Get the recipe: Barley Baby Food (puree & baby-led weaning)
Barley for baby? You bet! One of my favorite parts of feeding babies is introducing them to new foods they may grow to love for years to come. Barley is a fun one to add to the rotation thanks to its mild, nutty flavor and chewy texture. Blend it into a puree with carrots and a pinch of curry powder, or serve it mixed with avocado or yogurt for baby-led weaning. Great for babies 6 months and up!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup pearl barley, rinsed
- 1 cup carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 cups water
- pinch mild curry powder (optional)
Instructions
- Place the barley and carrots in a small saucepan with the water. Place the saucepan on the stove and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 20-25 minutes or until the barley is chewy.
- Drain any excess water.
- Transfer the cooked barley, carrots and mild curry powder (if using) to a blender.
- Puree for 1-2 minutes on a medium-high speed. If the puree is too thick, add in 1/4 of a cup of water at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Serve a portion and then store the rest of the puree in the fridge or freezer for a later meal.
Notes
Age: 6+ months
Storage: you can store the barley puree in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months. You can store the cooked barley in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Spices/Herbs: Adding spices to your baby’s foods is a great way to introduce more complex flavors at an early age. Some great spices and herbs to add to cooked barley are a pinch of mild curry, garlic powder, ginger, turmeric, and cumin, or you can add in a pinch of chopped fresh parsley, chives, mint, and cilantro.
Barley for Baby-Led Weaning: Place the barley and water in a small saucepan. Place the saucepan on the stove and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 20-25 minutes or until the barley is chewy. Drain any excess water.
Serve the barley to your baby in an age-appropriate way – either mashed by themselves or with another cooked fruit or vegetable, avocado or yogurt and served on a self-feeding spoon, or added into another food such as a burger or meatballs.
Serve the barley to your baby in an age-appropriate way – either mashed by themselves or with another cooked fruit or vegetable, avocado or yogurt and served on a self-feeding spoon, or added into another food such as a burger or meatballs.
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