Baby Food Recipes with Figs

Weaning is a process of introducing solids with traditional purees, porridge or mashed and semi-solids when the baby meets all the criteria of readiness for solids. Before starting solids for a baby, parents must ensure that the baby can keep their head up by themselves, lost the tongue thrust and can sit in a tripod position for a while.

In this article, we talk about introducing figs to your baby’s diet and we give you 5 tasty and easy recipes for homemade baby food with figs. 

The recipes in this article:

Recipe 1 – Figs puree
Recipe 2 – Fig milkshake
Recipe 3 – Figs, Apple, and Orange juice
Recipe 4 – Roasted Fig mash
Recipe 5 – Figs and Pear

You might also be interested in our recipes with pear, avocado or prunes. 

When can a baby eat figs?

Figs can be introduced to your baby for six months. Figs have a sweet flavor that babies like. This makes them the perfect first food for babies. Figs are packed with antioxidants and fiber and are a good source of calcium and iron.

Dried figs are recommended from 2 years on, due to their high levels of sugar.

Fresh figs can be eaten with the skin on. The skin actually contains most of the flavor and nutrition.

Recipe 1: Figs puree (age 6 months+)

Ingredients:

• 6 fresh figs
• 200 ml of water or milk.

Instructions:

Step 1 – Firstly, remove the stems from the fresh figs. Add the figs to a pot and cook them on medium heat until the water comes to a boil.

Step 2 – Lower the heat and cook the figs for 20-25 minutes. 

Step 3 – Add water or formula, depending on the desired consistency. Blend the figs into a smooth puree. 

You can now serve the puree or pour it into an ice cube form to store the puree.

Recipe 2: Fig milkshake (age 12 months+)

Ingredients:

• 250 ml of milk
• 5 fresh figs

Instructions:

Step 1 – Mix cooked fig with 2tbsp water and blend it into a paste.

Step 2 – Then, add deseeded dates, blend, and add it to the fig puree.

Step 3 – Add 250 ml milk and blend it all.

This milkshake is quick to make and is a hassle-free mid-meal for babies.

Recipe 3: Figs, apple, and orange juice (age 6 months+)

This is also a fig puree that can be used fresh or cooked. Apple juice and orange are rich in Vitamin C.

Ingredients:

• 6 fresh figs
• 2 slices of apple
• A ½ cup of orange juice

Instructions:

Step 1 – Add figs to a pot and add filtered water to the pot, cover with the lid and cook it on medium heat until boil. (make sure the stems are removed)

Step 2 – Low the heat and cook figs for 25 minutes until the skin gets tighten. Add apple slices and stir and cook for another 5 minutes.

Step 3 – Pour off the water and add the orange juice. Blend the ingredients until you reach the desired consistency.

Recipe 4: Roasted fig Mash (age 6 months+)

Babies who like more sweet this roasted fig mash is a suitable way to feed figs. Olive oil is rich with calories.

Ingredients:

• 8 fresh figs
• 1 teaspoon olive oil

Instructions:

Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 400 F. Remove the stems of the figs. Apply olive oil into each fig before place in a baking tray.

Step 2 – Bake the fig for 20 minutes until figs skin gets tighten.

Step 3 – Let the fig get cool and mash it with a fork. You can serve this dish warm or you can let it cool down.

Recipe 5: Figs and pear

Ingredients: 

• 2 figs
• 1/2 ripe pear

Instructions:

Step 1 – Peel the ripe pear and chop it in pieces.

Step 2 – Slice the figs and scoop out the meat.

Step 3 – If your baby is very young, mix the ingredients into a smooth puree. 

Are these baby food recipes freezable?

You should store your batch of homemade baby meals in a refrigerator using an airtight container for up to a period of 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

To prepare these baby food recipes, you will need the following kitchen tools:

• Blender or food processor

• Knife

• Teaspoon

• Measuring cup

• Vegetable peeler

• Cutting board

• Cooking pot

• Food storage containers or an ice cube form

Nutritional benefits

Figs are a rich source of various Vitamins and minerals like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, B vitamins, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, and Iron.

1. Figs are known to aid digestion problems.

2. Figs are the natural laxative as it comprises of dietary fiber in large amounts which can help in constipation problems.

3. Figs strengthen the immune system as the fig is very rich and high in antimicrobial properties.

How to select and store figs?

The shelf life of fresh figs is brief (around 3 days), so it is important to select the right ones. Figs must be picked ripe from a tree, as they do not ripe well once picked. The best time to buy figs is from June to October.

Pick figs with clean and dry skin and have a nice, round and full shape. They should be a little bit soft when you gently squeeze them, but not mushy. Smell the figs, if they smell sour they are already beyond their prime and you should not buy them.

Once bought, it is important to store them in a cool environment. Store them in a plastic bag in a cool refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.

You can also choose to freeze the figs. Slice them in small parts if you want to use small portions at a time. You can now store the figs up to 10-12 months.

Conclusion

Figs can be given to babies once they start their weaning process and are introduced to solids. It can be given as early as 6 months but once it has been ruled out as an allergy. Offer only figs for 3 days check for reactions. Otherwise, Figs are healthy, nutritious and for its sweet taste mostly loved by kids. They are known to raise the immunity of a child and also for its antimicrobial properties.