Queen of Autumn: top 15 pumpkin recipes for children

Much has been written about the benefits of pumpkin, but not everyone loves this wonderful vegetable. But in vain! If you cook pumpkin correctly, it’s hard to imagine something tastier.

The most interesting thing is that pumpkin is ideal both cooked and raw; pumpkin dishes can become a side dish for meat and fish, an appetizer, a base for vitamin soup and even a dessert. There are an incredible number of options and children will definitely appreciate your delights. These 15 recipes are great on their own, but if they inspire your own culinary fantasies, even better.

Pumpkin casserole with chicken fillet

From 3 years

Source: instagram @pp_mur_

Ingredients:

• White chicken meat 250 g
• Pumpkin 250 g
• Tomato 1 pc.
• Semi-hard cheese 50 g
• Egg 1 pc.
• Garlic 1 small clove
• Salt, pepper, herbs to taste (basil, dill, parsley)

Preparation:

1. Boil the meat until half cooked, let cool and cut into cubes.
2. Cut the tomatoes and pumpkin into small cubes, approximately the same size, no more than 1 cm.
3. Grate the cheese on a coarse grater, beat the egg until smooth.
4. Place half the tomatoes and pumpkin in a greased dish with vegetable oil, a layer of meat on them, pour the egg over everything and sprinkle with finely chopped herbs.
5. Place the remaining tomatoes and pumpkin, sprinkle with cheese and bake in preheated to 200 degrees. oven 50-50 min.

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Benefits of pumpkin for children

What are the benefits of pumpkin?

This is a truly rich product in vitamins and minerals; it contains a high concentration of beta-carotene - a substance that is converted into vitamin A in the human body. One hundred grams of the product satisfies the child’s daily need for it. The most colorful fruits contain an impressive amount of beta-carotene. Constituting a worthy competitor to carrots, pumpkin surpasses it in this indicator.

The benefits of pumpkin for children are enormous due to the fact that it contains a significant proportion of iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamins B, C, E and the still little-studied K and T. They ensure the healthy development and growth of children, strengthen the immune system and counteract inflammatory processes. The condition of the skin, eyes, and nervous system also depends on proper nutrition, and pumpkin contains all the useful elements a child needs for full life. The high iron content in the fruit will help cope with anemia and enrich the body with this element.

This product has a low calorie content, so it can be easily used in dietary nutrition. Fiber and carnitine not only prevent the deposition of extra pounds, but also burn fat deposits. Therefore, there are many pumpkin dishes for children that are easy to prepare and will definitely please your baby.

Hyperactive children calm down if you prepare pumpkin broth or juice sweetened with honey. This drink promotes full, healthy sleep, strengthens memory and concentration. Depressive periods and nervous exhaustion are a common condition in children; in addition to other measures, care must be taken to enrich the diet with this healing product. Thanks to its use, metabolic processes proceed better and toxic substances are removed from the body.

Pumpkin is a real find in the winter season; it is perfectly preserved for a long period of time, and eating it increases the defenses of not only a child’s body, but also an adult’s. This is so important during the period of infections and viruses. The thymus gland, which builds the defense of the immune system, is significantly activated thanks to beta-carotene. And vitamin C significantly increases the body's resistance to viral diseases.

The condition of the intestinal microflora also improves; thanks to the fiber contained, digestion is normalized, which is why there is better absorption of nutrients. This is an indispensable product for children suffering from bloating, pain in this area and constipation. Just half a glass of juice will neutralize these manifestations, and the stomach will work properly. Increased acidity is also a reason to accept and eat baked or boiled foods. Pumpkin has a choleretic and diuretic effect, so if you have diseases of the liver, gall bladder and kidneys, after consulting a doctor, its use will have a beneficial effect on your health.

School-age children simply need to eat pumpkin, as it helps improve vision and strengthen the retina. All parents should know about the benefits of pumpkin for children who love to sit in front of a computer screen. And those suffering from myopia, night blindness or other retinal pathologies simply need to supplement their diet with the pulp of this fruit.

The benefits of pumpkin seeds

The beneficial properties of pumpkin seeds, which are capable of removing helminths, have long been known. Thanks to an amino acid called “cucurbitin”, which is destructive for many types of worms, the child’s body is cleansed and is not exposed to harmful effects.

To do this, you can use peeled seeds, or you can grind them (about 100 grams) along with the peel and pour boiling water over them. After this, the infusion is drunk on an empty stomach, and after a couple of hours a laxative or castor oil is taken.

Nutritionists confirm that eating just 5-10 seeds daily improves bowel function and relieves constipation.

The seeds are consumed fresh, not roasted, since their heat treatment negatively affects the content of nutrients. However, it should be noted that children under 3 years of age should never be given seeds. The pulp of the fruit can be used not only for food, crushed, it successfully fights various rashes on the skin of children. This is relevant during puberty, when many teenagers face the problem of acne and acne. Eczema, ulcers, splinters and allergic rashes can be cured if crushed pulp is periodically applied to them.

Pumpkin pancakes

From 3.5 years

Source: instagram @maxayx

Ingredients:

• Pumpkin 200 g
• Cottage cheese 50 g
• Oatmeal 5 tbsp. l.
• Raisin
• Egg 1 pc.
• Soda ¼ tsp
• A pinch of salt
• sugar 0.5 tbsp. spoons

Preparation:

1. Pour hot water over the raisins and let stand for 20 minutes.
2. Cut the pumpkin into small pieces and bake in the oven until done. About 30 minutes. Puree the cooled pumpkin using a blender.
3. Grind oatmeal in a coffee grinder.
4. Mix cottage cheese, egg, soda and salt. Grind well.
5. Add pumpkin puree, oatmeal, raisins and sugar to the curd mass, mix.
6. Fry in a heated frying pan with a small amount of vegetable oil.

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Some advice for new mothers

1. Do not give your child raw vegetables. This dish is too heavy for a child's stomach and is likely to cause indigestion and diarrhea.
2. The rules for introducing pumpkin dishes into your baby’s diet are the same as with other products. First, give your child half a teaspoon of puree. If there is no allergy, you can increase the amount of product at the next feeding.
3. Older children can make multi-component purees by combining pumpkin with other vegetables, fruits, cereals and meat.
4. The water in which the vegetable was boiled can be used to prepare baby purees and soups.
5. You should not give pumpkin to your child too often - 2-3 times a week is enough.

Creamy pumpkin soup

from 2 years

Source: instagram @recepti_detyam

Ingredients:

• Pumpkin 100 g.
• Milk 350 g.
• Semolina 1 tbsp. l.
• Butter 10 g.
• Water 100 g.

Preparation:

1. Peel the pumpkin, cut into small pieces and simmer with water over low heat until tender, then grind through a fine sieve along with the liquid.
2. Bring the milk to a boil, add the semolina in a thin stream, stirring constantly, and cook for 8-10 minutes.
3. Add the prepared semolina to the pumpkin puree, stir, serve with butter.

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How long does it take to cook pumpkin?

First of all, it should be noted that the time to cook pumpkin in any way depends on the amount of product and the size of the pieces. Think about what will cook faster:

• 100 g chopped pumpkin;

or

• 3 kg pumpkin, cut into 5-6 cm pieces.

Of course, less time will be needed to cook the first option. Cooking the pumpkin should continue until the pieces become soft - this is a sign that they are completely cooked. Therefore, to the question “How long to cook the pumpkin until tender?” there is no clear answer.

Pumpkin risotto

from 3 years old⠀

Source: instagram @detskie.recepti

Ingredients:⠀

• 300 g pumpkin
• 100 g rice for risotto
• 1 onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• parsley
• 50 g butter
• 50 g parmesan⠀
• 0.5 l meat broth⠀
• 2 tbsp. spoons of vegetable oil
• salt to taste⠀

Preparation:⠀

1. Wash the pumpkin, remove the peel and seeds and cut into small cubes.⠀
2. Finely chop the onion, garlic and herbs, sauté the onion in vegetable oil, then add the pumpkin and fry it, stir for 10-15 minutes until soft.⠀
3. Heat the butter in a frying pan, add the rice and heat it for 2-3 minutes. Add hot broth to the rice in small portions and cook for 15-20 minutes.⠀
4. Place the fried pumpkin, garlic, and herbs into a frying pan with rice, stir and simmer over low heat for a couple of minutes.
5. Sprinkle with grated cheese, cover with a lid and leave to brew for 10-15 minutes.⠀

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Complementary feeding recipes for infants

How to prepare pumpkin for complementary feeding for infants.

Pumpkin with yolk

Recipe: Prepare pumpkin puree as usual. Separately boil the chicken egg, separate the yolk and add it to the pumpkin mixture. Beat with a blender. Add 3-5 drops of vegetable oil. To keep the puree from being too thick, you can dilute it with formula or breast milk.

Pumpkin with dill

Pumpkin puree with dill helps normalize digestion, relieves bloating and colic.

Recipe: Prepare pumpkin puree according to the basic recipe. Wash the dill sprig and finely chop it (do not use the stem). Mix the ingredients into a homogeneous mass. If the puree is thick, add breast milk or formula.

Pumpkin with rice

Recipe: Rinse 1.5 tablespoons of rice under running water until it becomes clear. Boil the rice in a glass of water until tender. Cool and grind through a sieve. Combine with prepared pumpkin puree. Beat the mass with a blender.

Pumpkin with zucchini

Recipe: Wash 1 small zucchini and pumpkin (200g), peel and cut into small pieces. Boil vegetables in a small amount of water or steam them. Grind with a blender or grind through a sieve. It is not recommended for children to add salt, oil and other ingredients to vegetable puree. From six months you can add a little vegetable oil.

Barley porridge with baked pumpkin and cranberries⠀

From 4 years

Source: instagram @detskie.recepti

Ingredients:⠀

• 300 g barley⠀
• 500 g pumpkin⠀
• 100 g dried cranberries⠀
• 2 tbsp. l. vegetable oil⠀
• 2 tsp. cinnamon⠀
• 1 tbsp. l. brown sugar⠀
• salt⠀

Preparation:⠀

1. Rinse the barley in plenty of water, place in a sieve, and pour in 1 liter. cold water and leave for 8 hours. Then cook the porridge in the same water until tender, 20 minutes.⠀
2. Soak the cranberries in 100 ml of hot water for 10 minutes, then drain into a sieve. Peel the pumpkin, cut into cubes with a side of 1–1.5 cm.⠀
3. Place the pumpkin in a heat-resistant form, sprinkle with oil and bake in an oven preheated to 220°C for 10-15 minutes, stir a couple of times during this time.⠀
4. When the porridge is ready, add pumpkin, cranberries, salt, sugar and cinnamon, stir and leave in a warm place, wrapped in a towel, for 15 minutes.⠀

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How to cook quickly

• What to do if you have absolutely no time, but want to cook something delicious for your baby or family? How long should you cook pumpkin in a pressure cooker or slow cooker? Much faster than the usual method on the stove.
• If you decide to use a double boiler to cook puree, you will have to wait. Hot steam softens pumpkin pieces for quite a long time, since there is no complete immersion in a boiling environment. However, this method has a great advantage - steaming allows you to preserve more vitamins and microelements in food than any other method of cooking.

Pumpkin milkshake

From 3 years

Source: instagram @detskie.recepti

Ingredients:⠀

• 120 g pumpkin⠀
• 300 ml. milk⠀
• 4 tsp. sugar⠀
• ½ tsp. vanilla⠀
• pinch of cinnamon (to taste)⠀
• 100 ml. cream⠀

Preparation:⠀

1. Cut the pumpkin into cubes and cook until soft, then puree with a fork or blender.
2. Mix pumpkin puree, sugar, milk, vanilla and cinnamon.⠀
3. Whip cream.⠀
4. Pour into glasses, add cream and sprinkle cinnamon on top. For younger children it is possible without cinnamon.

Pumpkin and cottage cheese cookies

From 2 years

Source: instagram @marina_365days

Ingredients:

• 100 g boiled pumpkin
• 100 g oat flakes
• 100 g cottage cheese 5%
• 1-2 tbsp. l. corn oil
• 1 tbsp. l. coconut sugar (can be replaced with ground raisins)
• vanilla

Preparation:

1. Beat pumpkin puree, cottage cheese, sugar in a blender until smooth, add butter and vanilla.
2. Grind the oatmeal and add to the prepared pumpkin mixture.
3. Roll into small balls and bake at 180 degrees. 15-20 minutes.

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Pumpkin bun with cinnamon and walnuts

From 4 years

Source: instagram @florista_nsk

Ingredients:⠀

• 400 g pumpkin
• 600 g flour
• 200 ml. milk
• 50 g butter
• 50 g sugar
• 1 packet of dry yeast (7 g)

For filling:

• 50 g plums. oils
• 100 g sugar (preferably brown)
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 100 g walnuts
• for glaze
• 60 g powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp. l. lemon juice

Preparation:

1. Peel and cut the pumpkin into cubes, simmer in a saucepan with added water, simmer until the pumpkin becomes soft, place in a sieve to drain and puree, let cool.
2. Knead yeast dough from flour, butter, yeast, sugar, warm milk and pumpkin puree, you may need a little more flour (everyone’s flour is different). Leave the dough to rise for an hour.
3. For the filling, melt the butter and mix with sugar.
4. Roll out the finished dough into a layer of approximately 30x50 cm, grease with oil and sprinkle with nuts.
5. Cut the dough layer into strips approximately 8x30 cm and stack these strips on top of each other, then divide crosswise into 4 equal parts. Place our squares in a column in a greased rectangular pan. Let it rise for 15 minutes and bake in the oven at 200 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
6. To make the glaze, mix the powder with lemon juice until smooth.

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Pumpkin in reserve

Despite the fact that a whole pumpkin can be stored for quite a long time at home under the bed, the cut fruit quickly deteriorates even in the refrigerator. Freezing will help preserve all the beneficial properties of the orange beauty for several months and use ready-made semi-finished pumpkin in small quantities as needed. Cut the washed and peeled pumpkin into small cubes, place on a board and place in the freezer. Place the frozen pieces into a bag. Pumpkin prepared in this way can be turned into aromatic and healthy complementary food at any time.

Baby portions are so small that it is quite difficult to guess the amount of food. If you've made enough pumpkin puree for an army, you can freeze the excess into disposable plastic cups. These “portioned cubes” can be added later to the porridge being prepared or simply reheated.

You can prepare pumpkin puree for the winter using the following recipe.

You will need one medium-sized ripe pumpkin, about 1 cup of brown sugar, 1 liter of water, 200 g of cranberries and just a little cloves for flavor.

1. Peel, wash and cut the pumpkin into small pieces.
2. In an enamel saucepan, mix water with sugar and add pumpkin.
3. Stirring constantly, bring the pumpkin mixture to a boil.
4. Squeeze juice from washed and dried cranberries.
5. Add cranberry juice to the pot with the pumpkin.
6. Cook, stirring, for about 20 minutes.
7. 5 minutes before the puree is ready, throw a couple of “cloves” into the future puree.
8. Drain the water and puree the resulting mass in a blender.
9. Transfer the puree into sterilized jars and close with lids.

Now you know how to cook pumpkin for a baby, when to introduce this orange vegetable into complementary foods, and how to preserve this healthy baby food product for the winter. Let your little one’s menu be not only healthy, but also delicious!

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Placinda with pumpkin

From 3 years

Source: instagram @bonitavkusnoo

Source: instagram @bonitavkusnoo

Ingredients:⠀

• 500 ml sour milk
• 2 tbsp. l. Sahara
• 2 tbsp. l. vegetable oil
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. slaked soda with vinegar
• flour (how much dough will take);

For filling:

• 500 g pumpkin
• sugar

Preparation:

1. Mix sour milk with sugar, salt and vegetable oil, add soda slaked with vinegar.
2. Add flour gradually until the dough stops sticking to your hands. Divide the dough into 12 parts.
3. Roll out each flatbread into a thin crust. Place grated pumpkin on top and sprinkle with sugar. (Put in the center and spread over half of the dough, not reaching the edge)
4. Then we take the edges from opposite sides and pinch them in the center.
5. Then we take the remaining edges and pinch them in the center as well.
6. Now we need to lay out our corners. We stretch them and pinch them in a circle in one direction.
7. Fry on both sides, the side with the pinches first.

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How to make preparations and methods for storing pumpkin

The whole product is stored in a dark place for a long period of time, but the cut product quickly deteriorates. Therefore, it is recommended to either use it immediately or place it in the freezer for storage. Freezing weaning pumpkin is a great storage option. The product can remain in this form for several months without losing its original properties and qualities.

The vegetable is thoroughly washed and peeled, cut into pieces. For better freezing, it is recommended to place the cubes on a cutting board and freeze. After complete freezing, pour the pieces into a plastic bag. This makes it convenient to take them out in the right quantity and cook frozen pumpkin.

In addition to freezing, you can prepare it for the winter by rolling it into jars along with cranberry juice.

To choose the optimal fruit to give to your child, it is worth understanding the criteria. The ideal option would be your own product, which is grown on your own plot. But in most cases, conditions for growing are not provided; you have to purchase the fruit in a store or market. Therefore, when choosing, you should pay attention to the following points:

1. Coloring – the color of the peel should be a natural tone;
2. Weight – do not exceed 5 kg;
3. Integrity - the peel should not have cracks, dents, signs of mold or rot;
4. The tail is best when it is dry. this indicates full ripening of the fetus.

In addition, when you press on the skin, it should not be soft. The normal state for a vegetable is a dense structure. You can feel the specific wax, which is a natural film.

Thus, pumpkin is an excellent option for first feeding. It is subjected to various cooking methods to obtain an excellent dish for the baby. Usually the vegetable cannot be purchased in small quantities, so it is recommended to know how to freeze pumpkin for the winter without loss. The main thing is to follow the recipe technology during cooking and maintain the required time.

Grated pumpkin for the winter

1. Wash the vegetable, peel, dry, remove the core.
2. Grate.
3. Place in special plastic bags, seal tightly and place in the freezer.

It’s not difficult to make your own complementary foods for your baby. You need to choose the right products so that they do not harm the baby, but bring maximum benefit. Pumpkin is exactly the vegetable that is allowed as the first complementary food for infants. The main thing is to follow the rules for introducing a new product into the baby’s diet.

Pumpkin lazy dumplings⠀

From 2 years

Source: instagram @detskie.recepti

Ingredients:⠀

• Pumpkin 100 g
• Cottage cheese 100 g
• Egg yolk 1 pc.⠀
• Sugar to taste⠀
• A pinch of salt
• Flour 70-80 g⠀

Preparation:⠀

1. Cut the pumpkin into pieces, bake in the oven or microwave until softened, then rub through a sieve or puree in a blender.
2. Grind the cottage cheese through a sieve so that there are no lumps.
3. In a bowl, combine pumpkin puree, cottage cheese, sugar, salt, yolk - mix thoroughly, add flour - knead into a slightly sticky dough. There is no need to fill it with flour, it should not be hard - and then the dumplings will be very tender, not rubbery.⠀
4. Then roll the dough into a sausage and cut into portions.⠀
5. Boil the dumplings in salted water for 5-7 minutes after floating, place on a plate, add pieces of butter. Can be served with either sweet or savory sauce

How many months can you start giving?

If the baby is bottle-fed, the first acquaintance with a healthy vegetable should take place at the age of 5-6 months. It is recommended that babies fed with breast milk start giving pumpkin a little later.

Complementary foods first appear in the diet after reaching at least six months of age.

Baby food should be selected especially carefully. The first vegetables a baby is introduced to are green, white vegetables and fruits. This is due to the fact that they rarely provoke allergies.

Pumpkin is orange in color. Therefore it is considered a potential allergen. It should be given to babies from the age of seven months. If an allergic reaction is observed, the new product should not be given for another month.

Pumpkin and pear muffins

From 2.5 years

Source: instagram @marina_365days

Ingredients:⠀

• 300 g pumpkin puree
• 100 g pear puree
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 2 eggs
• 80 ml vegetable oil
• 100 g wheat flour
• 50 g rice flour (can be replaced with wheat flour)
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon or orange zest
• 1 teaspoon baking soda (quench with lemon juice)

Preparation:

1. Peel the pumpkin, cut into large pieces, grease with vegetable oil and place on a sheet covered with foil. Bake in the oven until soft, 20-25 minutes. Pumpkin can also be steamed if convenient. Cool.
2. Peel the pear, remove seeds, and chop coarsely.
3. Using a food processor or blender, puree the pumpkin with the pear and rinsed raisins. Set aside a few raisins to add whole ones to the dough later.
4. Add yolks, lemon zest, vegetable oil, stir until smooth. Add baking soda slaked with lemon juice. Add the dough in batches and mix gently.
5. Separately, beat the whites into a strong foam and add them to the dough, gently mixing with a spatula from bottom to top. At the end add the remaining raisins.
6. Divide the dough into the molds, filling them almost to the very edge.
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Check readiness with a toothpick; it should come out dry.

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When should you introduce pumpkin into your child’s diet?

1. The first portion is half a teaspoon, in the form of a homogeneous puree or a soft, boiled piece, the size of a grain of rice;
2. Then the portion is gradually increased, bringing it to 40 grams per day.

How much pumpkin can a child have?

• At 7 months he can be given 30 grams of puree 1-2 times a week;
• Pumpkin for children closer to one year is allowed 30 grams three times a week;
• After a year, the portion will be 50 grams three times a week.

If a child over one year old eats selectively, the portions eaten are very small and this makes you worry and worry about the baby’s nutrition, watch the online course “Eating with pleasure: restoring a healthy appetite to the child”

The fruit has a pronounced sweetish taste and is very popular with children.

It is imperative to follow the rules of complementary feeding:

1. pumpkin is given in the morning;
2. while your baby is introducing pumpkin, do not mix it with other products;
3. Complementary feeding should be introduced gradually and the child’s condition should be monitored
4. do not give complementary foods to the child during illness and vaccination;

You can add breast milk to pumpkin puree for the first feeding.

Pumpkin can be boiled, baked or steamed.

It is advisable to give the child only freshly prepared puree or boiled vegetables.

From what age

Giving an artificial pumpkin to a baby is allowed from 5-6 months. For breastfed babies, it is advisable to wait a while with complementary feeding and start introducing it after six months.

It is recommended to introduce your baby to pumpkin after introducing zucchini, broccoli and cauliflower. When a child tries a red vegetable, he is unlikely to want to be content with tasteless dishes.

How often

After a test has been carried out for the presence of contraindications, you can alternate the available vegetables. If you often give your baby pumpkin, you can provoke negative consequences: yellow palms will appear not from an allergic reaction, but from oversaturation of the body.

Pumpkin for babies is recommended 2 times in 7 days. The vegetable is given as an independent dish, and 1 tsp is added. in the form of a dessert.

Basic recommendations

When offering a new product, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. The product that the child tries should not be administered at night; it is recommended to be given in the morning, before the second feeding. The time is chosen so that the child is hungry and eats the offered portion. A morning test will make it clear whether there is an allergy.
2. First input – 0.5 tsp. If the baby likes it, the norm is gradually increased.
3. At the first signs of an allergic reaction, stop feeding. It is recommended to try again in a month.
4. Give food using a spoon.
5. Pumpkin puree for babies is not served chilled. It is heated in a water bath to a temperature not higher than +37..+400C.
6. There is no need to rush with new ingredients. It is necessary to maintain a gap of 14 days between new dishes.

Feed when the baby is healthy. It is not recommended to give vegetables or fruits before vaccination and after vaccination. It will be difficult to determine what caused the allergy.

Salad with pumpkin and cottage cheese

From 5 years

Source: instagram @klopotenko

Ingredients:⠀

• 200 g pumpkin
• 150 g salad mix
• 100 g feta cheese
• 1-2 tsp. pumpkin seeds
• 2 tbsp. l. vegetable oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

1. Wash the pumpkin, peel and cut into small cubes 1-2 centimeters in size.
2. Fry the pumpkin in a frying pan with sunflower oil for about 1-2 minutes. The pumpkin should remain firm inside.
3. In a salad bowl, combine lettuce, feta and pumpkin. Add pumpkin seeds, salt and pepper to taste. Season with sunflower oil.

Harm and contraindications

• Eating pumpkin dishes too often can cause “carotene” jaundice.
• Pumpkin complementary foods should not be given if you have an individual intolerance to the product.
• Pumpkin is contraindicated for diabetes and hepatitis.
• Cooking pumpkin for children with exacerbations of diseases of the stomach and small intestine is also not recommended.

Are there allergies?

Pumpkin is one of the foods that can cause an allergic reaction because it contains a lot of carotene. For this reason, the introduction of pumpkin dishes into children's diets is carried out gradually and very carefully.

Soup with pumpkin and pearl barley

from 4 years

Source: instagram @detskie.recepti

Ingredients:

• 500 g pumpkin
• 120 g pearl barley
• 2 stalks of celery
• 1 sweet green pepper
• 1 sweet red pepper
• 1 liter vegetable broth
• 2 tbsp. l. butter
• 1 tbsp. l. tomato paste
• ground black pepper
• salt

Preparation:

1. Cut the celery into slices and the pumpkin pulp into small cubes. Scald the sweet pepper and cut it into diamonds.
2. Brew pearl barley with boiling water and leave for an hour.
3. Combine vegetables, add tomato paste, fry for 3 minutes.
4. Place the cereal in the hot broth, pepper and salt, cook for 35 minutes over low heat, add vegetables and cook for another 10 minutes.
5. Before serving, sprinkle the pearl barley-pumpkin soup with chopped dill.

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Useful properties of pumpkin

Pumpkin is specially introduced into complementary foods for babies. This is due to the fact that the nutrients contained have a beneficial effect on a rapidly growing organism.

The following useful properties are distinguished:

1. It has a choleretic effect, which is necessary as a preventive measure to prevent liver pathologies;
2. The vegetable contains a large list of vitamins, among which beta-carotene stands out. It is required for the organs of vision and the skeletal system. At the same time, it affects the increase in the child’s overall immunity;
3. After eating the dishes, a diuretic effect is felt. This has a positive effect on kidney function;
4. Contains a large amount of dietary fiber, which, once in the stomach, regulates the digestion process;
5. Vitamin T helps strengthen the muscle corset and mass;
6. Prepared decoction or freshly squeezed juice, adding 1 liter. honey has a beneficial effect on the baby’s nervous system, calming him. The substance affects the child’s attention, memory, improves sleep;
7. A significant list of vitamins (D, C, iron, silicon, calcium, B vitamins) has a beneficial effect on the growth and mental development of the baby.

If the child has a good appetite and quickly gains weight, then the orange beauty is perfect for consumption. It does not contain many calories and is considered dietary.

The vegetable has practically no contraindications, but before using it, young mothers should find out whether there is a prohibition on taking it.

Pumpkin pie

From 3 years

Source: instagram @lenesa_sport

Ingredients:

• 400 g pumpkin
• 100 g corn flour
• 200 g cottage cheese
• 2 eggs
• 30 ml milk
• sweetener to taste

Preparation:

1. Boil the pumpkin until soft, puree in a blender
2. Mix flour, 1 egg and sugar, add milk. Place the finished dough in the refrigerator.
3. Filling 1. Mix 1 egg white, cottage cheese and 1/2 puree.
4. Filling 2. Beat the remaining puree with the yolk.
5. Place the dough into the mold, then the curd filling, and the puree with the yolk.
6. Bake for 40-50 minutes. at a temperature of 180°C

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Pumpkin-curd casserole

From 2.5 years

Source: instagram @marina_365days

Ingredients:

• 200 g pumpkin
• 1 carrot
• 3-4 pieces of dried apricots
• 1/2 cup water
• 200 g cottage cheese
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons semolina
• Vegetable oil for greasing the mold
• 2 tablespoons sour cream + for serving

Preparation:

1. Peel the pumpkin and carrots, remove the seeds from the pumpkin. Finely chop the vegetables or grate them on a coarse grater.
2. Place vegetables in a saucepan, add washed and chopped dried apricots. Pour water and simmer for about 20 minutes until the vegetables soften. During this time, the liquid should evaporate. Cool. Grind the vegetables using a blender to obtain a homogeneous mass.
3. Mash the cottage cheese with a fork and combine with the pumpkin-carrot mixture. Add egg, semolina, add a little salt and mix.
4. Grease the mold with vegetable oil. If you are using a silicone mold, you do not need to grease it with oil.
5. Place the future casserole in a mold. Grease with sour cream.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

How to choose a vegetable and preserve it at home

The ideal pumpkin for feeding your baby will be one that is grown in your own garden or bought from grandmothers in the neighborhood. Commercially grown vegetables may contain pesticides that are harmful to the body.

If the purchase is made in a store, then you need to follow the recommendations:

• average fruit size weighing 3-4 kg;
• dense and clean skin, without defects;
• no dents or signs of rot;
• dry tail, which indicates the ripeness of the fruit;
• dense orange pulp.

These indicators indicate that the vegetable is grown correctly and does not contain harmful substances that can harm the small organism.

Options for storing cut fruit

Whole pumpkin is stored for a long time at room temperature and does not lose its beneficial qualities for up to 12 months. But the cut fruit can be kept in the refrigerator for no more than 5-7 days. Therefore, to prevent the proliferation of putrefactive bacteria, which are dangerous for the child’s digestion, several methods are used.

How to preserve pumpkin pulp for complementary feeding:

1. Freezing. You need to peel the fruit, remove seeds and cut into small pieces. Pack into portions for one preparation in plastic bags and place in the freezer. This way you can provide your child with a healthy product until the next harvest.
2. Juice with pulp. Boil the pumpkin pieces for 30-40 minutes until softened. A pinch of salt is added per 1 kg of pulp. The boiled vegetable is whipped with a blender or rubbed through a fine strainer. You can give the puree to your child for breakfast, pour the resulting juice into sterilized jars and put it in the refrigerator. You can store pumpkin this way for up to 6 months.

The juice can be added to grated meat or pureed other vegetables, and frozen pieces are useful when cooking soups. But during storage you need to monitor the consistency and color of the pulp. The slightest changes in the original shade or separation of the juice indicate a change in the composition for the worse. This product should not be given to a child.