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Making spinach baby food


Spinach Puree - Healthy Little Foodies

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Spinach puree is loaded with goodness and is great mixed with a range of sweet and savoury purees.

Spinach is an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K1, Folic acid, Iron and Calcium.

Although nutritionally appealing, many children do not enjoy the bitter taste of spinach. Babies, however, are a lot more accomodating with new flavours. Introducing this leafy green vegetable to your baby will allow them to get used to the flavour and hopefully, they will be more accepting of it when they are older.

Choosing and Storing Spinach

  • Look for spinach leaves that are green, crisp and without any tears or darkening.
  • Avoid limp or yellowing leaves.
  • Don’t wash the spinach before you refrigerate it. If you wash it before you store it, the leaves have a tendency to deteriorate quicker.
  • Refrigerate unwashed spinach in a loose plastic bag; it’ll keep for three to four days.

How to Make Spinach Puree

  1. Remove the stems from the spinach and discard
  2. Wash the spinach thoroughly and shake off excess water.
  3. Steam the spinach until the leaves are tender and wilted, around 3-5 minutes.
  4. Run cold water over the spinach to stop the cooking process. Drain well.

5. Transfer the leaves to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Add a touch of water or baby milk to reach desired consistency.

Spinach Puree for Babies

Spinach puree may not be the most appetising puree on its own. If your baby isn’t accepting of it then why not try mixing it with some other purees. The combinations are endless and don’t forget you can add spices and herbs to baby food for extra flavour.

Why not try mixing spinach puree with

  • Apple Puree
  • Banana Puree
  • Blueberry Puree
  • Carrot Puree
  • Cheese Sauce
  • Parsnip Puree
  • Pumpkin Puree
  • Pea Puree
  • Mashed Potato
  • Sweet Potato Puree
  • Pureed Lentils
  • Pureed chicken or fish

Other Ways to Use Spinach Puree

Spinach puree (also known as Palak Puree) is used in many Indian dishes including curries and soups.

You can also use spinach puree to add a veggie boost to pasta sauces, smoothies and baked goods such as muffins and brownies.

Spinach Yield

Spinach is made up of about 90% water, so when cooked it loses a huge amount of volume.

150g (3 packed cups) of spinach may look a lot but it only yeilds 1/4 cup of pureed spinach.

Storage Instructions

  • Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.
  • Freeze the puree in ice-cube trays and once fully frozen, quickly pop them all out and place into a freezer bag or container. Return to the freezer and store for up to 2 months. (Freezing it this way allows you to take out small portions as needed.) 

Looking for more puree recipes? Check out our Puree Category Page for a range of fruit and vegetable puree recipes.

Looking for more healthy kid recipes?Sign up for my free recipe newsletter to get new family friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more kind-friendly inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.

5 from 2 votes

Spinach Puree

Spinach puree is loaded with goodness and is great mixed with a range of sweet and savoury purees.

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  • ▢ 150g (3 packed cups) Spinach

  • Remove the stems from the spinach and discard.

  • Wash the spinach thoroughly and shake off excess water.

  • Add enough water to the bottom of a pan so that it does not rise above the steamer basket. Place a steaming basket, with the washed spinach leaves in it, into the pot.

  • Cover and boil the water until steam has formed. Steam the spinach until the leaves are tender and wilted, around 3-5 minutes.

  • Transfer cooked spinach to a colander and run cold water over the spinach to stop the cooking process.

  • Drain well and if needed, gently squeeze the spinach to remove excess water.

  • Transfer the leaves to a blender and blend until smooth. You may wish to add 1-2 teaspoons of water/baby milk to achieve the desired consistency.

Washing Spinach: It is important to thoroughly wash the spinach. If especially dirty, plunge the leaves into a large bowl of cold water and rinse thoroughly under cold water 

No Steamer?: You can blanch the spinach. Add the spinach to a pot of boiling water, stir and let it cook for around 1 min.

Yield: 150g (3 packed cups) of spinach will yield around 1/4 cup of spinach puree.

Storage:

  • Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.
  • Freeze the puree in ice-cube trays and once fully frozen, quickly pop them all out and place into a freezer bag or container. Return to the freezer and store for up to 2 months. (Freezing it this way allows you to take out small portions as needed.) 

Nutritional Information is a ROUGH guide only, calculated using an online nutrition calculator. 

Nutrition Facts

Spinach Puree

Amount Per Serving

Calories 12 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Sodium 40mg2%

Potassium 279mg8%

Carbohydrates 2g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 4689IU94%

Vitamin C 14mg17%

Calcium 50mg5%

Iron 1mg6%

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

Course:Puree

Cuisine:Puree

Keyword:Palak Puree, Spinach Puree

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

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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Spinach Baby Food (So Easy and Iron Rich!)

Transform simple ingredients into yummy iron-rich Spinach Baby Food with just a few minutes of cooking and zero special kitchen tools!

Spinach Baby Food

Offering up iron-rich foods is important in the months when babies are first eating solids—the iron stores they’re born with start running out around 6 months, so they need to take more iron in through their food. This spinach puree is a great option to have in the mix with other iron-rich foods since it’s easy to make and is easy to freeze.

Ingredients You Need

To make this baby food recipe, you need spinach—I prefer baby spinach but any works—and frozen peas. I like combining these too ingredients so that the flavor of the spinach is mellowed out a bit and the overall consistency is smoother. The peas also add protein, which is a nice element to have in the mix.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at how to make this recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full information.

  1. Add the spinach, peas, and water to a medium pot.
  2. Cook just until the spinach is wilted and the peas are warmed through.
  3. Puree smooth, adding in any of the optional flavorings desired.
  4. Serve or store in the fridge or freezer for later.

TIP: You can add avocado, lemon juice, or olive oil to add more flavor and nutrients to this recipe if you’d like.

Can babies eat spinach?

Yes, though it would need to be pureed since they can’t chew the leaves straight up. Serving it in a puree (or in a Simple Green Smoothie) is a great option.

Can a 6 month old baby eat spinach?

Introducing savory foods along with sweet ones when kids start solids around 6 months is a great plan and spinach is a nutritious food to introduce early.

Can I use frozen spinach to make baby food?

Yes, though since it’s very condensed you can add a smaller amount. See the Notes section of the recipe for more information. (I prefer the flavor of this puree when making it with fresh spinach, but see what you think!)

How to Store Spinach Baby Food

You can add this puree to small airtight containers and store in the fridge for 3-5 days or portion into a silicone ice cube tray and freeze overnight. Transfer the frozen cubes to a freeze bag and seal, removing as much air as possible, and keep frozen for up to 6 months. Find more tips on storing baby food here.

How can I use leftover Spinach Puree?

In addition to serving it straight, you can stir some of it into pasta or rice as a simple sauce (you could add a little butter, olive oil, and/or Parmesan cheese). You could also spread some onto toast before making grilled cheese to add some veggies!

Tips for Making the Best Spinach Baby Food

  • Store in the fridge in small airtight containers for 3-5 days.
  • To freeze: Portion into a silicone ice cube tray and freeze overnight. Transfer the frozen cubes to a freeze bag and seal, removing as much air as possible, and keep frozen for up to 6 months.
  • Add avocado, lemon juice, or olive oil to add more flavor and nutrients to this recipe if you’d like.
  • Mix half and half with Apple Puree or Pear Puree to make a baby food combination.
  • Sprinkle on a little grated Parmesan cheese for older babies to add flavor.
  • Stir leftovers into pasta or rice or quinoa as a simple sauce.
  • Serve off of a spoon or in a reusable pouch.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this baby food recipe if you try it out, so please comment below to share.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Author Amy Palanjian

Cuisine American

Course Baby Food

Calories 58kcal

Servings 6 -12 servings

  • ▢ 4 cups lightly packed baby spinach
  • ▢ 2 cups frozen peas
  • ▢ 2 tablespoons avocado optional
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon lemon juice optional
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon olive oil optional

  • Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a medium pot. Add the spinach and peas and stir.

  • Cover and reduce heat to medium-high and cook for 4-5 minutes or until spinach is just wilted. (When you add the frozen peas to the boiling water, the water will stop boiling. It will take a minute or two to get back up to boiling, then another minute or two to wilt the spinach. Keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking. )

  • Transfer mixture to a blender and blend very smooth, starting on low and working up to high.

  • Blend in any optional ingredients as desired.

  • Let cool and serve or store for future meals.

  • Vitamix Blender

  • Silicone Ice Cube Tray

  • Calphalon 5-Quart Pot

  • Store in the fridge in small airtight containers for 3-5 days.
  • To freeze: Portion into a silicone ice cube tray and freeze overnight. Transfer the frozen cubes to a freeze bag and seal, removing as much air as possible, and keep frozen for up to 6 months.
  • To make this thicker, remove 1/4-½ cup of the water from the pot after Step 2 so you puree with less water. Add just as much as you need to get the mixture to blend.
  • To use frozen spinach, replace the fresh spinach with 1 cup frozen spinach. Stir into the boiling water just until warmed through for about 1-2 minutes in Step 1. Skip Step 2 to avoid overcooking. Transfer the spinach and peas to the blender with a slotted spoon and add a little water at a time as needed to make the puree. (You likely won't need as much liquid since the spinach is already condensed.)
  • Add avocado, lemon juice, or olive oil to add more flavor and nutrients to this recipe if you'd like.
  • Mix half and half with Apple Puree or Pear Puree to make a baby food combination.
  • Sprinkle on a little grated Parmesan cheese for older babies to add flavor.
  • Stir leftovers into pasta or rice or quinoa as a simple sauce.
  • Serve off of a spoon or in a reusable pouch.

Calories: 58kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 19mg, Potassium: 255mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 2253IU, Vitamin C: 26mg, Calcium: 33mg, Iron: 1mg

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

Spinach recipes for children

Published:

Photo: UGC

When introducing solid foods to your baby, start with spinach. Spinach, the recipes for which we recommend trying, will benefit the baby's body. Thanks to its vitamin complex, you will forget about problems with the tummy, strengthen the bones of the child, and simplify the process of forming and teething.

How to cook spinach for a baby under one year old

The first complementary foods are a real headache for a mother. Not only should the products be prepared without sugar, salt and oil, but also the taste of not all products will appeal to little fussy eaters.

Spinach is just the product that not all kids will like. However, this is not a reason to refuse it.

To be successful in this task, it is important to know how to cook spinach so that your baby will like it.

Photo: prochado.ru: UGC

Therefore, before you start creating dishes with spinach, learn the basic rules for its storage and preparation:

  • If you bought spinach in reserve, then put it in a container or wrap it in parchment and store it in the refrigerator on the vegetable shelf.

At room temperature, it will lose its beneficial properties.

  • Spinach dishes for babies should be prepared with dairy products such as milk, cream or butter.

This product contains oxalic acid. It can cause discomfort in the child.

Milk neutralizes the effect of acid, promotes the absorption of vitamins A and E.

  • It is advisable to use fresh leaves.

If you do use frozen spinach, sort through and remove the hard stems.

Only the tender part of the leaves should be used in the baby's diet.

  • Children's spinach takes up to 15 minutes to cook.

If your child has any health problems, please consult your pediatrician before introducing spinach into your diet.

For babies, it is generally recommended to prepare mashed dishes. This condition is optimal for a baby who has not yet erupted teeth.

Here are some dishes you can make:

Spinach mousse

Photo: sunny7. ua: UGC

How to cook this dish? For him, take:

  • spinach - 100 g;
  • butter - 10 g;
  • milk - 100 ml.

To prepare this dish, proceed as follows:

  1. Melt the butter in a saucepan and put the washed spinach leaves (without stems) into it. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.
  2. Whisk the mixture with a blender.
  3. Pour in ½ cup boiled milk, heat until thickened.

Mix of zucchini and spinach

Photo: maggi.ru: UGC

For this puree use:

  • zucchini, spinach - 100 g each;
  • onion - ½ heads;
  • cream or milk - 50 ml;
  • water - 150-200 ml.

Cook like this:

  1. Peel the zucchini and cut into cubes. Put in a saucepan.
  2. Wash the spinach, remove the leaves and add to the courgettes.
  3. Sprinkle finely chopped onions over the vegetables.
  4. Cover the mix with water and simmer for 15 minutes. Blend the vegetables in a blender.
  5. Add milk or cream and simmer for another 5-7 minutes.

You can experiment with this puree: for example, add a little orange to it - carrots, pumpkins. Combine broccoli and spinach, cauliflower and spinach.

Potato-spinach soup

Photo: abedik.ru: UGC

Take for it:

  • potatoes - 1 pc.;
  • spinach - 100 g;
  • butter - 1 tsp;
  • cream - 50 ml;
  • water - 300 ml.

Cooking algorithm is as follows:

  1. Peel potatoes and cut into cubes. Fill with water and boil for 15 minutes.
  2. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the spinach. Simmer for 10 minutes over low heat.
  3. Crush the potatoes and add the spinach to them. Add cream and simmer for 5 minutes.

Take advantage of these recipes. Dishes on them can be offered to babies from six months.

Remember that spinach should be given to babies no more than 2 times a week.

Do not exceed 100 g of this product per serving.

See also: Milk rice porridge: a recipe for children

Spinach dishes for children from one year old

For older children, offer delicious and appetizing dishes with spinach and a variety of vegetables and protein products - cottage cheese, eggs, chicken fillet.

Spinach goes well with them, it becomes more nutritious because its beneficial properties are activated.

We recommend trying the following dishes:

Spinach Soufflé

Chicken lovers will love this delicious dish. To make it easier for the body to cope with protein foods, add spinach to the chicken.

For the soufflé you will need:

  • chicken fillet - 80 g;
  • spinach - 150 g;
  • egg - 1 pc.;
  • milk - 30 g;
  • butter - 1 tsp.

You can add salt to this dish, but do not oversalt it.

Cook like this:

  1. Boil the chicken fillet in lightly salted water. Take out and grind with a blender or cut into small pieces.
  2. Simmer the spinach in a saucepan with butter. It takes 5-7 minutes to cook it.
  3. Separate the yolk from the protein, mix with minced meat, add spinach to the mixture. Whisk the whites and gently mix with the fillet and spinach.
  4. Grease a mold with butter and place in the soufflé mixture.

Bake at 180°C for 20 minutes.

Healthy omelette

Photo: recept-duhovka.ru: UGC

Prepare a delicious steamed omelet. For one serving you will need:

  • chicken egg - 1 pc.;
  • milk - 50 ml;
  • spinach - 100 g;
  • butter - 1 tsp.

Add a little salt to the dish.

To get a fluffy, tasty and dietary omelet, do this:

  1. Melt the butter in a saucepan and put the spinach in it. Simmer in your own juice for 10 minutes.
  2. Beat egg with milk.
  3. Mix egg and milk mixture with cooked spinach.
  4. Brush the bottom and sides of a small pot or saucepan with butter. Pour the omelet mixture into it. Put everything on the steam bath and close the lid.

After 20 minutes, a delicious omelette is ready.

Cottage cheese and spinach casserole

Photo: divomix.com: UGC

For its preparation you will need:

  • spinach - 300 g;
  • cottage cheese - 400 g;
  • eggs - 2 pcs.;
  • butter - 1 tbsp. l.;
  • semolina - 2 tbsp. l.

Salt is optional.

Proceed as follows:

  1. Sauté the spinach in a saucepan. Use butter for this.
  2. Beat cottage cheese with a blender, add eggs.
  3. Mix spinach with cottage cheese, add semolina and mix well.
  4. Grease a mold with oil and pour in the mixture.
  5. Bake at 180°C for 25-30 minutes.

These simple yet nutritious meals will not only keep your little one full, but also fill their body with healthy vitamins and minerals.

Thanks to the milk components, the properties of spinach will be more effective.

However, do not abuse this product in order not to disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

"Masking" spinach in an omelette and cottage cheese mixture will allow you to feed this product to any picky eater.

See also: How to cook semolina porridge with milk without lumps

Original article: https://www.nur.kz/food/recipes/1734589-spinat-recepty-dla-detej/

5 dishes of baby spinach

There is a reason to fall in love with healthy spinach: it contains vitamins and minerals in cosmic quantities . But because of the bland taste, children often refuse to eat it. We have collected spinach recipes that are suitable for the children's menu, and the taste of which the kids will definitely appreciate.

Spinach can be included in the diet of children from seven months , first as a simple puree, and then as part of more complex dishes.
In salads, young spinach leaves are good, up to 5 cm in size. Those that are larger and tougher are better suited for boiling, stewing and baking. If you use frozen spinach, do not defrost it, but put it immediately in boiling water, then the loss of vitamins will be minimal.

SPINACH SOUP

Ingredients : chicken broth - 0.5 l, spinach - 4 bunches, butter - 2 tbsp. l. cream - 50 ml, flour - 2 tbsp. l, grated cheese - 3 tbsp. l salt, pepper, ground paprika - to taste.

Cooking . Dip the spinach into the boiling broth, and simmer for 10 minutes over low heat.
Remove the spinach from the broth and rub through a colander.
Heat the oil in a saucepan and fry the flour in it until golden brown. Pour the broth into the flour, bring to a boil, put the spinach, salt and season with spices. Add cream to the soup, bring to a boil again and remove from heat. Serve sprinkled with grated cheese.

SPINACH AND RICE SOUP

Ingredients : spinach - chicken broth - 1 l, spinach - 450 g, onion - 1 pc, rice - 100 g, yogurt - 450 ml, egg - 1 pc,
Olive oil - 2 tbsp. l, garlic - 1 clove, salt, pepper to taste.

Cooking . Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the onion until golden brown. Add chopped spinach and sauté for another 4-5 minutes.
Bring the broth to a boil, add rice, salt, pepper and cook for 15 minutes until tender. Then put the spinach here and boil for another 7-10 minutes.
Mix the yogurt with the egg, add the garlic mashed with salt and put this dressing in the finished soup and heat it up without boiling.
Cut white bread into cubes, fry until golden brown and serve with soup.

Read also: Young vegetables for baby food: how to avoid nitrates

SPINACH OMELETTE

Ingredients: eggs - 3 pcs, milk - 0. 5 stack, spinach - 100 g, butter - 1 tsp, water - 2 tbsp, salt to taste.

Cooking . Rinse spinach, dry, chop and simmer in butter, adding water. Beat eggs with milk, salt and pour into a pan with spinach. Cook over low heat with the lid closed.

PLUMBED WITH SPINACH AND CHEESE

Ingredients: spinach - 200 g, grated cheese - 100 g, white cabbage - 3 whole leaves, salt, pepper and spices to taste.

Cooking . Boil spinach until soft, cool, chop and mix with grated cheese. Salt, add spices.
Pour boiling water over cabbage leaves and cut off the thick part. Wrap the cheese-spinach filling in them, put in a thick-walled saucepan, pour a little milk on the bottom and simmer under a closed lid for 20 minutes.

CHICKEN AND SPINACH POTATO CASTLE

Ingredients: potatoes - 600 g, eggs - 3 pcs, spinach - 150 g, chicken fillet - 200 g, carrots - 100 g, butter - 50 g, salt, pepper, spices to taste.

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