Safe from 6 months. Peas pack protein, fiber, iron, and vitamins A, C, and K into a tiny package. They are high in protein for a vegetable, which makes them useful in plant-based baby meals.
Fresh garden peas have a bright, grassy sweetness with a burst of fresh vegetable flavor when you bite through the thin skin. Frozen peas are a very close match because they are flash-frozen at peak ripeness. Cooking makes them starchy and mild, losing some of their bright vegetal pop but becoming easier to mash and digest. They pair naturally with mint, butter, potato, lemon, ricotta, parmesan, and ham.
Serve whole fresh or lightly cooked peas - their size and roundness make them a great pincer grip practice food around 8-9 months. Under 8 months, lightly mash a few or offer in a mesh feeder. Snow pea pods can be served whole, steamed soft.
Whole cooked peas for pincer grip practice. Mix into purees, eggs, or grains.
Any preparation. Add to pasta, rice, soups, or serve as a snack.
Ingredients
Steps
Straining through a fine-mesh sieve removes the skins for the smoothest puree. Skip straining once baby is 9+ months.
Garden notes
Cool-season crop. Plant early spring or late summer for fall harvest.
Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked - they love cold weather.
Harvest for baby
Shell peas: pop out of pods and steam. Snow peas: steam the whole flat pod once tender.
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