Name: Zucchini Puree (Passato di Zucchine)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 2 medium courgettes (zucchini), washed; Water or vegetable broth (recipe 01), unsalted

Ingredients

2 medium courgettes (zucchini), washed
Water or vegetable broth (recipe 01), unsalted

Method

Trim the ends and slice the courgettes into rounds; no need to peel, the skin is soft once cooked.
Steam or boil in unsalted water for 8-10 minutes until very tender.
Drain well, courgette holds a lot of water, so press gently in a sieve if it seems watery.
Blend to a smooth puree, adding a splash of cooking water or broth only if needed.
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 fully smooth. Courgette can be stringy, so blend thoroughly and pass through a sieve if any fibres remain.

9-12 months

Mash with a fork leaving a soft texture, or offer thick sticks of well-cooked courgette for self-feeding.

12+ months

Serve as chunkier sauteed pieces or soft diced courgette as part of a mixed plate.

Storage

Fridge for 2 days, sealed container; courgette is watery and turns a little faster than root vegetables. Freeze up to 3 months in small portions; it softens further on thawing, which is fine for puree, just stir well as it can separate.

For the family

Saute the extra courgette in olive oil with garlic and herbs for an adult side, or grate it raw into a family frittata (cooked through, never raw egg) for a shared meal.

Safety notes

Courgette skin can be slightly fibrous. Cook until fully soft and blend or mash thoroughly so no strings remain, especially at 6-8 months. No listed allergen concerns for this ingredient. 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.

Zucchini Puree (Passato di Zucchine)