What's in Season: November Produce for Baby Food
It's November, and summer is almost here. Stone fruit and tropical favourites are landing at the markets, and the last of the spring veggies are still going strong, which makes this one of the most colourful months of the year for bub's plate.
Cooking with what's in season means better flavour, better value and fresher nutrients on the spoon. With a Beaba Babycook, any seasonal pick can be steamed and blended into a fresh homemade puree in around 15 minutes, all in one bowl. Here's what to look for this month and how to serve it.
Mangoes
Mango season really gets going in November, and a ripe mango is one of the sweetest, simplest first foods around. It's rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene. Blend soft, ripe flesh straight into a puree with no cooking needed, then freeze extra portions in freezer pods for easy summer snacks.
Cherries
The first Australian cherries arrive in November, full of antioxidants and natural sweetness. Always remove every pit, then steam briefly and blend smooth. Whole or halved cherries are a choking hazard for little ones, so serve them pureed or finely chopped only.
Berries
Strawberries are still at their best, and blueberries are plentiful too. Both are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants. Steam lightly and blend, or combine them with apple in our Antioxidant Berry Apple Puree. Blueberries should always be squashed or pureed for young babies.
Apricots
Early apricots start to appear late in the month, soft, fragrant and naturally sweet. Remove the stone, steam until tender and blend. Apple and apricot is a classic pairing: try our Petit-Suisse Apple Apricot Puree for a creamy breakfast option.
Sweet corn
New-season sweet corn brings natural sweetness and fibre. Cut the kernels from the cob, steam until soft and blend very well, adding a little cooking water for a smooth texture. For older babies, our Mexican Pork recipe combines corn with capsicum, pork and rice.
Zucchini
Zucchini is mild, quick to cook and full of water, which makes it a great base for mixing with stronger flavours. Steam slices until tender, then blend with carrot, potato or a few fresh herbs.
Green beans
Green beans are now in full swing, bringing vitamin C, vitamin K and fibre. Steam until tender and blend with potato for a mild, smooth texture. Our Fish, Green Bean and Potato Puree turns them into a complete dinner.
Which Babycook is right for you?
Every Babycook steams, blends, defrosts and reheats in one appliance, so summer produce goes from basket to bowl without extra pots or pans.
- Babycook Neo: our most popular model, with a glass bowl and stainless steel steam basket, in five colourways.
- Babycook Smart: the flagship model, with app connectivity and guided recipes.
- Babycook Solo: a compact, budget-friendly option for smaller kitchens.
Cooking grains to go with your purees? The Babycook Rice, Pasta & Grain Insert cooks them right in your Babycook; see how to cook rice in the Babycook. Store batches with our food storage range.
For toddlers, our Salmon & Sweet Potato Cakes make an easy family dinner. For more inspiration, browse all our Babycook recipes.
Introduce new foods one at a time and watch for any reactions. Always check with your GP or child health nurse about when to start solids, textures and any known allergies.