How To Cook Broccoli For Baby Finger Food

Broccoli is the perfect beginning food for babies! At that place are so many ways to set it for baby led weaning. Let me testify you how!

a collage of baby-friendly broccoli recipes.

Jump to:

When can babies eat broccoli?
Health benefits
Does broccoli make baby gassy?
Cooking Methods
How to cut for baby led weaning
Often Asked Questions
Baby-Friendly Broccoli Recipes to attempt
Broccoli for baby led weaning

When can babies eat broccoli?

This nutritious green vegetable can exist offered to babies as soon every bit they're set up to get-go solids, usually around 6 months. It'southward important to retrieve that your baby is unique and that rather than going by the calendar, yous demand to brand sure your babe is DEVELOPMENTALLY ready to outset solids.

If you're unsure, be certain to take hold of my FREE handout!

Health benefits

Broccoli is bursting with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, K, A, besides as folate and potassium. It's likewise rich in cobweb and various antioxidants.

It even contains a modest amount of iron and zinc, top priority nutrients for babies.

Related post: Best iron-rich foods for babies and toddlers

I highly encourage yous to introduce bitter flavored foods, early and often. Babies are built-in with an innate preference for sugariness and salty flavors while disliking biting and sour flavors.

Enquiry also shows that there is this a narrow "window of opportunity" when babies are most willing to accept new foods. Once your child enters toddlerhood and nutrient neophobia enters the picture show, they volition only want to eat things that are familiar and safe to them.

All this to say, bring on the broccoli (and kale, spinach, brussels sprouts, cabbage....)

Does broccoli make baby gassy?

Foods that are rich in fiber tend to cause gas. This list includes beans, cruciferous vegetables, oatmeal, prunes, peaches, and pears.

Does this mean you should eliminate them completely? Absolutely not! These foods offering so many beneficial nutrients, necessary for your babe'due south growth and development.

And as mentioned higher up, early on introduction to a broad variety of flavors and textures is cardinal in minimizing picky eating downwards the route.

If your baby is gassy but doesn't seem to be in discomfort, there'due south no reason to worry. If your infant is extra gassy subsequently eating certain foods, just don't overload them with those foods.

Cooking Methods

Hither are the 2 best cooking methods for babies. Information technology's VERY of import that the vegetable is cooked until soft plenty to be easily smooshed between thumb and forefinger.

I personally don't recommend roasting for this age as the exterior of the vegetable can get besides crispy or even burnt before information technology softens. You can eddy, but I don't recommend it as most of the nutrients will leach into the water.

Steam

Place water in a pot, add steamer handbasket, and bring to a boil. Add together broccoli, comprehend, reduce rut to medium, and cook for 5-6 minutes. It should be easily pierce-able with a fork.

Be conscientious not to overcook or you will end up with a not so appetizing greenish-xanthous mush.

Steam Roast

This method is my personal favorite! If yous are new to this cooking method, exist prepared to autumn in love HARD! Then much more than flavorful than patently steaming.

How information technology works: The hot oven and moisture from the veggies create steam (once covered) making them soft, but because they're roasted, the flavors go more than concentrated.

Simply add broccoli to a blistering pan, toss with oil and seasoning(southward) of choice, Encompass, and roast at 425°F for xv-xx minutes! Perfectly soft and flavorful!

Learn more about steam roasting too as cooking times for ALL other vegetables

How to cutting for baby led weaning

a visual of how to cut broccoli depending on baby's age. Finely chopped and large floret for 6-9 months, bite-sized pieces and large floret for 9-12 months and broccoli sprinkles for 12+ months.

Related Post: how to serve the right nutrient size and texture

For 6-8 months old:

Bigger is improve and safer at this age and then they can easily grab the nutrient with their palm and bring to rima oris. So welcome those giant florets ;).

Endeavor to get out as much of the floret stem as possible to make it easier for your infant.

ix+ months former:

Equally your baby develops their pincer grasp and is able to choice upwardly pocket-sized pieces of food using their thumb and finger, you can cut into modest, seize with teeth-sized pieces. I still suggest continuing to offering larger pieces then they can practice taking bites.

This is a skillful time to introduce utensils. Your babe will most likely just play around or toss information technology. Simply it's yet great for exposure! Continue role modeling too.

12+ Months former:

Depending on your child's chewing skills and your comfort level, you tin start to offering slightly firmer, just however soft-textured foods. Try shortening the cooking time past several minutes and see how your baby does.

Continue offering utensils and your child will likely surprise y'all one twenty-four hour period!

Also try adding raw broccoli "sprinkles!" Simply shave off the tips of the top with a knife or kitchen shears.

Alternatively, you can pulse the raw florets in a food processor (I love using my manual mini food chopper) until finely chopped. Now add to oatmeal, yogurt, toast, etc!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is broccoli prophylactic for babies?

As long as information technology's offered in appropriate size and texture, information technology is totally safe. Broccoli allergy is very rare too.

How should I store leftovers?

Transfer to an airtight container and continue in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Since they're very soft in texture, I don't recommend freezing them. If y'all have a lot of leftovers and desire to invite more variety, add them to the recipes I suggest below!

How should I reheat leftovers?

Again, because the florets are and then soft, reheating will just make them mushier. Serve straight from the fridge or allow to come to room temperature.

Baby-Friendly Broccoli Recipes to endeavor

I melt with this "mini tree," as my son likes to call it, A LOT. It's so affordable, nutritious, and versatile. It'due south actually one vegetable that my firstborn had a really difficult time learning to enjoy then I came up with all kinds of ways to brand it fun and appealing for him.

Hope these recipes will be a hit with your child too!

Dips/Broiled Goods

Broccoli White Bean Pesto
Broccoli hummus
Vegan Vegetable Quinoa Muffins
Broiled Chickpea Veggie Cakes
Salmon Quiche

Breakfast

Vegetable Infant French Toast
Vegetable Baby Oatmeal
Overnight Oats (or quinoa)
Instant Pot Mashed Sweetness Potatoes
Lentils for Babies
Savory Broiled Oatmeal with Vegetables
Tofu Veggie Scramble

Lunch/Dinner

Instant Pot Peanut Craven and Broccoli
Mini Baked Canned Salmon Patties (egg-free)
Pizza Quesadilla
Healthy Korean Beef and Broccoli Quinoa
English Muffin Babe Pizza
Low-sodium Moo Goo Gai Pan

Did yous make this recipe? Leave a rating beneath and permit me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!

a close up shot of steam roasted florets.

Broccoli for babe led weaning

Broccoli is the perfect first food for babies! There are and then many ways to prepare it for baby led weaning. Let me show you how!

Print Pin Rate

Prep Fourth dimension: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 8

▢ ane pound broccoli, chopped into florets
▢ 2 tablespoons avocado oil (for steam roast)
▢ herbs/seasonings of option (optional but highly recommended)

Steam

Cut broccoli into large florets.
Add water to a pot and insert the steamer basket. The surface of the water should be under the basket. Pour some out if demand be.
Bring the h2o to a boil. Add broccoli, cover the pot, and reduce the heat to simmer. Cook for near 5 minutes, or until hands pierce-able with a fork. Don't overcook or y'all volition end up with super mushy and light-green-yellow color.

Steam roast

Preheat oven to 425° Fahrenheit. Cut broccoli into big florets and place on a blistering pan.
Toss the vegetables with oil and herbs/seasonings of choice. It's ok if they overlap. It will create more than steam, resulting in softer texture.
Cover with foil or silicone blistering mat.
Identify in the oven and cook for 15-twenty minutes until soft.

To shop:

Transfer to an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to five days. These won't freeze well. If you have a lot of leftovers and want to invite more diverseness, add them to the recipes I propose.

Because the florets are and so soft, reheating will only make them mushier. Serve straight from the refrigerator or allow to come to room temperature.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American