Broccoli & Hemp Seed 'Pesto' Pasta

A super easy and highly nutritious pesto-style sauce to add to your baby's pasta, packed with gut-loving fibre from broccoli and nourishing hemp seeds for a source of protein and iron.

Suitable from 6 months of age when your baby is ready for solids.

This recipe contains gut-loving nutrients to support your baby's growth and development.

Broccoli is an excellent source of fibre, vitamins A C, and B vitamins.

Hemp seeds are a complete source of protein, meaning they have all the essential amino acids your baby's growing body needs. They are also a source of iron to support your baby's development.

A note on pasta for babies: I have used plain wheat pasta in this recipe. Wheat is a common food allergen recommended for introduction to babies before 12 months of age. When introducing wheat it is recommended to start with a small amount and increase gradually.

There are many alternative options of pasta you can choose from, including wholemeal pasta, spelt, chickpea, lentil or buckwheat for example 

Ingredients

• 1 x small head of broccoli florets (about 1 x heaped cup)
• 1 cup of fresh parsley leaves
• 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive (mild flavour)
• 1/2 cup of hulled hemp seeds
• Juice from 1 lemon 
• 1 clove of fresh garlic or 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder (or a sprinkle for taste)
• Cooked pasta shapes

Method

1. Boil your choice of pasta until well-cooked, for babies, I recommend overcooking the pasta so it is very soft. Larger shapes like penne or spirals work well for baby-led weaning.
2. Steam the broccoli florets until soft and cooked through and then cool slightly. Add the cooked broccoli, washed parsley leaves, extra virgin olive oil, hemp seeds, lemon juice and garlic to a food processor.  Blitz together until well combined.
3. Mix the pesto and pasta.

How to serve for babies

• Babyled weaning: serve pasta shapes coated in the pesto.
• Puree/Mashed: puree/mash up the pasta and pesto together to a texture stage suitable to your baby (using a thin spaghetti can be easier to mash).
• This pesto is also great as a side to serve with vegetables and meat, or even used as a dip.

This recipe is supplied by Accredited Paediatric Dietitian, Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Nutritionist Anna Ritan from Nourish Little Lives, a friend of Supermarket Swap, and has been included here with her permission. To learn more about Anna's work, visit Nourish Little Lives.