchini?

Yes, if cooked until soft or pureed, zucchini is a great baby food.

Is zucchini puree good for babies?

Zucchini puree is an easy baby food that has nutrients including fiber, hydration, potassium, and a little protein.

Is zucchini hard to digest for babies?

If the zucchini is cooked as directed, it is easy for babies to digest—generally speaking.

Do I need to peel zucchini for baby puree?

No, you don’t need to peel zucchini for baby puree or any zucchini baby food. Plus, the peel adds nutrients like fiber and helps the color of the puree stay nice and bright.

Roasted Zucchini Baby Food

If you’d prefer to roast the zucchini for baby food, simply follow these directions for Roasted Zucchini, then puree. Easy!

Baby-Led Weaning Zucchini

Cutting zucchini into sticks is an easy shape for baby-led weaning babies to self feed and they cook quickly. Let the zucchini cool a little, then hand one stick at a time to baby and allow them to suck, gnaw, and munch on the zucchini. They may spit some of the peel out, but that’s totally fine.

Zucchini Puree

I love the ease of this recipe since you can quickly blend the cooked zucchini into a puree. I like to make this with a few added spinach leaves to add a bit of extra oomph when it comes to the green color.

TIP: My favorite store-bought baby food options are a great backup, too.

Zucchini Puree Combinations

Mix with Bean Puree, Avocado Puree, Pea Puree, or Spinach Puree as desired to make an easy baby food combinations with additional flavor and nutrients.

How to Store

Store the puree in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Or freeze in an ice cube tray overnight, transfer to a freezer bag, remove as much air as you can and freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw 1-2 cubes overnight in the fridge in a container or at room temperature for about an hour.

Best Tips for Success

  • If making a puree, you can slice the zucchini into rounds if that’s easier.
  • Add a few basil, spinach, or parsley leaves to enhance the green color.
  • Try this with yellow summer squash, with the same method, to vary this slightly.
  • Use as a sauce for pasta with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top.

Related Recipes

I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please comment below to rate and share!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Cuisine American

Course Baby Food

Calories 158kcal

Servings 4

  • ▢ 1 medium zucchini
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ▢ 2 tablespoons basil leaves (or parsley or spinach, optional)

  • Cut the ends off of the zucchini and discard. Slice the zucchini into sticks about the size of your finger.

  • Add the olive oil to a medium skillet over medium heat. When warm, add the zucchini. Toss to coat with the oil. Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes, turning once or twice, or until the zucchini is very soft when poked with a fork,

  • Let cool slightly. Serve one piece at a time to your child if doing baby-led weaning.

  • To make a puree, transfer to a blender. Blend smooth, adding the optional herb or spinach. (That additional makes this a brighter green color.)

  • Vitamix Blender

  • Storage Containers

  • Reusable Pouch

  • Store the puree in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Or freeze in an ice cube tray overnight, transfer to a freezer bag, remove as much air as you can and freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw 1-2 cubes overnight in the fridge in a container or at room temperature for about an hour.
  • If making a puree, you can slice the zucchini into rounds if that’s easier.
  • Add a few basil, spinach, or parsley leaves to enhance the green color.
  • Mix with Bean Puree, Avocado Puree, Pea Puree, or Spinach Puree as desired.
  • Use as a sauce for pasta with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top. I like 8 ounces cooked pasta, 1/4-⅓ cup of the puree, 1 tablespoon each fresh lemon juice and zest, and about ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.

Serving: 0.25cup, Calories: 158kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Sodium: 16mg, Potassium: 524mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 603IU, Vitamin C: 36mg, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!

Zucchini puree for the first feeding

The introduction of zucchini in the first feeding is recommended by WHO, and zucchini puree for feeding the baby can be prepared without any problems yourself. There is nothing complicated in growing zucchini and the mature fruits of many varieties can be stored throughout the entire frosty period. The pulp of the fruit with elementary heat treatment retains its beneficial properties and is easily absorbed by the child's body even from an early age.

Contents

  • How to cook courgettes for the first feeding
  • Courgettes for complementary foods in baby food
  • Composition of marrow
  • Benefits of zucchini for children and adults

How to prepare zucchini for first feeding

If you decide to start feeding your baby, start with zucchini. It will be the best addition to breast milk or adapted formula. Zucchini is a hypoallergenic product and contains a large amount of nutrients needed by the child. nine0003

Zucchini puree recipe

Cooking zucchini puree for the first feeding at home. Of the ingredients you need only zucchini and water. Let's start by rinsing the zucchini under cool running water. Peel off the skin and cut into cubes. Next 2 options. Either put it in boiling water, cook the zucchini for 6-10 minutes, while retaining the benefits of vitamin C. Or steam it, which will undoubtedly be tastier and healthier. Then we wipe through a sieve or grind with a blender. nine0003

You need to start complementary foods with one teaspoon, gradually day after day, increasing the number of spoons. It is important to introduce your child to this product at a very young age. When the child grows up, he will also need nutrients. And you can spoil him with many different zucchini dishes.

How to cook zucchini correctly and how much

For the first feeding, it is recommended to boil zucchini for up to 10 minutes. Usually this time is enough to soften the cut pieces. Do not forget that the longer the heat treatment of the vegetable takes place, the less vitamins and useful trace elements remain. Then everything is thoroughly crushed into puree and the first complementary foods are ready. Depending on the period of introduction of the puree to the baby, you can add a little vegetable oil to the puree if the mass of the portion of the puree has reached 100 g (usually on the 6th-7th day of feeding). nine0003

To prepare mashed potatoes, babies need to pick only young and fresh zucchini fruits: without rot, cracks and dents. The fruit is thoroughly washed under running water. Then its lateral parts are cut off: the tail and the “butt”; peel is removed. Zucchini is cut lengthwise into several parts, from which the central soft part with seeds is removed. The remaining parts are cut into cubes. If the vegetable is bought at the market or in a store, it is recommended to soak the zucchini in clean water for about 2 hours to remove unnatural trace elements from the fruit in the form of fertilizers and pesticides. nine0003

How to freeze and defrost zucchini? Cooked cut fruit cubes in the right amount are placed in plastic bags or containers, and then in the refrigerator. For the preparation of frozen fruit puree, it is recommended to use a defrosted vegetable. To speed up the process, bags or containers with zucchini are placed in water at room temperature or under running tap water. After 1-2 hours, you can start cooking according to a known scheme.

Squash for complementary foods in baby food

Squash is widely used in baby food for its unique properties. In addition, vegetable squash purees are considered the most popular when introducing the first complementary foods to a child. One-component zucchini puree manufacturers recommend using for children from 4 months.

Table of the introduction of the first complementary foods with zucchini according to WHO recommendations

Baby food recommended for the first complementary foods includes Heinz zucchini puree, which additionally includes corn flour and water. A similar product is Hipp zucchini puree, which contains coarse rice flour. These products are sold in glass jars with a net weight of 80 grams, and the puree contains no salt, sugar, starch, preservatives or dyes. nine0003

At a later age, in baby food, zucchini is used with vegetables, fruits, cereals and meat. For children over 5 months:

  • Frutonyanya Broccoli and Zucchini Puree
  • Puree Frutonyan zucchini and potatoes
  • Frutonyanya puree cauliflower and marrow
  • Puree Frutonyanya apples and zucchini
  • Frutonyanya zucchini-oatmeal puree
  • Gerber potato and courgette puree
  • Puree Gerber apples and zucchini

Children's puree Tyoma beef with zucchini is recommended to try not earlier than 6 months from birth.

Ingredients of zucchini

Zucchini is a source of substances that have a beneficial effect on digestion. They contain a small amount of calories when cooked (20 to 25 kcal per 100 grams), so you can use them in food during therapeutic diets.

Fruits contain not only carbohydrates, fats and proteins, but also useful trace elements: sodium, iron, magnesium, zinc, iodine. In addition, the composition contains vitamins of groups B, C, E, H, PP, A.

Benefits of zucchini for children and adults

Zucchini has a very pleasant taste. Doctors advise them to use those who have undergone surgery on the stomach or intestines. I would like to mention that these fruits are very useful for those who suffer from edema.

Zucchini juice for men and women can help with obesity. Helps the body to get rid of toxins and slags, relieves constipation well, strengthens the heart. The glycogen in them has a positive effect on the activity of the liver. Zucchini significantly improves blood formation, helps to restore strength after prolonged exertion. Zucchini seeds will help get rid of worms. With hepatitis, regular consumption of zucchini will lead to a significant improvement in well-being. nine0003

Thus, the use of zucchini in the first feeding is the best option for both the child and the parents (of course, excluding the case of his individual intolerance).

90,000 children's zucchini mashed potatoes - a simple and tasty recipe with step -by -step photos
  1. Recipes
  2. Recipes for children
  3. Children's boaching puree
  • We will need:
  • zucchini - 250g
  • water - 200ml
0004 Recipe step by step
  • Show as large photos with description

Step 1

1

1. Take a young zucchini.
It is pre-washed and cleaned and cut into small cubes.

Step 2

2

2. Place the sliced ​​zucchini in boiling water and cook over low heat for 15-20 minutes until soft.

Tip

! Recommendation: Do not use sugar, salt and spices in children's meals. nine0003

Step 3

3

3. Pass the prepared vegetables through a sieve or puree with a food processor, or with a blender.

Tip

! Recommendation: if you get a thick puree, you can add a decoction. Since the child will not be able to eat too thick mashed potatoes and not get comfortable in the body.

Step 4

4

4. You can make more puree and freeze the finished puree in portions in special forms. It is easy to warm up and feed the baby. nine0119 This recipe is ideal for baby food, but will be a great dish for children of any age.

Step 5

5

5. Carefully inspect the cookware for cracks (this should not be used).
Wash with degreasing agents and rinse thoroughly under running water.
Pour water into the bottom of each jar in a layer of 1-1.5 cm.
Place dishes on the microwave rack at a small distance from each other. nine0119 Turn on the microwave oven at maximum power (from 700 to 800 W and above, in this case, the time is simply reduced) for 3-5 minutes, depending on the volume of the container.

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