Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
This smooth Sweet Potato Baby Food Puree has an added pinch of mild curry powder that makes for a fun and tasty first food for your baby. It is a great Stage 1 baby food for babies 6+ months.
Sweet Potato Baby Food Puree
Looking for a deliciously good baby food puree that will take your little one on a fun culinary adventure ✈️ without ever having to leave their high chair?
Then, I’ve got you!
Sweet potatoes are one of my all-time favorite vegetables to puree for my baby. I find that most babies love their naturally sweet taste and creamy texture, and sweet potatoes are also loaded with essential nutrients for a growing baby. That’s a winning combo in my book! 🏆
In this homemade puree recipe, we will roast the sweet potatoes to bring out their natural caramel-like, earthy goodness before adding a pinch of mild curry powder and blending to a light and smooth consistency. The result? A sweet yet slightly herbal puree with a silky texture that leaves a fine and captivating sleek feel in your baby’s mouth.
Thr first time I made this puree for Ellie, I think I ate more of it than she did! I kid you not! It’s literally that good. And apparently, I’m not alone. So don’t be afraid to eat this flavorsome puree right alongside your baby. 👩👧
Ingredients
Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!
- Sweet Potatoes: This recipe calls for 2 sweet potatoes, but you can use more or less depending on how much you want to make.
- Mild Curry Powder: We are kicking up the flavor profile with mild curry powder to bring out the sweet potatoes’ earthiness, making the puree’s flavor a bit more robust. You can skip the curry powder or add another spice like cinnamon, nutmeg, basil, or rosemary.
Is it your first time making homemade baby food? If you answered yes, then I suggest you start this journey by reading my in-depth Guide on How to Make Homemade Baby Food. You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes.
Let’s Get Cooking
Other Cooking Methods
While I love the rich flavor of roasted sweet potatoes, there are several ways you can cook them to make into a baby food puree.
BEABA Babycook
With a touch of a button, the will cook the sweet potatoes for you! Place 1 peeled and chopped sweet potato into the stainless steel steamer basket, and place the basket into the glass container, closing the lid. Fill the reservoir tank to a level 3, close and lock the lid. Hit the steam button and let the machine do its magic. Once steamed, transfer the sweet potatoes into the glass container, leaving the water, close the lid, and hit the blend button for 1 minute or until the puree is smooth. You may need to add more water to the puree if needed in 2-tablespoon increments.
Steaming
Peel and roughly chop 2 sweet potatoes. Place them into a steamer basket over 2 inches of boiling water for 10-15, or until tender when pricked with a fork. Puree in a blender as directed below.
Boiling
Place 2 peeled and roughly chopped sweet potatoes into a medium saucepan, add enough water to cover the sweet potatoes, and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cook for 15 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Puree in a blender as directed below.
Instant Pot
You can cook the sweet potato in an instant pot as well. Add one cup of water to the bottom of your instant pot, and add the trivet. Prick the sweet potatoes a few times with a fork and place them on the trivet. Close the lid and set the valve to “sealing.” Turn on the instant pot, select “high pressure,” and set the timer for 30 minutes if you’re using medium sweet potatoes and 60 minutes if you’re using large ones. When the timer goes off, allow the pressure to do a “natural release” before you manually release the rest of the pressure. Let the sweet potatoes cool, and then peel and puree in a blender as directed below.
Sweet Potato Combination Purees
While this Sweet Potato Puree tastes satisfying to the tummy by itself, it’s also easy to mix and match with other nutrient-dense baby food purees. Give these fun flavor combos a try!
Recipe Tips
- Sweet Potatoes: Look for medium sweet potatoes that are even in color with no scratches. Large sweet potatoes are starchier and might make the puree too thick.
- Pureeing: Root vegetables absorb a lot of liquid while pureeing, so don’t be shy about adding extra liquid while blending. I had to add a full cup of liquid to the sweet potatoes to get them smooth. Start by adding 1/4 cup of liquid and slowly go up from there as needed.
The Best Sweet Potato Baby Food (with pinch of mild curry)
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- 1/4 tsp mild curry powder (optional)
- 1/4-1 cup liquid for blending, (water, fresh breast milk, formula, or sodium-free chicken stock)
Instructions
- Prep: Heat oven to 400°. Line a baking sheet with tin foil, parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Bake: Wash and dry the sweet potatoes. Prick with a fork in several places and then place the sweet potatoes on the baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes – 1 hour or until a fork can easily prick the sweet potato. Let sit until cool to touch.
- Peel: Cut into the skin of the potato lengthwise and peel away the skin of the potato. Scoop out the sweet potato meat and place it into a blender or food processor, adding in the mild curry powder and liquid.
- Blend: Puree on high for 1-2 minutes or until smooth, adding in additional liquid in 1/4 cup increments if needed. I had to add in 1 cup of water to the puree pictured.
- Eat: Serve to baby or freeze for a later meal.
Video
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
Baby can eat sweet potatoes as one of their first foods. When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development, which generally comes between 4-6 months of age. Some of the developmental milestones babies need to reach in order to start solids include: if your baby has solid control of their head and neck, if your baby has doubled in weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their mouth when you eat (see my guide here). Before you start your baby on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready for purees.
No, sweet potato is not a common allergen, however, as with any food, start with a small portion and be aware of any signs that might be an allergic reaction after introducing it.
Too much sweet potato may cause constipation in some babies but they are high in fiber so can also help alleviate constipation in others. If your baby is constipated and eating a lot of sweet potatoes, cut back and see if that helps.
For this recipe, we are adding a pinch of mild curry powder, but feel free to use the following spices instead: cumin, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, garlic, thyme, mint, basil, or fresh ginger (see quantity recommendations in the recipe card).
Tip on Spices: I always add spices or herbs to my baby food purees, but you can choose to leave them out. You do you! Either way, this puree will surely turn out scrumptious.
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