Healthy Beetroot Pasta Recipe For Babies And Toddler
Table of Contents
Beetroot Pasta
I like to make recipes easy and fun! I think this one is both of these things!
I think colour can be so important when it comes to food, and when little ones see a colour they love it can really help them eat it all up!
This beetroot pasta sauce recipe is a great recipe and full of flavour and not only that it is so simple to make and an easy way to make in a hurry if needed. Perfect from 6 months of age.
The only time consuming part is that the fresh beetroot needs to be cooked first. But this is highly worth it as this ingredient is what makes the spaghetti purple.
This is such a great beetroot sauce with sweet flavours, it’s so tasty and delicious! Be prepared for your little ones to get messy and have the wipes to hand as it could get everywhere!
Serving this on its own is tasty but if you read below I have suggested some tasty options to serve with this dish.
Give this a go and enjoy a tasty meal with your little one.
How Do You Serve Beets For Baby Led Weaning
To serve beetroot for baby-led weaning, start by steaming or roasting the beetroot until it is soft enough to be easily mashed with a fork.
Cut the beetroot into small, manageable pieces for your baby to pick up and explore. You can also grate the beetroot for a different texture.
Serve the beetroot on its own as a finger food or mix it with other soft fruits and vegetables for added variety.
Avoid adding any salt, sugar, or seasonings to keep it as natural as possible for your baby's palate.
Remember to always supervise your baby during mealtimes and introduce one new food at a time to watch out for any potential allergies.
Pasta For BLW
Spaghetti is a popular pasta dish for baby-led weaning (BLW) due to its soft texture and shape that is easy for babies to grab and self-feed.
When offering spaghetti to a baby for BLW, it is important to ensure that it is cooked to a soft consistency to prevent any choking hazards.
You can serve spaghetti plain or with a mild sauce to introduce different flavours to your baby.
Remember to closely supervise your baby during mealtimes to ensure they are eating safely.
Spaghetti can be a fun and nutritious option for babies exploring solid foods during BLW.
How To Cook Beetroot
To cook beetroot for a baby following the baby-led weaning (BLW) approach, begin by washing the raw beetroot thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt.
Peel the beetroot using a vegetable peeler and cut it into manageable sticks or chunks suitable for your baby to grasp.
Steam the beetroot until it is tender when pierced with a fork. Allow the beetroot to cool before serving it to your baby.
Remember to closely supervise your baby during mealtimes and ensure the beetroot is cut into safe sizes to prevent choking hazards.
Can you Air Fry Beetroot
Air frying beetroot for your baby as part of Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) is an easy recipe to introduce this nutritious vegetable. Beetroots are rich in essential vitamins and minerals, making them a healthy choice for your little one.
To air fry beetroot for your baby, simply peel and cut the beetroot into finger-sized pieces or bite-sized pieces, lightly coat them with a bit of olive oil, and air fry at 180C for about 15-20 minutes until they are soft enough for your baby to chew.
Remember to always supervise your baby during mealtimes and ensure that the beetroot is cooked to an appropriate texture for their age and development stage.
Enjoy watching your baby explore new flavours and textures with this tasty and nutritious treat! A great recipe for those fussy eaters and the whole family too.
Beetroot Advantages
Beetroot is a nutritious vegetable with lots of health benefits, suitable for baby-led weaning (BLW) due to its soft texture and sweet flavour.
It is a good source of fibre, which can aid in digestion and prevent constipation in babies.
Beetroot is rich in essential nutrients such as iron, folate, and vitamin C, supporting healthy growth and development.
The vibrant colour of beetroot indicates the presence of antioxidants, which help boost the baby's immune system.
Introducing beetroot early on can help broaden the baby's palate and encourage a lifelong enjoyment of diverse foods.
Ingredient Information
Olive oil - I like to use olive oil in this dish. The flavours work well together with the vegetables.
Leek - I love using leeks. The flavour is so tasty in this dish and a great alternative to using an onion.
Courgette - A very tasty vegetable and so yummy in this spaghetti sauce recipe.
Beetroot - Yummy beetroot is incredible in this recipe. Prepare for your little ones to get messy!
Zero salt chicken stock cube - If you have a zero salt stock cube that’s great, don’t worry too much if you don’t. But I would be aware how much salt your little one is getting throughout the day if you decide to use a non-zero salt stock cube.
Dried oregano - A very tasty herb for this recipe, works so well! If you don’t have oregano you could use, Italian seasoning, or even fresh basil leaves.
White pepper - Adds a small kick to the sauce, which I think is tasty and delicious.
Serving suggestion
You could serve this delicious pasta recipe on its own. But if you did want to add some protein to this dish you could serve this alongside some pulled chicken or even some baked white fish, for the perfect recipe.
The vegetables are all here so if you did want to add the protein that would make this dish perfection.
You could freeze any spare sauce in ice cube trays and bring out when you need,
Other pasta recipes: Aubergine pasta, Pasta salad, Tomato sauce or Pea puree pasta.
Storage instructions
The pasta can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, stored in an airtight container.
If you wanted to freeze the pasta you will need to make sure that the pasta has cooled down before transferring to either a freezer bag (carefully) or airtight container. Ensure that the bag/airtight container is labelled with the item and the date. I use masking tape to label the airtight container.
To defrost the pasta, leave in the fridge overnight and make sure that it is fully defrosted, before re heating.
To reheat, place the defrosted pasta in a saucepan and reheat on a medium heat for 5-8 minutes. You can add in a splash of water if the pasta sauce needs loosening.
Once the pasta has been defrosted you will not be able to reheat or re freeze.
Equipment used to help with this recipe
Recipe | Healthy Beetroot Pasta Recipe For Babies And Toddler
Makes 4 portions
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 leek, sliced
1 courgette, sliced
1 cooked beetroot, sliced
1 zero salt vegetable stock cube
150ml hot water
1 teaspoon dried oregano
White pepper to taste
Vegan cheese (optional)
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a saucepan. Add in the leeks and courgette and cook for 10 minutes until soft.
Add in the cooked beetroot, and stir.
Add in the stock cube, followed by the 150ml hot water.
Add in the oregano and white pepper, I use about half a teaspoon.
Bring all ingredients up to a simmer, cover, turn down the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
Blend the vegetables with a food processor or blender until smooth. If you are doing this hot, be careful!
Serve with fresh cooked spaghetti or cooked pasta of your choice.
Add your favourite cheese to garnish. I used a vegan mozzarella.
Hope you and your family enjoy!
Recipe notes
As mentioned, you can use your pasta of choice. You could use a chickpea, spinach or lentil pasta. Or if you’re little one is gluten free you could use a gluten-free pasta.
The cheese as garnish is your choice too. I like to use Cheddar cheese as I always have some in the fridge, with a dollop of Greek yogurt.
©The Petit Spoon
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