Get the recipe: Chickpea & Paprika Baby Food (purees & baby-led weaning)
Chickpeas for baby? Yes, please! We all know that introducing a variety of foods in your baby’s first year is super important, and chickpeas are an underrated gem. With their mild, slightly nutty flavor and soft, creamy texture, they’re perfect for both purees and baby-led weaning.
Ingredients
- 1 cup canned chickpeas (or cooked from dried) rinsed
- pinch paprika (optional)
Instructions
Chickpea Puree
- Rinse your canned chickpeas well in a mesh strainer. Place chickpeas in a blender or food processor. Add in paprika (if using).
- Blend to desired consistency, adding 1 tablespoon of water at a time as needed to thin puree. You can also add 1 teaspoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice.
- Serve to baby or store for later.
Chickpea for Baby-Led Weaning
- Serve according to your baby's age and eating abilities.Mashed or Hummus - 6+ months: great for babies 6+ months or just starting on solid foods. It’s best to start your baby with mashed chickpeas that baby can scoop or in hummus (make sure sesame is not an allergen) and spread on toast, teething crackers, or soft veggies so baby can self-feed. Add a pinch of paprkia to mashed chickpeas or hummus. Flattened- 9+ months: Fully cooked and flattened chickpeas will allow your baby to practice using their pincer grasp, which is developing at this age. You can still offer hummus and mashed chickpeas, too.
Notes
Age: 6+ months
Storage: you can store the chickpea 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 chickpeas in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Spices/Herbs: If you want savory chickpeas, you can add garlic, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, paprika, turmeric, red pepper flakes, or Italian seasoning to your chickpeas. If you're in the mood for sweet chickpeas, add a little cinnamon or cloves.
How to Cook Chickpeas
There are all sorts of ways you can prepare chickpeas, from warming to roasting to blending. From a Can: Canned chickpeas do not have to be cooked but if you'd like to, just rinse and drain them, and heat them up until warmed through, either on the stove or in the microwave. Dried: Soaking chickpeas overnight will reduce cooking time. Make sure you sort through the chickpeas to remove any unwanted debris and rinse them. Put one cup of chickpeas in a pan with 3 cups of water, or broth for more flavor, and bring to a boil. Then let simmer for 60-90 minutes or until they reach your desired consistency.
There are all sorts of ways you can prepare chickpeas, from warming to roasting to blending. From a Can: Canned chickpeas do not have to be cooked but if you'd like to, just rinse and drain them, and heat them up until warmed through, either on the stove or in the microwave. Dried: Soaking chickpeas overnight will reduce cooking time. Make sure you sort through the chickpeas to remove any unwanted debris and rinse them. Put one cup of chickpeas in a pan with 3 cups of water, or broth for more flavor, and bring to a boil. Then let simmer for 60-90 minutes or until they reach your desired consistency.
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