Asparagus
Asparagus For Your Baby
Here is a food that really is best when it is in season. Frozen or canned just doesn't taste very good. The younger and fresher the asparagus - the better it tastes for adults and babies alike. In North America, Spring is the season for fresh asparagus. You can find it year round in the produce section of the store because it is grown in South America.
Asparagus is low in calories, contains no fat or cholesterol, and is very low in sodium. The amino acid asparagine gets its name from asparagus, the asparagus plant being rich in this compound.
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When is baby ready?
8 months old
How to buy
Look for local asparagus in the spring and buy thin stalks if you don't want to peel them. They all taste great as long as they are fresh, which means firm and not shriveled.
Homemade Baby Food Recipe
Simmering or microwaving asparagus are the easiest ways to prepare them. First determine if you need to peel the rough skin from the stem - peel from the base from the beginning of the flower. Snap off the rough end. If your asparagus is thin then you only need to snap off the end.
- Simmering - lay them down in a skillet that can hold the spears without crowding, cover with salted water, and cook on high until the thick part of the stalks can be pierced with a fork (about 8 minutes).
- Microwaving - put them in a shallow bowl with 2 tablespoons water. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 3 minutes, shake the container, and microwave at 1 minute intervals until the stalks are tender.
Cut up the tenderest pieces for your little one and just place on her tray.
How to store
Put fresh asparagus in refrigerator wrapped loosely in plastic and eat as soon as possible. After it is cooked, it will stay fresh in the fridge for longer, so cook it as soon as you have time and then eat it whenever.
Are there baby food jars?
No.
Should I buy organic?
No. Asparagus is found by the USDA to contain the least amount of pesticides.
Adult Recipe
Steam or microwave the asparagus as above and if it is fresh it needs absolutely nothing to be delicious. But if you want to dress it up - add:
- Melted butter
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar
Asparagus is in Week 12 of Babyfood101's Course - Please Join Us
