Apple and pear purée
Peeled apple and pear simmered until very soft, then blended or mashed. No sugar needed: the fruit is sweet enough. Cooking softens these firm fruits so they squash easily, which is how babies should have them.
- From
- 6 months
- Time
- 20 min
- Makes
- About 6 baby portions
No top allergens
Ingredients
- 2 mediumapples
- 1 mediumpearripe, giving a little when pressed near the stem
- 4–5 tbspwater
Steps
- 1Wash your hands. Rinse the apples and pear under running water, gently rubbing the skins, before you peel them.
- 2Peel them, cut them into quarters, and cut out the cores and all the seeds. Chop the fruit into small chunks of about the same size so they cook evenly.
- 3Put the fruit and water in a pan, cover, and simmer gently for about 10 to 12 minutes, stirring now and then, until every piece is very soft and squashes easily between your thumb and finger. Add a splash more water if the pan gets dry. Don't add sugar or honey.
- 4Blend until smooth for first tastes, or mash with a fork for a lumpier texture once your baby is used to eating.
- 5Let it cool, and check it's only just warm before serving.
How to serve it by age
6 months+
Serve smooth or slightly lumpy on a pre-loaded spoon your baby can hold, or let them scoop it with their fingers. Never give raw apple or firm raw pear in slices or chunks at this age.
9 months+
Mash it roughly, with soft lumps. Stir it into porridge, or into plain full-fat yogurt once dairy has been introduced, or offer it as a dip for soft finger foods.
12 months+
Use it as a topping for porridge, pancakes or yogurt for the whole family, instead of syrup or jam.
Leftovers and the rest of the family
Storing it
Cool leftovers quickly and keep them in a covered container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. For batch cooking, spoon it into an ice cube tray, freeze it, then move the cubes to a labeled, dated freezer bag and use them within 3 months. Thaw in the fridge or microwave, use it within 24 hours of thawing, and reheat it only once, until steaming hot, 165°F (74°C), then let it cool before serving. Throw away anything left in your baby's bowl, and any purée left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if it's hotter than 90°F / 32°C).
For the grown-ups
Spoon it over the family's porridge or yogurt. Older children and adults can add a sprinkle of cinnamon to their own bowls.
Foods in this recipe
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