Quinoa (pronounced Keen-Wah) is a super nutritious, gluten free grain that makes a great addition to any baby food puree. Typically introducing to your baby between the age of 6-9 months, this grain is packed with fiber, iron, calcium and folate. As a great source of protein, quinoa can also be a option for the vegetarian baby.
Quinoa with strawberries
Lisa @ onceamonthmeals.com
Ingredients:
- 1 cup quinoa, cooked per package directions
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- .5 cups strawberries
- .5 cups formula, prepared (or breast milk)
Directions:
Combine quinoa, cinnamon and berries. Puree, adding formula a Tablespoon at a time.
Freezing Directions:
Transfer mixture to a nonfreezer gallon bag. Cut a small hole in the bottom corner of the bag and use it to pour/squeeze the purees into ice cube trays. DO NOT OVERFILL. Only fill each cube up to the sides and not overflowing the sides. Cover each tray with aluminum foil and label. Freeze for at least 24 hours before transferring to quart or gallon freezer bags for long-term storage.
Servings: 10
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12 Comments
Join the discussionOr breastmilk
I believe this is for babies who are being introduced to whole foods, Lilsunflowerz.
I believe the BM comment is in reference to the formula used in the recipe. I know I won’t be buying a can of formula to use when I already have BM available.
Definitely use breastmilk, we will make sure we make that clearer in the recipe.
This is a great idea! One quick correction, though – quinoa is a seed, not a grain 🙂 Sometimes it is called a ‘pseudo-grain’ or ‘pseudo-cereal’.
Heather-
Yes – Quinoa is a seed, but most of my research in preparing it for baby foods refers to it as a grain because of the cooking process. The recipe isn’t limited to babies being introduced to a whole foods lifestyle, but more of a variety to offer your 6-9 month old.
Strawberries are not recommended to babies until 1 year of age.
Rachael, they have revised food guidelines quite a bit-major difference between now and how it was 5 years ago when my older daughter was a baby! Unless there is a family history of strawberry allergy, I was told and have read that it’s fine to introduce at 6-9 months.
Why is it important to freeze in the trays for at least 24 hours before transferring to freezer bags? I make my baby food in bulk and transfer as soon as they are frozen so that I can reuse the trays. Also what’s the problem with overfilling? Is it because it creates space for air to get in? Pardon my ignorance
Brooke, you can definitely move them once they are frozen solid. And overfilling can lead to them touching the other cubes and then they are frozen together and hard to get out.
What’s the best way to defrost these after they’ve been frozen? Just leave in the fridge overnight? I’m looking forward to trying this out!!
Yes! Just leave in the fridge overnight!