How to Make Baby Butternut Squash Puree

The flavorful and nutritious butternut squash is packed with the antioxidant vitamin A and the mineral potassium. Follow our simple step-by-step instructions to make baby butternut squash puree.

It’s less difficult than you might think to make purees from scratch for baby foods like butternut squash and other vegetables. Additionally, butternut squash puree makes a wonderful first food for your little one. When roasted, it takes on a smooth and velvety texture and has a sweet and nutty flavor profile. The savory flavor of butternut squash is matched by its impressive nutrient profile. Each portion includes the nutrients potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B6, magnesium, and iron, in addition to dietary fiber.

It is the perfect complement to the flavor of a wide variety of other vegetables, fruits, and meats, such as pears, apples, broccoli, strawberries, or chicken, in the same way, that sweet potato puree is. All you need to do to show your kid how to make butternut squash puree is to stick to these easy steps.

Step 1: Choosing and Purchasing Butternut Squash

Beginning in early fall and continuing through winter is the best time for growing butternut squash. If you want the best quality butternut squash, look for one that is firm and free of cracks, bruising, and soft spots. If you are going to buy a package of peeled and cut butternut squash, choose squash that has a color that is quite a bit darker than orange. Ripeness and sweetness increase with the depth of color. About 14 ounces of puree can be obtained from roasting a butternut squash that weighs 1.6 pounds.

Step 2: Clean and Prepare The Butternut Squash

To begin, put the butternut squash in a bowl of cold water and give it a good rinse. After that, remove any dirt from the skin by scrubbing it with a miniature vegetable brush. If you purchased your butternut squash already peeled and cut, all you need to do is place the pieces in a colander and rinse them with cold water.

Step 3: Prepare the Butternut Squash for Cooking

The best way to prepare a butternut squash puree is going to vary depending on whether you are using the squash in its whole or cut form.

The whole squash

Separate the butternut squash into halves along its length (leave the skin on). To remove the seeds, use a spoon to scoop them out. Roast the squash at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, placing it on a baking sheet that has been brushed with a little bit of olive oil. After 30 minutes, check to see if the squash is tender enough to scoop easily with a spoon. If it is, remove it from the oven. If not, continue to add 5 minutes of roasting time every so often until it has become softer. After roasting the squash, remove it from the oven and use a spoon to remove the flesh. Let it cool down first.

Peeled and diced squash

In a saucepan of medium size, bring the water to a boil. After about 15 minutes, add the pieces of squash and continue to cook until they are tender. Drain the squash and give it a final rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.

Utilize the roasting method described earlier as an alternative. After about 20 minutes, start checking the cut pieces to see if they are soft enough; this is because smaller pieces will cook more quickly.

Step 4: The Butternut Squash Will Be Pureed

Utilizing either a food processor or a blender, bring the cooked butternut squash to a smooth consistency. Add additional water, infant formula, or breast milk as necessary to achieve the desired consistency.

When your baby is first starting to eat solid foods, you should aim for a texture that is smoother and lighter. It is possible that the consistency will become thicker as they become more skilled at eating. When your child is ready for finger foods, which usually occurs around the ten-month mark, you can give them bite-sized pieces of butternut squash cooked until they are tender and then cut into smaller pieces.

Step 5: Serve The Butternut Squash Puree

The flavor of butternut squash could be stronger. It is an excellent choice for the first vegetable that you should offer your child to eat. When they are accustomed to eating individual foods, you can give them butternut squash by itself or combined with other vegetables, fruits, meats, and spices. You can do this even after they have become accustomed to eating single foods. Try combining the puree of butternut squash with:

• A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg
• Applesauce
• Cereal for infants
• Chicken Lentils Beef Carrots Cherries Beets Peaches (with or without yogurt)
• Pear
• Pork
• Rice
• Spinach
• Turkey
• Yogurt

Step 6: Store Any Leftover Butternut Squash Puree In The Refrigerator Or Freezer

Butternut squash puree, once cooled, can be kept in the fridge for up to three days in BPA-free containers. You can keep leftovers frozen for up to three months. Defrost the frozen food in the refrigerator overnight.

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