Summer Pesto Finger Salad for Baby + Toddler
This Pesto Summer Finger Salad for Baby + Toddler is full of bite-size pieces of corn, tomatoes, zucchini and orzo pasta all mixed together with a spoonful of flavorful pesto. This finger salad is a great way for baby to enjoy the delicious tastes of summer.
This flavorful Pesto Summer Finger Salad is going to blow your little one’s mind!
Not only is this finger salad full of the delicious tastes of summer but it is also made with small bite-size pieces of food which are perfect for your baby and toddler to pick up and eat all-by-themselves.
Made with sun-ripened tomatoes, fresh-from-the-cob corn, mild zucchini and small orzo shaped pasta all topped with flavorful pesto #forthewin
This recipe makes enough for roughly 6 baby/toddler servings or enough for a side to your dinner as well as a full meal for baby. It’s never too early to start eating the same fresh and healthy meals together. And since this finger salad can be made in less then 15 minutes, it’s an easy recipe to toss together on a hectic summer evening.
Perfect for Baby-Led Weaning!
This recipe is a snap to make!
We start by boiling some water in a medium sauce pan and adding the orzo pasta to cook until it has 1 minute left. Then we add in the zucchini and corn to the boiling water and cook them with the pasta for the remaining time. This makes the zucchini and corn soft enough for all ages of baby to eat.
I use small orzo shaped pasta in this recipe, but you can use any pasta shape you and your baby prefer. Sometimes the bigger pasta shapes are easier for their little pincher grips.
Next we mix the cooked and drained orzo pasta, corn, tomatoes and zucchini in with two spoonfuls of pesto. You can use either homemade or store-bought pesto in this recipe. Since we are making this for baby, if you go with store-bought pesto I would recommend you read the back of the packaging to make sure you know and approve of all of the ingredients in there. This is the recipe for my favorite homemade pesto, which can be made in less then 5 minutes. Trader Joes has a pesto made with quinoa in the pasta aisle and a kale pesto in the fridge section that are both amazing!
You can serve this pasta salad cold or slightly warm. If you serve it straight out of the fridge cold, the pasta and veggies slightly stick together, which actually makes it a little easier for some kiddos to eat.
If you really want to wow baby, feel free to add in a few feta crumbles and sliced black olives for even more flavor and fun!
How to make this Baby-Led Weaning Summer Pesto Finger Salad
MORE FINGER FOOD RECIPES YOUR BABY OR TODDLER WILL LOVE:
Get the recipe: Summer Pesto Finger Salad for Baby + Toddler
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dry orzo pasta
- 1/4 cup zucchini finely chopped
- 1/4 cup corn
- 1/4 cup tomatoes deseeded and finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons pesto homemade or store-bought
Instructions
- Fill a medium saucepan 3/4 of the way with water, bring to a boil over high heat. Add in the orzo and cook for 6 minutes. Add in the corn and zucchini and cook for 1 more additional minute.
- Drain pasta and veggies in a colander and rinse with cold water. Let cool to touch.
- Transfer pasta and veggies to a medium bowl or storage container with lid. Add in pesto and tomatoes, mix until combined. Serve cold or slightly warmed.
Notes
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6 Comments on “Summer Pesto Finger Salad for Baby + Toddler”
Love this recipe and has become an easy and delicious go to for our evenings at the pool during the summer. So simple and a make ahead dish. I add mozzarella pieces and grated Parmesan. I started making this when my some was 14 months and now at 2 1/2 he’s still a huge fan. Thank you.
Love this ☺️
This is delicious and my bub loves it! So easy and quick to do! Do you think it’d be ok to freeze? How long does it last in the fridge?
So glad your little one loves this recipe. I haven’t tried freezing it, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. It lasts for up to 5 days in the fridge.
I have no children, but ran across your site when I was looking for bento-style lunch ideas for me! I love this combo and method-I’ll use colored bell peppers too, and I always add a dash of red wine vinegar and extra basil.
So glad you like this salad! I love your additions for an adult twist to the recipe.