Pea and Pear Puree
By the GreenSpoon Kids kitchen
A vibrant green puree combining the mild sweetness of pear with the earthy flavor of peas. A great way to introduce green vegetables early.
Pea and pear puree is a bright green first food that uses a clever trick: pairing earthy peas with naturally sweet pear so green vegetables go down easily from the very start. Both are cooked soft and blended smooth, then sieved for a silky texture a baby just starting solids can manage. It is a lovely early introduction to green vegetables, with the pear keeping everything mild and sweet.
Ingredients(3)
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 1 ripe pear, peeled and cored
- 3-4 tablespoons breast milk, formula, or cooled boiled water
Instructions(8 steps)
- 1
Peel the pear, remove the core, and cut into small chunks.
- 2
Place peas and pear chunks in a small saucepan with just enough water to cover.
- 3
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes until pear is very soft.
- 4
Drain, reserving a few tablespoons of the cooking water.
- 5
Transfer to a blender and add breast milk, formula, or water.
- 6
Blend until completely smooth, adding reserved cooking water if too thick.
- 7
Push through a fine mesh sieve to remove any pea skins for a silky texture.
- 8
Cool to lukewarm before serving.
Nutritional Highlights
- -Peas provide plant-based protein and iron
- -Pear adds natural sweetness and fiber
- -Good source of vitamin K and folate
- -Antioxidants support immune development
Age Appropriateness
Suitable for babies 4-6 months who have tried single-ingredient purees first. The pear sweetness helps mask the green vegetable flavor.
Introduction Tip
If baby resists green purees, try mixing with a familiar fruit puree first, then gradually increase the pea ratio.
Why this works
Babies are born preferring sweet flavors, so a brand-new green vegetable can be a hard sell on its own. Blending peas with pear is a gentle way around that: the pear's natural sweetness softens the earthy pea flavor so a new eater accepts the green more readily, which is exactly how you build early acceptance of vegetables. Blended completely smooth and pushed through a sieve to catch any pea skins, the texture is silky and easy for a 4 to 6 month old to swallow. Introducing greens early and often, in friendly combinations like this, sets up a more adventurous eater down the line.
Variations and swaps
- Adjust the ratio: start with more pear, then gradually increase the pea as your baby accepts the flavor.
- Swap the pear for apple, or the peas for soft cooked green beans or courgette.
- Thin with breast milk or formula for the youngest eaters.
- Leave it a little thicker and skip the sieve as your baby gets used to texture.
- Stir a spoonful into a familiar fruit puree your baby already likes for the first tastes.
Make ahead and storage
Keep extra covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. This puree freezes beautifully: spoon it into an ice cube tray, freeze until solid, then transfer to a labeled bag for up to 1 month and thaw a cube or two at a time. Reheat gently if needed, stir well, and always cool to lukewarm and test the temperature before serving.
What to serve with it
Offer one or two teaspoons from a soft baby spoon at first, and let your baby decide how much they want, with no pressure to finish. Serving it after a familiar milk feed can help. Keep mealtimes calm and let your baby explore the new color and flavor at their own pace.
Common questions
Can I give peas as a first food?
Yes. Cooked soft and blended smooth, peas are a great early green vegetable. Pairing them with sweet pear, as here, helps a new eater accept the flavor. Push the puree through a sieve to remove any pea skins for the silkiest texture for a young baby.
When can my baby start purees?
Most babies are ready around 6 months, once they can sit with support, hold their head steady, and show interest in food. Some start a little earlier on a pediatrician's advice. Begin with small amounts of smooth, single-textured foods and introduce new ones one at a time.
My baby pushes the green puree out. Should I give up?
Not at all. A new flavor or color often gets pushed out at first, and that is not the same as dislike. Keep offering small amounts calmly, mix in a bit more pear or a familiar fruit puree to start, and try again over many days. Repeated, relaxed exposure is what works.
How smooth should it be?
For a baby just starting, blend it completely smooth and thin, and sieve out the pea skins. As your baby gets more confident over the following weeks, you can skip the sieve and gradually leave a thicker, slightly more textured puree.
Parent guide
Read our toddler feeding guides
