Eggplant overview

How to Prepare Eggplant for Baby

Eggplant is safe for babies from 6 months old. How you prepare it changes as your baby grows. Here is exactly what to do at each stage.

Choking risk: low

Low choking risk with appropriate preparation. Always supervise mealtimes.

Flavor guide

Raw eggplant is firm and spongy with a mild bitterness and a slight astringency that comes from its natural phenolic compounds. Roasting until fully collapsed transforms it into something silky, creamy, and mildly smoky with a gentle savory sweetness and almost no bitterness. It pairs naturally with olive oil, garlic, tomato, lemon, cumin, tahini, and soft herbs like parsley.

1

6 to 8 months

Roast until very soft and slightly caramelized. Scoop flesh and mash, or cut peeled, roasted flesh into spears. Texture becomes silky when well-cooked.

Serving ideas

  • -Roast until very soft, peel, and mash with olive oil
  • -Blend into baba ganoush (tahini contains sesame, a top-9 allergen; introduce sesame separately first)
  • -Mix mashed eggplant into a pasta sauce
2

9 to 11 months

Diced roasted eggplant as finger food, or mixed into pasta sauces.

Serving ideas

  • -Dice soft roasted eggplant for self-feeding
  • -Stir into a mild curry or stew
  • -Mix into tomato pasta sauce
3

12+ months

Baba ganoush, ratatouille, grilled, in pasta. Extremely versatile.

Serving ideas

  • -Make eggplant parmesan with soft breading
  • -Grill or roast slices as finger food
  • -Add to ratatouille with zucchini and tomato

See what's safe for your baby's age

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Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Sauce

From 6 months

Ingredients

  • -1 small eggplant, halved lengthwise
  • -1 cup crushed or diced canned tomatoes (no added salt)
  • -1 small garlic clove, minced
  • -1 tsp olive oil

Steps

  1. Preheat oven to 400F. Brush cut sides of eggplant with olive oil and place cut-side down on a baking sheet.
  2. Roast for 30 to 35 minutes until the flesh is completely collapsed and soft when pressed.
  3. Let cool slightly, then scoop flesh away from skin and chop roughly.
  4. Heat a small pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and eggplant flesh. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens.
  5. Blend until smooth for 6-8 months, or leave chunky for older babies. Serve over soft pasta or with soft bread strips.

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Growing Eggplant at home?

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Your baby will be ready for these next

Save these for when you need them, or get a personalized list by age.

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Ready at 6 months

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Bok Choy

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Related

Can babies eat eggplant?All foods safe at 6 monthsPrintable first foods checklist

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Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician before introducing new foods.
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