Introducing solid foods to your baby is an exciting milestone, and at 8 months old, your little one is ready to explore a variety of tastes and textures. Choosing vegetarian baby food recipes ensures your baby receives wholesome nutrition from plant-based ingredients rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
These recipes are designed to be gentle on tiny tummies while offering a delightful introduction to the vibrant world of vegetables, grains, and legumes.
In this post, we’ll share some nutritious and easy-to-make vegetarian baby food recipes tailored for 8-month-olds. Whether you are a vegetarian family or simply want to incorporate more plant-based meals for your baby, these recipes are packed with wholesome ingredients and are free from added salt and sugar, keeping your baby’s health a top priority.
Plus, we’ll provide helpful tips, variations, and serving ideas to keep mealtime fun and stress-free.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Balanced Nutrition: Each recipe combines a variety of vegetables, grains, and legumes to provide essential nutrients crucial for your baby’s growth and development.
Simple Ingredients: These recipes use common pantry staples and fresh produce, making them easy to prepare without requiring exotic or hard-to-find items.
Texture-Friendly: Pureed or mashed to the perfect consistency, these dishes encourage self-feeding and help your baby transition smoothly from liquids to solids.
Plus, they’re vegetarian, supporting a healthy, sustainable diet from the start!
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carrots | 1 medium | Fresh, peeled and chopped |
| Sweet Potato | 1 small | Peeled and diced |
| Green Peas | ½ cup | Fresh or frozen |
| Brown Rice | ¼ cup | Cooked |
| Lentils (red or yellow) | 2 tbsp | Rinsed |
| Apple | 1 small | Peeled, cored, and chopped |
| Butternut Squash | ½ cup | Peeled and cubed |
| Water or homemade vegetable broth | As needed | For cooking and thinning purees |
Equipment
- Steamer basket or pot with lid
- Medium saucepan
- Blender or food processor
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baby food storage containers or ice cube trays
- Cutting board and sharp knife
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables and fruits: Peel and chop the carrots, sweet potato, butternut squash, and apple into small, uniform pieces for even cooking.
- Cook the grains and lentils: Rinse the brown rice and lentils thoroughly. In a medium saucepan, combine the rice and lentils with 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for about 20 minutes or until tender.
- Steam the vegetables and peas: While the grains and lentils cook, steam the carrots, sweet potato, butternut squash, and green peas in a steamer basket over boiling water for 10-15 minutes until soft and easily pierced with a fork.
- Combine cooked ingredients: Once all components are cooked, add the steamed vegetables, peas, cooked rice, lentils, and the apple pieces to a blender or food processor.
- Puree to desired consistency: Blend until smooth, adding water or vegetable broth a little at a time to thin the mixture to your baby’s preferred texture.
- Cool and serve: Let the puree cool to a safe temperature before serving. Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze in ice cube trays for later use.
Tips & Variations
Tip: Always check the temperature of the food before feeding your baby to avoid burns.
Variation: For added protein, you can mix in a small amount of mashed tofu or well-cooked quinoa once your baby is accustomed to the basic recipe.
Tip: If your baby is ready for thicker textures, try mashing instead of pureeing to encourage chewing and self-feeding skills.
Variation: Swap green peas with cooked green beans or zucchini for a different flavor and nutrient profile.
Nutrition Facts
| Nutrient | Amount per Serving | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 80-100 kcal | Provides energy for growing babies |
| Vitamin A | 500-600 IU | Supports vision and immune health |
| Vitamin C | 8-10 mg | Boosts immunity and aids iron absorption |
| Iron | 1-1.5 mg | Essential for brain development and blood health |
| Fiber | 2-3 g | Promotes healthy digestion |
| Protein | 2-3 g | Supports muscle growth and repair |
Serving Suggestions
Serve this nutritious puree warm, spoon-fed or as a dip for soft finger foods like steamed carrot sticks or soft bread cubes. You can also mix it with plain yogurt for a creamy texture and added probiotics, provided your baby has started dairy.
For more baby-friendly vegetarian recipes, check out our Recipes with Hidden Vegetables Kids Will Love to Eat or explore wholesome family meals like Vegetarian Southern Recipes That Everyone Will Love.
If you want to expand your baby’s palate with exciting flavors, our Peruvian Vegetable Recipes for Flavorful Healthy Meals offer a fantastic variety of vegetable-based dishes that can inspire you beyond baby food preparation.
Conclusion
Starting your baby on vegetarian foods at 8 months can be both rewarding and delicious. These recipes provide an excellent foundation of essential nutrients while introducing your baby to a broad spectrum of flavors and textures.
By incorporating fresh, wholesome ingredients and simple cooking methods, you’re setting your little one up for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.
Remember, patience is key during this stage—babies explore food at their own pace, and variety encourages acceptance. Feel free to experiment with different vegetable combinations and textures to find what your baby enjoys most.
For more wholesome vegetarian inspiration, explore our extensive collection of recipes designed for every stage of life.
📖 Recipe Card: Vegetarian Sweet Potato & Pea Puree
Description: A nutritious and easy-to-digest puree perfect for 8-month-old babies. This recipe combines sweet potatoes and peas for a naturally sweet and protein-rich meal.
Prep Time: PT10M
Cook Time: PT20M
Total Time: PT30M
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet potato (about 200g), peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas (about 75g)
- 1/4 cup water or breast milk/formula
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 small carrot, peeled and diced
- 1/4 tsp mild ground cumin (optional)
Instructions
- Steam sweet potato and carrot until soft, about 15 minutes.
- Add peas and steam for 5 more minutes.
- Transfer vegetables to a blender or food processor.
- Add water or breast milk/formula and olive oil.
- Blend until smooth, adding more liquid if needed.
- Stir in ground cumin if using and serve warm.
Nutrition: Calories: 90 kcal | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 3 g | Carbs: 15 g
{“@context”: “https://schema.org/”, “@type”: “Recipe”, “name”: “Vegetarian Sweet Potato & Pea Puree”, “image”: [], “author”: {“@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “GluttonLv”}, “description”: “A nutritious and easy-to-digest puree perfect for 8-month-old babies. This recipe combines sweet potatoes and peas for a naturally sweet and protein-rich meal.”, “prepTime”: “PT10M”, “cookTime”: “PT20M”, “totalTime”: “PT30M”, “recipeYield”: “4 servings”, “recipeIngredient”: [“1 medium sweet potato (about 200g), peeled and diced”, “1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas (about 75g)”, “1/4 cup water or breast milk/formula”, “1 tsp olive oil”, “1 small carrot, peeled and diced”, “1/4 tsp mild ground cumin (optional)”], “recipeInstructions”: [{“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Steam sweet potato and carrot until soft, about 15 minutes.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Add peas and steam for 5 more minutes.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Transfer vegetables to a blender or food processor.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Add water or breast milk/formula and olive oil.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Blend until smooth, adding more liquid if needed.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Stir in ground cumin if using and serve warm.”}], “nutrition”: {“calories”: “90 kcal”, “proteinContent”: “2 g”, “fatContent”: “3 g”, “carbohydrateContent”: “15 g”}}
