Easy, healthy homemade Apple Sweet Potato baby puree recipe that your baby will love.
Apple and sweet potato are such a great puree combination. Both have a slightly sweet taste and the starchy texture which blended together give a perfect puree.
The reason this goes on my list of favorite baby purees is that it has proven to be a lifesaver a number of times. A constipation lifesaver.
During those first days and weeks of introducing solids, babies can sometimes have issues pooping as their little digestive systems might not be accustomed to solid food. My son was no different.
Although we didn't have any huge problems (like weeks of baby constipation) we did have days when he showed signs of constipation and discomfort. And that's when this Apple Sweet Potato Baby Puree came in. And worked every time!
So if you're experiencing the same digestive problems this baby puree recipe can do the same for you and your baby as it did for me.
To learn more about how to deal with baby constipation read these posts:
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Apple Sweet Potato Baby Puree Ingredients
To make this Apple Sweet Potato Baby Puree, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Apple: choose organic apples if you have that option, but if you don't it's no big deal. Just make sure you thoroughly wash it beforehand and peel off the skin. Apples are often coated in wax to keep them fresher for longer.
- Sweet potato: similar to the apple, best would be to use organic but non-organic ones just need a thorough wash and peeling of the skin. We do prefer orange sweet potatoes as they give a great orange color to the Apple Sweet Potato Baby Puree, but other sorts will also do great in this recipe.
- Olive oil: if you can get your hands on some extra virgin olive oil that would be great. This is the type we'd want to use more of in both adult and baby recipes as it provides a greater amount of those beneficial fatty acids. But regular olive oil is fine also. You can read more about why fats are good here.
Apple Sweet Potato Baby Puree Nutritional Benefits
- Apple: they're a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin C. Apples are also rich in several antioxidant nutrients such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds which can promote heart health.
- Sweet Potato: they're one of the best sources of vitamin A. Actually its precursor beta-carotene which also gives it a nice yellow/orange color. Like apples, they're also a good source of fiber (hence the anti-constipation remedy) as well as minerals such as copper, manganese, and potassium.
- Olive oil: this is our go-to fat and oil in most cases. It has such a perfect fatty acid profile which consists mostly of monounsaturated acids which make olive oil one of the best foods that promote heart health. And add some more calories to the Apple Sweet Potato Baby Puree.
How To Make Apple Sweet Potato Baby Puree
The recipe below is for two servings because there is nothing better than saving time when taking care of a baby! 🙂
Wash and peel. Especially if you have a non-organic apple and sweet potato they'll both need thorough washing and peeling of the skin. This is to ensure that no pesticide residues or wax go into our Apple Sweet Potato Baby Puree.
If you have organic ones, then peeling off the apple and sweet potato skins might not be necessary but if you're offering to a child younger then 8 months, I'd recommend peeling them nonetheless.
Babies that have just started eating solids could have a hard time digesting the skins even in puree form, which might cause tummy issues that can easily be avoided.
Cut. This Apple Sweet Potato Baby Puree requires thermal processing (e.g. cooking, steaming, baking, etc.) and will later be processed into a puree so it really doesn't matter how you cut the foods.
I just cut it into bigger cubes so that they fit into my baby cooker but if you're baking, steaming over a pot or cooking in water I'd say bigger bits will also do.
Process. I prefer steaming the apple and sweet potato. That's because steaming is the process that retains the most nutrients. And the best investment I made into my baby's nutrition was buying a baby cooker. I have this one but really any that steams and blends (2 in 1) is perfect. You can also cook in water (don't put too much water) or bake in the oven. I don't really like baking because it dries the food too much. This makes it harder to get that nice creamy texture in the end. If steaming or cooking, make sure to leave the water from the steaming/cooking to add to the puree if needed.
Cool. I prefer to let it sit and cool for about 10 minutes before blending. But if you're in a hurry you can blend immediately.
Blend. Put all the ingredients in the blender (don't forget the olive oil!) and blend until a smooth consistency is reached. You might need to add some water (teaspoon by teaspoon) to reach a smooth puree consistency although I never had to. The apples were always just moist enough to provide that consistency.
Possible Apple Sweet Potato Variations
Mashed. If you’re over the puree stage or transitioning from purees to finger food then this recipe is great if you modify the “how-to” part. You’d still want to follow all the how-to instructions (so fully cook the apple and sweet potato) until you reach the "blend" part. Instead of blending simply mash, add some olive oil, and mix.
Lumps. If you’re just a step away from finger food, you can also blend or mash one half of the cooked/steamed/baked apple and sweet potato and the leave the rest in pieces and then join. Don't forget to add olive oil! That way your child will get used to new textures.
Finger food. Both the apple and sweet potato can also be great finger foods. When cutting them before steaming/cooking/baking, choose longer and thinner sticks if your baby is still on the palmar grasp or cut into cubes if they've mastered the pincer grasp.
More Apple And Sweet Potato Recipes
Looking for more puree recipes? Check these out:
Recipe
Apple Sweet Potato Baby Puree
Ingredients
- 1 medium-sized apple
- 1 medium-sized sweet potato
- 1 tsp olive oil extra virgin
Instructions
- Wash the apple and sweet potato and peel the skin off
- Cut into cubes and either put in a baby cooker or over boiling water to steam
- Steam for about 20 minutes (until soft) or until the baby cooker is finished
- Make sure to keep the water from the steaming in case you want to add it later
- Allow to cool for about 10 minutes
- Put in a blender and add the olive oil
- Blend until smooth; if required, add water teaspoon by teaspoon until the desired consistency is reached
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