Easy, no cook, this baby mango puree is loaded with vitamin C and is one of the best baby foods to start with. Sweet in taste and creamy in texture, it is absolutely delicious.
As you might already know, I am a huuuge fan of fresh, local and seasonal produce. But there are a few foods that most of us don't have locally available and have to compromise because they are just so good. Mango, the tropical fruit, being one of them.
Mango is one of those foods that tastes perfect all on its own due to its natural sweetness. So a stage 1 mango baby fruit puree is a must-have when you start your baby on solid foods.
And not just because it's so easy to make but also because it tastes perfect, has a wonderful sweet and creamy texture and is full of great nutrients to keep your baby growing healthy.
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Ingredients
Mango (obviously): when purchasing make sure that you are buying ripe mangoes. They are soft to the touch and free of any signs of deterioration. You don't want it to be squishy or have any dark spots or cracks.
If it's not fully ripe, leave it at room temperature for up to 7 days until ripe.
When ripe, move to the refrigerator for about 5 days.
How To Make Mango Puree for Baby - 2 ways
Mango is one of those fruits that doesn't require any cooking before serving. Not even for a 6 month old's mango baby puree. Yessss!!!!!
There are two ways of making it though - from fresh or frozen mango.
See the step by step instructions for each way.
How to make frozen mango puree?
- Thaw the frozen mango three ways - either overnight in the fridge; place the sealed bag of mango in a bowl of cold water for about half an hour; or just pop it in a blender about 2 hours before you want to blend and let it thaw.
- Blend. Place the mango in the blender or food processor and blend until smooth. It may require a bit of water so you can add little by little making sure that it is not too runny. You can also use an immersion blender bit I find it the hardest to use.
- Serve or store for later use.
How to make mango puree from fresh mangoes?
- Cut the mango. Peel the mango and then cut around the seed. For the mango baby puree you don't really need to cut it further if you will be using a blender.
- Blend. Now that you’ve prepared your mango, just throw it in the blender. And blend until smooth. You can add a tablespoon of water to make it smoother but you will most likely not need it.
- Serve or store for later use.
Mango Puree for Baby Benefits
Mango is a fruit that's really rich in vitamin C. But what most people maybe don't know is that it's also a great source of beta-carotene which is a precursor of vitamin A.
Another important thing for babies when they start solids is dietary fiber. This is because their little digestive systems might not be developed fully yet and the introduction of solids can lead to constipation.
So this is where food high in dietary fiber comes handy. And mangoes are just that.
They also contain a fair amount of B vitamins as well as minerals such as copper.
Tips
- There are certain blenders that were created just for baby food but we have always used either the inexpensive magic bullet, the Vitamix or a food processor for both our baby foods and every day for our (adult) smoothies.
- Serving size is just for guidance, but if your baby needs more or less food please follow their cues.
How to serve?
Have two spoons, one where you preload the mango purée and put it on baby's tray so they can play and explore and the other that you can use to feed the baby.
If you are feeding the baby then make sure to follow their cues, place the spoon in front of their mouth and patiently wait for them to open. That way they baby feels in control of what and how much they are eating and can become confident in parent/child communication.
A great option is to offer them both a puree option and baby-led weaning. That way you know they are getting some food, while they are still able to fully explore the fruit they are eating. For more info on how to offer mango baby-led weaning see under "Possible variations" below.
How to store mango puree?
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days
- Freeze the puree in an ice cube tray or small airtight containers up to 3 months
- To thaw, remove from the ice cube tray and place in a airtight container in the fridge overnight
Possible Variations
Mango doesn't necessarily need to be served as a baby puree. See some variations below.
Mashed. If you’re over the puree stage, transitioning from purees to finger food or simply want to start with mashed rather than smooth baby purees then this recipe is perfect if you modify the “how-to” part. Instead of putting in the blender, you can simply mash the food up together by pressing down on the mango with a fork.
You’d probably want your mango to be a fully ripe here so that it’s easier to mash.
Lumps. If you’re just a step away from finger food, you can also blend or mash one half of the mango and the leave the rest in smaller mango chunks and then mix. That way your child will get used to new textures.
Mango Baby-led weaning. You'd also want your mango to be fully ripe here so that it's easy for your baby to chew on and avoid choking. Peel the mango and then cut into very thin slices.
This puree does not only have to be used for baby food, but can also be used for smoothie pie fillings, cocktails, mock-tails and other foods.
You can read more about how to transition to finger foods here.
Mango Baby Food Combinations
Mango goes well with lots of different fruits. You can try pineapple, banana, sweet potato, peaches, nectaries, apricots, olive oil, cinnamon, nutmeg.
FAQ
No, mango for baby does not need to be cooked. To make mango puree for baby you just need to follow the simple steps of peeling and blending.
Baby can have mango puree from when they start eating solid foods, so usually from around 5 months old or 6 months old.
It can be added to smoothies, breakfast oatmeals, yogurts, on healthy pancakes and cocktails for yourself!
Mango is a fruit that has a high amount of vitamin C so it is a great option to give to your baby if you want to boost their immune system. It also has a lot of little compounds that can act as antioxidants and help your baby's body fight against all kinds of diseases.
Mangos ripen at room temperature - cover them in a cotton cloth or place in a paper bag and leave on the kitchen counter. It should ripen within 2 days. Do not cut it open - mangoes stop ripening when cut open or broken.
Mango pulp has a thicker texture and smaller chunks of fruit are still visible. Puree requires more processing or blending and is smooth in texture.
To make a mango puree for baby you do not need to strain it if you used a good food processor or blender.
More homemade baby food recipes:
Looking for other single-food baby puree recipes? Check these out:
How to Make Mango Puree for Baby
Ingredients
- 1 mango
Instructions
Mango puree from frozen
- Thaw the frozen mango three ways - either overnight in the fridge; place the sealed bag of mango in a bowl of cold water for about half an hour; or just pop it in a blender about 2 hours before you want to blend and let it thaw.
- Blend. Place the mango in the blender or food processor and blend until smooth. It may require a bit of water so you can add little by little making sure that it is not too runny.
- Serve or store for later use.
From fresh mangoes
- Peel the mango and cut around the pit.
- Cut the bigger pieces into cubes and place in a blender.
- Blend. Add a tablespoon of water and keep adding water until you reach the desired consistency.
Notes
- There are certain blenders that were created just for baby food but we have always used either the inexpensive magic bullet, the Vitamix or a food processor for both our baby foods and every day for our (adult) smoothies.
- Serving size is just for guidance, but if your baby needs more or less food please follow their cues.
- Serve on a preloaded spoon given to baby and have 1 spoon for yourself to feed her. See more details in post.
- Offer mango baby-led weaning and as a puree - that way you know they are getting some food, while they are still able to fully explore the fruit they are eating. For baby-led weaning peel and cut the mango into thin slices.
How to store mango puree?
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days
- Freeze in an ice cube tray or small airtight containers up to 3 months
- To thaw, remove from the ice cube tray and place in a airtight container in the fridge overnight
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