Baby Food Recipes with Butternut Squash

Butternut squash, which is simply referred to as squash, is a kind of vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals. This is among the best diets in a baby’s food due to its nutritional content. Below is a comprehensive guide on baby food recipes for butternut squash.

In this article, we inform you about this nutritious product and we name 3 tasty baby food recipes with butternut squash.

The recipes in this article:

Recipe 1 – Butternut squash and Applesauce
Recipe 2 – Butternut squash and Chicken
Recipe 3 – Butternut squash, Carrots, and Beets
Recipe 4 – Butternut squash, minced beef, and cauliflower

You might also be interested in our recipes with chicken, carrots or sweet potato. 

When can a baby eat butternut squash?

Many individuals keep asking when a baby can eat butternut squash. This diet can be introduced to a baby with a minimum of 4-6 months as a solid diet. It is therefore advisable to consult a medical practitioner first in case your baby has food allergies. This diet acts as a value addition to your child’s solid food.

We recommend that you consult with your baby’s pediatrician on introducing solid foods as generalities may not apply to your infant.

Preparation of a Butternut squash

Squash is normally processed through steaming, oven- heating, and baking. This is an essential tip to keep the nutrients intact as well as to retain the taste of the vegetable. Below are key steps to consider when preparing butternut squash for your baby.

1. Oven roasting

• Peel the butternut squash and cut it into small sections.
• Preheat the oven at least 350F. Then, grease your squash with a little amount of vegetable oil.
• Put the butternut squash on a baking tray. Then, roast it for at least thirty minutes.
• Serve it when cold to your baby.

2. Baking

• Cut the butternut squash into two equal sections. Remove the seeds in the lower part.
• Preheat your oven to 176 C. Place the two equal parts of your butternut squash on a baking tray.
• Bake for at least one hour. Then, scoop out any soft pulp from their skin. Mash or puree the baked pulp before you consider to feed your baby.

3. Steaming

• Cut the butternut squash into many and small cubes.
• Pour an inch of purified water into your cooking pot. Place a steamer inside the cooking pot with the small cubes of squash.
• Steam your butternut squash for at least seven minutes and at most ten minutes. Always steam with a medium flame. Check if they are ready by poking them with a fork.
• Serve your squash as finger food. You should always let it cool before serving to your baby.

Recipe 1: Butternut squash and applesauce (age 4-6 months+)

The sweet taste normally in applesauce improves the flavor of your butternut squash.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 Pumpkin
• 5 Tablespoons applesauce

Instructions:

Step 1 – Cut the pumpkin into two equal sections. Remove the seeds in the lower part.

Step 2 – Preheat your oven to 176 C. Place the two equal parts of your pumpkin on a baking tray.

Step 4 – Bake for at least one hour. Then, scoop out any soft pulp from their skin. 

Step 5 – Add the pumpkin to a blender and blend until it has become a puree.

Step 6 – Finally, add the applesauce and blend for a short while.

Recipe 2: Butternut squash and chicken (age 8 months+)

Butternut squash combined with chicken makes a filling as well as a thick puree for your hungry baby. 

Step 1 – Cut the pumpkin into two equal sections. Remove the seeds in the lower part.

Step 2 – Preheat your oven to 176 C. Place the two equal parts of your pumpkin on a baking tray.

Step 4 – Bake for at least one hour. Then, scoop out any soft pulp from their skin. 

Step 5 – Add the pumpkin to a blender and blend until it has become a puree.

Step 6 – Make sure the chicken is skinless and boneless.

Step 7 – Chop the chicken into cubes and cook it in a pan with boiling water. Boiling the chicken makes it super soft and easy to puree.

Step 8 – Add the chicken to the pumpkin and mix them into a smooth puree. 

Recipe 3: Butternut squash, carrots, and beets (age 8 months+)

The perfect combination of a nutritious dinner for your little one.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 Butternut squash
• 2-3 Carrots
• 2 Beets

Instructions:

Step 1 – Peel and chop the butternut squash and steam or bake it as mentioned earlier in this article.

Step 2 – Peel the carrots, chop off the top and cook for 10-20 minutes.

Step 3 – Clean the beets and cook them for 20-30 minutes. Let them cool down and peel off their skin.

Step 4 – Chop the carrots and the beets and add them together with the butternut squash to a blender or food processor.

Step 5 – Keep blending the mixture until it thickens to your desired level.

Recipe 4: Butternut squash, minced beef, and cauliflower (age 8-10 months+)

Ingredients:

• 2.2 oz of minced beef (65 grams)
• 4-5 medium-sized cauliflower florets
• 1/4 of butternut squash

Instructions:

Step 1 – Bring a saucepan with water to a boil and cook the minced beef for about 10 minutes.

Step 2 – Clean the cauliflower and cut off 4-5 medium-sized florets.

Step 3 – Cook the cauliflower florets for about 10-15 minutes, or steam them in a pan for about 8 minutes.

Step 4 – Cut off the end of the butternut squash and cut off 1/4 of squash.

Step 5 – Peel the squash and chop it in pieces.

Step 6 – Cook the squash for 15-20 minutes.

Step 7 – Add all the ingredients to a blender en mix them into a smooth puree.

Feeding guide for butternut squash

We recommend that you consult with your baby’s pediatrician on introducing solid foods as generalities may not apply to your infant.

Are these baby food recipes freezable?

You should store your batch of squash baby meals in a refrigerator using an airtight container for up to 72 hours.

You can freeze this baby food into different portions by employing pouring the mixture into ice cubes or in small food storage containers.

Which kitchen tools to use

In order to prepare these baby food recipes, you will need the following kitchen tools:

• Blender or food processor

• Knife

• Tablespoon

• Vegetable peeler

• Cutting board

• Frying pan

• Cooking pot

• Food storage containers or an ice cube form

5 Nutritional Benefits

1. Perfect eyesight

   Squash is normally rich in beta-carotene and alpha-carotene compounds which usually convert into vitamin A in a baby’s body. Vitamins A is an essential mineral when it comes to good and healthy eyesight.

2. Enhances Digestion

   Squash has fiber content, which improves bowel movement. Therefore, it helps in reducing constipation and indigestion in babies.

3. Lowers the level of inflammation

   In case your baby has autoimmune illnesses, it advisable to feed your baby with butternut squash due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

4. Improve your baby’s immune system

   Butternut squash is rich in vitamin A as well as B-complex vitamins, which helps your baby have the best functioning of the entire immune system.

5. Source of micronutrients

Butternut squash is rich in fundamental micronutrients such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium. These nutrients are essential for a healthy nervous system and circulatory system.

How to select and store the perfect butternut squash

Select

Butternut squash is characterized by a flat and round bottom. Consider selecting a sweet and ripened butternut squash. Keep away from the ones with blemishes and dull coloration. It is important to touch the butternut squash gentle so as to feel its firmness. A ripe butternut squash normally feels tender although it does not yield to the applied pressure by the fingers. If it yields, it indicates that it is overripe.

Storage

Always consider covering the open section with a cling film before you store it in a refrigerator. Butternut squash can be stored for sometimes, but it is advisable to consume it within the day when you are feeding your baby.