Olive Oil Vegetable Puree Recipes for 6-Month-Old Babies

When your baby reaches 6 months, the transition to solid foods begins. The first purees you prepare during this period should be both nutritious and easy to digest. Organic olive oil is an essential part of these recipes.

The following recipes are based on the World Health Organization's (WHO) complementary feeding guidelines and the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition's (ESPGHAN) 2017 recommendations.

Why Olive Oil?

ESPGHAN's nutrition committee recommends that fats added to baby foods be rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid). Extra virgin olive oil, with its 70–80% oleic acid content, is one of the oils that best meets this criterion. Its similarity to the fat profile of breast milk also facilitates adaptation to the baby's digestive system.

General Rules

• Always add olive oil after cooking — heat reduces nutritional value
• 6–8 months: 1–2 teaspoons per day (2–5 ml)
• Start with a single ingredient, wait 3–4 days — observe for possible allergic reactions
• Do not add salt, sugar, or spices

Recipe 1: Carrot Puree (6+ months)

• 3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 teaspoon Olizzi Baby Organic Baby Olive Oil
• 2–3 tablespoons cooking water or breast milk

Steam carrots for 12–15 minutes. Blend, add olive oil, and process until smooth.

Recipe 2: Sweet Potato Puree (6+ months)

• 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
• 1 teaspoon Olizzi Baby Organic Baby Olive Oil
• Breast milk or water (for consistency)

Steam for 15 minutes, blend, add olive oil. The natural sweetness of sweet potato is one of babies' favorite flavors.

Recipe 3: Pea Puree (6+ months)

• 1 cup fresh or frozen peas
• 1 teaspoon Olizzi Baby Organic Baby Olive Oil
• Water (for consistency)

Steam for 5–6 minutes, blend. Pass through a fine sieve to remove pea skins. Add olive oil.

Storage

You can freeze the prepared purees in an ice cube tray. Each cube is approximately 1 portion — keeps in the freezer for up to 1 month. Add olive oil at serving time, not before freezing.

Sources

• World Health Organization — Complementary Feeding: Family Foods for Breastfed Children, 2000
• ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition — Complementary Feeding: A Position Paper, JPGN, 2017
• American Academy of Pediatrics — Starting Solid Foods, HealthyChildren.org, 2023