Feeding Baby | Pasta

Once your baby is ready for some texture in her food, it’s time for baby pasta! Of course you can do the basic plain buttered noodles. But here are three easy recipes that will continue introducing baby to new flavors, and are a lot more exciting and nutritious than plain pasta.

The key is finding little tiny baby pasta. Below are three of our favorites, but you can use any small pasta you can find. From left to right: pastina, acini di pepe, and tiny alphabet pasta.

Each of these recipes are simple enough for baby, but tasty enough be served to the whole family. Just add a little salt and pepper, and maybe switch out the pasta to penne or fusilli. I haven’t included quantities, because it depends on how much you would like to make.

Baby’s First Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:

• pastina
• baby spinach
• broccolini
• whole milk
• unsalted butter
• flour
• baby swiss cheese

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. Finely chop the baby spinach and broccolini.
3. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
4. During the last minute of cooking, add the spinach and broccolini into the pot with the pasta.
5. Drain well.
6. In a small saucepan, melt the butter, add a bit of flour, and whisk in some milk to make a roux.
7. Add the baby swiss, and stir until melted and creamy.
8. Add the pasta and vegetables and stir well.
9. Serve immediately, or freeze like you would with baby purées.

Baby’s First Kale & Basil Pesto

Ingredients:

• small pasta
• fresh basil
• fresh kale
• fresh garlic
• extra virgin olive oil
• parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. In a blender or food processor, combine equal parts basil and kale.
2. Add olive oil, garlic and parmesan cheese and blend.
3. Cook pasta according to package instructions, reserving a bit of cooking water.
4. Add the pesto and a bit of the reserved cooking water, if needed, and stir well.
5. Serve immediately, or freeze like you would with baby purées.

Baby’s First Tomato and Basil Pasta

Ingredients:

• tiny alphabet pasta
• fresh tomatoes (or your favorite jarred marinara sauce)
• fresh basil
• parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
2. Add the marinara sauce, finely chopped fresh basil, and parmesan cheese.
3. Serve immediately, or freeze like you would with baby purées.

Don’t forget these tiny jars to serve from!