Homemade Baby Food with Ham and Peas

I’ve been asked before why I bother making homemade baby food for my little ones. I really like knowing what goes into my baby’s food and playing around with different combinations of fresh fruit, vegetables, grains, or even meats. I especially like how easy it is.

A lot of the time it’s more convenient for me to whip up baby food with what I have on hand in the kitchen rather than worry about picking it up at the grocery store. This also gives my little one the chance to enjoy a lot of the same flavors the rest of my family enjoys in a typical day. For example, with this recipe I just reserved a little bit of ham that I prepared for a recent holiday brunch with friends.

You may be surprised to see my use of onion in this recipe, but don’t be scared to add it! When preparing baby food you don’t want to add any salt, as a baby’s kidneys aren’t equipped to process it in large quantities. The ham alone provides its own saltiness, so I decided to go ahead and add a little onion to further season the puree. It just gives this recipe a little added flavor. Remember, your child’s palate is just developing. Even if you think they may not like a particular food, go ahead and give it a try.

Homemade Baby Food with Ham and Peas

Ingredients:

• 1 16 oz. bag frozen peas (Be careful to read ingredients on the back of the bag to ensure that no additional salt has been added.)
• 2 cups cooked ham, cut into 1 inch or smaller pieces.
• ¼ cup sweet onion, chopped
• Water

Instructions:

1. Cook the entire bag of peas until they are heated through. (I like to use a basket steamer.)
2. Remove the peas and set aside.
3. Add the chopped onion to a small saucepan.  Fill with just enough water to cover the onion and cook on medium heat until they are soft and translucent.
4. Use a slotted spoon to remove the onion from the water. Add them to a blender with the ham and pulse until you have a crumbly mixture.                                                      
5. Add the peas and continue to puree.
6. Pour a small amount of the drippings from your ham or water as needed to help thin out the puree to the desired consistency.                                                                                     
7. Serve or store immediately.

Makes 3 cups of puree.

To read more about preparation techniques and storing, check out How to Get Started Making Homemade Baby Food.

Homemade Baby Food Recipes:

How to Make Baby Food Using Fruits

Basic Recipes to Make Baby Food from Vegetables

How to Make Baby Food with Grains

How to Make Homemade Baby Food with Meats

How to Transition Toddlers to Solid Food