How Long To Cook Spinach For Baby Food

Spinach Apple Baby Puree

by Michele Olivier on March 26, 2021 (updated Jul 13, 2021)

Graphic for Post - spinach apple baby puree - high in iron - stage two - 6+ months. Images are of a small white bowl full of puree for baby and a hand holding a reusable pouch with a green healthy puree inside.

A small white bowl filled with homemade spinach apple baby food puree and whole spinach and apples on a cutting board.

This Spinach Apple Baby Food Puree is high in iron and a perfect puree to introduce to baby around 6 months of age. With the addition of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, this combination puree tastes amazing! Great Stage 2 Baby Food or 6+ months and up.

Graphic for Post - spinach apple baby puree - high in iron - stage two - 6+ months. Images are of a small white bowl full of puree for baby.

Apple Spinach Puree for Baby

This flavorful and nutrient dense puree is a great way to introduce spinach 🌱 to baby!

Because spinach can be an intense taste for some babies, we are going to start by simmering some apples in a pinch of cinnamon, cloves and ginger before adding the spinach and pureeing to a smooth and silky texture. This spices, while optional, are a great way to balance out the entire puree.

REASONS TO LOVE THIS SPINACH APPLE PUREE

creamy and smooth
nutrient-dense – filled with 2 kinds of fiber, iron, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals
baby food for 6+ months – stage 2 baby food puree
toddler & kid-friendly
freezer-friendly
fast – done in less than 20 minutes
budget-friendly

Ingredients

Apples: make up the bulk of the puree as the spinach blends down to just an ounce of actual puree. I would recommend using a sweeter apple for this puree to balance out the spinach. I have a list of great apple options below.
Spinach: is really the main star of the show. You can add 1-2 cups of spinach to this recipe. If it's the first time you are giving baby spinach, you may want to start at 1 cup and add more the next time you make this puree.
Spices: we will be using a pinch of cinnamon, cloves, and ginger powder in this recipe, which helps even out the sweetness of the apples. While I love the added flavor of the spices, you can omit them if you prefer.

Benefits of Spinach Apple Puree

This puree is loaded with fiber, manganese, folate, magnesium, copper, calcium, antioxidants and vitamins K, A, B2, B6, E, and C. WOW! That's a ton of nutrients for such a yummy tasting baby puree.

high in fiber to help build ahealthy heart and aid indigestion
has a good amount ofvitamin C, which is important forskin, eye, immune and brain health
are a great source of the mineralboron, which is important forbuilding strong bones andsupporting brain function
apples are ahigh-antioxidant food and have a very significant source offlavonoids that helpcombat free-radicals
great source of iron that helps muscles store and use oxygen, and it is vital forbrain development

BEST APPLES TO USE

I recommend using a sweeter apple such a Pink Lady or McIntosh, but really can you use any apple you prefer or have on hand.

Here are some great options:

Pink Lady
Kanzi
Honeycrisp
Fuji
McIntosh
Jazz

The only apples that I have found are a little difficult to work with are Golden Delicious and Red Delicious (get too grainy and soggy) and Granny Smith (too tart), but other than that you can go with whatever you can find in your local grocery store.

Apple Tip: since apples are on the EWG dirty dozen list, I would recommend serving organic apples to baby if you are able.

Cutting board with peeled apples on it with bowl of spinach next to it.

Cutting board with chopped apples and a white bowl of spinach sitting next to it.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Prep Apples: peel, core, and roughly chop apples.
Cook:in a medium saucepan, place the apples, water and spices (if using), cover and heat on medium-low for 12-15 minutes or until the apples are tender. Remove from heat.
Add Spinach: add the spinach on top of the apples, cover and let sit for 1-2 minutes.
Puree:transfer the apples and spinach to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
Serve or freeze.

HOW TO STORE SPINACH APPLE PUREE

REFRIGERATOR

You can store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

FREEZER

This puree can be frozen for up to 4 months.

Spoon puree into a freezer storage container (this is my favorite freezer storage container) – do not overfill.
Place the lid on the storage container or cover with a piece of saran wrap and label with date and recipe name.
Place the tray into the freezer and let freeze completely – preferably overnight.
Pop out the baby food cubes and place in a zip-lock baggie or stasher bag – don't forget to re-label the baggie or stasher bag for future reference.

Need more information on how to store your baby foods – head over to my Best Baby Food Storage Containers – Plus 6 Tips on Freezing and Thawing post!

Small white bowl with spinach apple puree inside with baby spoon resting on top with jar of puree in the background.

When Can Baby Have Spinach?

Baby can be introduced to spinach around 6 months of age. Since it is hard to serve just plain Spinach Puree to baby, this combination puree is a Stage Two puree and should be served to baby after apples have been introduced.

Tips

Start Small: I would recommend starting with adding 1 cup of spinach to this recipe if it's baby's first time eating spinach and then add more from there. Spinach can be bitter for some babies, so it's best to start slowly.
Picky Eaters: if your baby or toddler is in a picky-eating phase you can try to put this puree into a reusable pouch and serve it as a snack. Most kids love applesauce in the pouch and this one tastes just as good!
Use Pears: another great option for this puree is to use pears in place of the apples. The rest of the cooking times and process is the same.

Hand holding a reusable pouch of apple and spinach puree for baby.

HELPFUL TOOLS

Blender or Food Processor
Storage Containers for Fridge
Freezer Tray
Stasher Bag
Reusable Pouch

6 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
1-2 cups fresh baby spinach, packed (see notes)
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ginger powder
1/8 tsp cloves

Cook: In a medium saucepan, add the apples, water, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes or until apples are tender when pricked with a fork, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
Spinach: Add the spinach on top of the apples, cover and let sit for 1- 2 more minutes.
Transfer: Add all of the ingredients into a blender or food processor.
Puree: starting on low speed and working your way up, puree the ingredients for 1-2 minutes or until completely smooth and all bits of spinach or blended.
Serve: Let cool and serve to baby or freeze for a later meal.

Age: 6 months and up. For older toddlers and kids, spoon puree into reusable pouches and serve as a quick snack on-the-go.

Yield: roughly 25 ounces

Notes on Spinach: If this is your first time serving spinach to baby, I would recommend you start by adding 1 cup of packed spinach to this recipe and work your way up from there.

Frozen Spinach: I haven't tried using frozen spinach in this recipe, but frozen spinach is packed down in the freezing process, so if you try it, I would start by adding 1/4-1/2 cup and adding more from there. You can add to the cooked apples, but let it simmer with the apples for 3-4 minutes before pureeing.

originally published on March 26, 2021 (updated Jul 13, 2021)

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