Creating a nutritious and delicious puree for your baby using butternut squash is easy and straightforward. Butternut squash is a rich source of the antioxidant vitamin A and important mineral, potassium. Making purees from scratch for your baby’s food, including the butternut squash puree, is a great way to provide high-quality nutrition. The puree is a perfect first food for your baby, with a smooth and velvety texture, and a naturally sweet and nutty taste when roasted. Besides its savory flavor, butternut squash is packed with vital nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin B6, magnesium, iron, and dietary fiber, which are essential for your baby’s growth and development.
Butternut squash puree can be paired with a diverse range of other vegetables, fruits, and proteins like pears, apples, broccoli, strawberries, and chicken to create a delicious and healthy meal for your baby. Similar to sweet potato puree, butternut squash puree can enhance the flavor of other foods. Creating this puree for your baby is a simple process that involves following a few easy steps.
Step 1: Choosing and Purchasing Butternut Squash
The ideal time for cultivating butternut squash is from early fall to the winter season. To ensure that you get the best quality butternut squash, select one that is firm and without blemishes, cracks, or soft spots. In the case of purchasing packaged, cut butternut squash, choose darker-hued ones as ripeness and sweetness increase the deeper the color. A butternut squash that weighs 1.6 pounds will yield approximately 14 ounces of puree when roasted.
Step 2: Clean and Prepare The Butternut Squash
To start preparing the butternut squash for puree, place it in a bowl filled with cold water and rinse it thoroughly. Use a small vegetable brush to scrub away any dirt or debris from the skin. If you have purchased pre-peeled and cut butternut squash, simply rinse the pieces in a colander under running cold water.
Step 3: Prepare the Butternut Squash for Cooking
The method for preparing a butternut squash puree varies depending on whether you are using a whole squash or pre-cut pieces.
For a whole butternut squash, begin by cutting it in half lengthwise (keeping the skin on) and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Brush a baking sheet with a little olive oil before placing the squash halves, cut-side down, on the sheet. Roast the squash at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Check to see if the flesh is easily scooped out with a spoon, and if not, continue roasting for 5 additional minutes until it is tender. Once cooked, allow the squash to cool slightly before scooping out the flesh.
If using pre-peeled and diced squash, bring a medium-sized saucepan of water to a boil, add the squash pieces and cook for roughly 15 minutes or until tender. Drain and rinse the squash in cold water to stop the cooking process. Alternatively, follow the roasting method outlined above but adjust the cooking time to 20 minutes, checking the pieces regularly for tenderness.
Step 4: The Butternut Squash Will Be Pureed
Once the butternut squash is cooked, transfer it to a food processor or blender and blend until it reaches a smooth consistency. To achieve the desired texture, add additional water, breast milk, or infant formula as needed. When introducing solid foods to your baby, opt for a smoother and lighter texture initially. Gradually, you can thicken the consistency as your baby becomes more adept at eating. Around the ten-month mark, when your child is ready for finger foods, consider serving them bite-sized pieces of butternut squash that has been cooked until tender and cut into appropriate sizes.
Step 5: Serve The Butternut Squash Puree
While the flavor of butternut squash may not be as strong as other vegetables, it is still a great choice for your baby’s first vegetable. As your baby becomes accustomed to eating individual foods, you can gradually introduce them to butternut squash, either alone or combined with other vegetables, fruits, meats, and spices. Even after your baby is used to eating single foods, you can continue to offer them new food combinations to keep their palate interested and engaged. Butternut squash is a versatile vegetable that can be used in a wide range of dishes, making it a great choice for introducing new flavors and textures to your baby’s diet.
Step 6: Store Any Leftover Butternut Squash Puree In The Refrigerator Or Freezer
You can store the butternut squash puree in BPA-free containers in the refrigerator for up to three days once it has cooled down. Leftovers can also be frozen for up to three months. To defrost the frozen puree, it is best to transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator and leave it to thaw overnight.