Name: Pumpkin Puree (Passato di Zucca)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 17 min
Total time: 37 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: A wedge of pumpkin (zucca), peeled, deseeded and cubed; Water or vegetable broth (recipe 01), unsalted

Ingredients

A wedge of pumpkin (zucca), peeled, deseeded and cubed
Water or vegetable broth (recipe 01), unsalted

Method

Peel the pumpkin, scoop out the seeds and stringy centre, and cut the flesh into even cubes.
Steam or boil in unsalted water for 12-15 minutes until a fork goes in with no resistance.
Drain well.
Blend to a smooth puree; pumpkin is naturally soft and usually needs very little added liquid.
Cool before serving.

Age adaptations

6 months

Offer a very smooth, single-ingredient puree, loosened with a little cooled cooking water or unsalted broth so it runs slowly off the spoon. Start with a teaspoon once a day and follow your baby's pace. Begin only once your baby shows clear readiness signs (good head and neck control, able to sit with support, showing interest in food, and no longer pushing food out with the tongue). Introduce one new food at a time, a few days apart, so any reaction is easy to spot.

6-8 months

Blend completely smooth. Pumpkin purees easily to a silky texture, with a spoonful of cooking water added only if it is too thick.

9-12 months

Mash with a fork for a soft, slightly textured consistency, or offer roasted pumpkin wedges, cooked until very soft, cut into finger-length sticks.

12+ months

Serve as roasted or steamed cubes, soft enough to squash between two fingers, as part of a mixed plate.

Storage

Fridge for 3 days, sealed container. Freezes very well for up to 3 months in ice-cube trays or small pots; pumpkin puree keeps a good texture after thawing.

For the family

Roast the extra pumpkin with olive oil, salt and rosemary for an adult side, or stir the plain puree into a risotto base before seasoning, then season the adult portions separately.

Safety notes

Pumpkin is naturally soft-textured and low choking-risk once cooked, but still cut any offered pieces into safe finger-length shapes rather than round chunks. No listed allergens. Serve seated upright at the table, actively supervised and free of distractions; remember that safe preparation, not supervision, is the primary safeguard. Complementary feeding begins at 6 months, the age recommended by Italian (Ministero della Salute, SIP) and WHO guidance. Start only when your baby is showing clear readiness signs, following official Italian guidance.

Pumpkin Puree (Passato di Zucca)