Carrot Pasta Sauce for Baby -
Full of the Goodness of Fresh Vegetables
Find out how to make carrot pasta sauce for baby - it has a subtle sweetness and it's packed with nutrients!
When your baby has moved on from simple vegetable purees, there's another great way to make sure he's still getting plenty of those important nutrients in his diet.
And that's to use vegetables to create a rich pasta sauce!
Picky eaters won't even know they're eating their veggies but will be more than happy to tuck into a bowl of brightly coloured pasta shapes!
Carrots and tomatoes - the perfect combination
This recipe uses a tasty blend of fresh, roasted carrots and canned tomatoes.
Roasting carrots really brings out their sweetness, which then tempers the acidity of the tomatoes. The result is a wonderfully healthy sauce - packed with nutrients - that your baby will love.
What makes this sauce so healthy?
Carrots are are wonderful source of beta-carotene, which your baby's body converts to vitamin A.
Vitamin A helps protect against asthma and is great for boosting your baby's immune system.
This recipe also uses canned tomatoes. Tomatoes are one of those foods that are actually healthier canned than they are fresh! This is because they are rich in an antioxidant called lycopene, which is more useful to the body after being heated or canned.
At what age can I give my baby this carrot pasta sauce?
This sauce will be fine for most babies from around 7 months of age, although you might like to wait until later in baby's first year before offering it to him
This is because the acidity in tomatoes may trigger a diaper rash, or a rash around baby's mouth. Tomatoes have also been linked to eczema flare-ups and to infant reflux.
Of course, some babies are more sensitive than others. Our babies were all enjoying tomato-based dishes from 7 months of age without any issues at all.
If you are concerned about reactions to tomatoes, the best option is to discuss their introduction with your child's doctor.
Which pasta should I serve with this sauce?
You can use any type of pasta with this sauce, but we like to use macaroni.
The pieces are just the right size for little fingers to manage and the sauce gets right inside the tubes, helping your baby make the most of every healthy drop!
How to Make Carrot Pasta Sauce for Baby
3 medium carrots, sliced*
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 small onion, peeled and chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 tablespoon tomato puree (or paste) - here's how to make your own
1/2 of a 14 oz can of tomatoes
2 tablespoons of chopped fresh herbs (try basil, dill or tarragon)
* If the carrots are not organic, peel them before slicing.
- Preheat the oven to 375 deg F (180 deg C).
- Toss the sliced carrots with 1/2 tablespoon of the olive oil, then spread out in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Roast until tender - around 45 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat the remaining half a tablespoon of olive oil in a small frying pan over a medium heat and cook the onion and garlic for around 10 minutes, until softened.
- Add the canned tomatoes and tomato puree and bring to the boil.
- Immediately reduce the heat and simmer gently, half covered, for 20 to 30 minutes until the mixture has thickened.
- Place the cooked tomato sauce into a baby food processor along with the roasted carrots and half the fresh herbs. Blend until smooth.
- Toss the sauce with a cooked pasta of your choice, topped with the remaining fresh herbs.
If you have any carrot pasta sauce left over, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to one month.
if your baby loves pasta…
More delicious baby food recipes …
Sweet Potato Baby Food Recipes
Sweet Potato and Apple Pancakes
Easy Wheaty Sweet Potato Biscuits
