Easy Broccoli Baby Puree Recipe step by step
This broccoli baby puree recipe needs one vegetable, a little water, and about 20 minutes. Steaming the broccoli until it’s very soft lets it blend into a smooth, bright green puree for babies starting solids. It’s easy to make in a batch and freezes well in small portions.
Below you’ll find steamer and stovetop methods, a texture guide for each stage, mild pairings for babies still getting used to green vegetables, and safe storage tips.
Table of Contents
Why Make Broccoli Puree for Your Baby
Offering a variety of vegetables, including ones with stronger flavors, helps babies get used to different tastes. Broccoli is an easy place to start with green vegetables.
- One ingredient. Just broccoli and water.
- Quick to cook. Small florets steam soft in about 10 minutes.
- Fresh or frozen. Plain frozen broccoli works well and keeps on hand.
- A helpful partner. Broccoli contains vitamin C. Serving vitamin C-rich foods with plant-based iron sources, such as lentils, beans, or iron-fortified cereal, can help the body absorb more iron.
Broccoli has a slightly bitter, earthy flavor. Some babies take to it right away, and others need several tries. Both are normal.
When Can Babies Eat Broccoli Puree?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting foods other than breast milk or formula at about 6 months, when your baby is developmentally ready. Signs of readiness include:
- Sitting up with little or no support
- Good head and neck control
- Opening the mouth when food comes near
- Swallowing food rather than pushing it out with the tongue
Every baby is different. If your baby was born early, has a medical condition, or has trouble swallowing, check with your pediatrician before starting solids.
Broccoli Baby Puree
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Rinse the broccoli under cool running water. Cut into 1-inch florets. Peel any stems you use and cut them into 1/2-inch pieces.
- Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a pot.
- Place the broccoli in a steamer basket over the water. Cover and steam for 8 to 10 minutes (6 to 8 minutes for frozen), until a fork slides through the stems with no resistance.
- Lift out the basket and reserve the steaming water.
- Blend the broccoli with 1/4 cup (60 ml) liquid for 45 to 60 seconds, scraping down the sides once.
- Add more liquid, 1 tablespoon at a time, until smooth and the right consistency for your baby.
- For first tastes, press through a fine-mesh strainer if any specks remain.
- Cool a portion to lukewarm in a separate bowl, stir, and test the temperature before serving.
Notes
Ingredients
- 3 cups (about 9 oz or 255 g) broccoli florets, cut into 1-inch pieces. This is about 1 medium head.
- 1 inch of water in the pot for steaming.
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup (60 to 120 ml) liquid for blending. Use the steaming water, fresh water, breast milk, or prepared infant formula.
Don’t add salt, butter, cheese, or seasoning blends. Babies don’t need added salt.
Fresh or frozen broccoli
Fresh broccoli should have tight, dark green florets and firm stems. Skip heads with yellowing florets. Frozen broccoli works just as well; choose plain florets with no sauce or seasoning. You can include the tender part of the stems. Peel off the tough outer layer and cut the stems into 1/2-inch pieces so they cook as quickly as the florets.
How to Make Broccoli Baby Puree
Steamer method
- Rinse. Wash the broccoli under cool running water.
- Cut. Cut into 1-inch florets. Peel and chop any stems you’re using into 1/2-inch pieces.
- Steam. Add 1 inch of water to a pot and bring to a boil. Place the broccoli in a steamer basket over the water, cover, and steam for 8 to 10 minutes (6 to 8 minutes for frozen florets), until the stems are very soft and a fork slides through with no resistance. This is softer than the crisp-tender broccoli you’d serve adults.
- Save the water. Carefully lift out the basket. Keep the steaming water for blending.
- Blend. Add the broccoli and 1/4 cup (60 ml) liquid to a blender. Blend for 45 to 60 seconds, scraping down the sides once.
- Adjust. Add more liquid, 1 tablespoon at a time, until smooth and the right consistency for your baby.
- Cool and serve. Spoon a portion into a bowl, cool to lukewarm, stir, and test the temperature before serving.
Stovetop simmer method
No steamer basket? Add the broccoli to a small saucepan with 1 cup (240 ml) water. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until very soft. Blend with some of the cooking water. Simmering in a small amount of water and using that water for blending keeps more of the broccoli’s nutrients in the puree.
Broccoli has small, firm stem bits that can resist blending. If you see specks, blend longer or press the puree through a fine-mesh strainer for first tastes.
Texture Guide by Stage
| Stage | Texture | How to make it |
|---|---|---|
| First tastes (around 6 months) | Thin and very smooth, no specks | Blend with 1/2 cup liquid; strain if needed |
| Getting comfortable (about 7 to 8 months) | Thick and smooth | Blend with 1/4 cup liquid |
| Ready for more texture (about 8 to 10 months) | Mashed, with soft small bits | Mash steamed florets with a fork or pulse briefly |
These ages are general guides. Move to thicker and lumpier textures as your baby shows they can manage them.
Serving Tips and Mild Pairings
- Start small. Offer 1 to 2 teaspoons and follow your baby’s hunger and fullness cues. Breast milk or formula is still the main source of nutrition in the first year.
- Offer it again. If your baby makes a face or refuses, try again on another day. Faces are often a reaction to a new taste, not a dislike.
- Pair it gently. Once your baby has tried each food on its own, mix broccoli with a familiar puree such as pear, apple, sweet potato, or potato.
- Add an iron source. Serve broccoli puree alongside lentil puree, mashed beans, or iron-fortified infant cereal.
- Serve from a bowl. Don’t feed straight from the storage container. Throw out anything left in the bowl after the meal.
Allergen and Safety Notes
Allergens: Broccoli is not one of the nine major US food allergens. Any food can cause a reaction, so watch for hives, swelling, vomiting, or trouble breathing when you introduce something new. Call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the face, lips, or tongue. Many infant formulas are made with milk or soy.
Choking: The CDC lists pieces of hard raw vegetables as a choking hazard for babies 6 to 12 months old. Never serve raw broccoli to babies. Cook it until a fork slides through the stems easily. Always seat your baby upright and stay with them while they eat.
Tummy changes: Broccoli contains fiber, and some babies may have more gas as they get used to new vegetables. Talk with your pediatrician if you have concerns.
Variations and Safe Substitutions
- Broccoli and pear: Blend 1 cup broccoli puree with 1/2 cup cooked pear puree.
- Broccoli and sweet potato: Steam 1 cup (about 130 g) peeled, 1/2-inch sweet potato cubes for 12 to 15 minutes until very soft, then blend with the broccoli.
- Broccoli and potato: Steam 1 cup (about 150 g) peeled, 1/2-inch potato cubes until very soft and blend with the broccoli for a milder, creamier puree.
- Broccoli and peas: Add 1/2 cup (70 g) frozen peas for the last 4 minutes of steaming, then blend well.
- Creamy broccoli: Stir 1 tablespoon of plain whole-milk yogurt into a serving, only if your baby has already eaten dairy. This adds milk, a major allergen.
- For older babies: Steam large florets until very soft and offer them whole as a finger food for babies ready for self-feeding. The “tree” shape gives a built-in handle.
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
- Refrigerate: Cool and refrigerate in a covered container within 2 hours of cooking. Use within 3 days.
- Freeze: Spoon into a covered ice cube tray. Once frozen, transfer cubes to a labeled freezer bag. Use within 3 months for the best quality.
- Thaw: Thaw cubes overnight in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
- Reheat: Warm until steaming hot (165°F/74°C), stirring well to remove hot spots. Cool to lukewarm and test the temperature before serving.
- Freeze it plain. Freeze the puree made with water. Add breast milk or formula only to the portion you’re serving.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Steaming only until crisp-tender. Baby puree needs broccoli cooked until very soft.
- Leaving stem pieces too large. Cut stems smaller than florets so they soften at the same time.
- Adding salt or cheese. Keep it plain for babies.
- Giving up after one try. New flavors often take several exposures.
- Saving bowl leftovers. Discard any puree your baby’s spoon has touched.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my 6-month-old eat broccoli puree?
Yes, once your baby shows signs of readiness for solids. Start with a thin, smooth puree and a small amount.
Can I use frozen broccoli for baby food?
Yes. Choose plain frozen florets with no sauce or salt, and steam for 6 to 8 minutes until very soft.
Should I include the broccoli stems?
You can. Peel the tough outer layer and cut the stems into 1/2-inch pieces so they cook soft with the florets.
My baby made a face at broccoli. Should I stop offering it?
No need to stop. Make-a-face reactions are common with new tastes. Keep offering small amounts on different days, or mix broccoli with a puree your baby already enjoys.
Can broccoli give babies gas?
Some babies may have more gas with fiber-rich vegetables like broccoli. Starting with small portions helps you see how your baby responds.
Why does reheated broccoli puree smell strong?
Why does reheated broccoli puree smell strong?
Is it better to steam or boil broccoli for baby food?
Steaming is the most common method because the broccoli doesn’t sit in water. If you simmer it, use a small amount of water and blend the puree with that water.
More Baby Puree Recipes to Try
Broccoli puree pairs well with apple pear puree, lentil puree, and sweet potato puree. (Link only to published recipes; see Part 6.)
This article provides general information about feeding babies. It isn’t a substitute for advice from your pediatrician, especially if your baby has allergies, a medical condition, or feeding difficulties.
