Mango Puree For Babies
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Published Feb 05, 2022, Updated Feb 12, 2022
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How to make a delicious mango puree out of fresh (or frozen) mango. It’s perfect for serving to baby or to use in recipes.
I don’t know about you, but when I was first introducing Olivia to solids, I definitely went with the obvious choices like sweet potato, banana, avocado and then started exploring foods with more unique flavors.
Mango puree wasn’t something I thought of immediately, but it was the perfect next step. It’s naturally sweet and when blended has a super creamy consistency! It quickly became one of Olivia’s favorite purees.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Mango puree is a great stage 1 food for babies because it’s sweet and purees into a really creamy consistency.
- You can use fresh or frozen mango and there’s no cooking involved, which makes it so easy!
- Despite being low in calories, mangos are chock full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Are Mangos Healthy?
Absolutely, yes! Rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, mango is especially high in vitamins A and C. Mangos also contain a group of digestive enzymes called amylases (source). These digestive enzymes help to break down larger food molecules, allowing your body to more easily digest them – this is especially great for little tummies just starting with solid foods!
Mangos and Constipation
Because mangos contain plenty of water and dietary fiber, it’s believed to help relieve constipation and even diarrhea. As baby is introduced to new foods they may experience some gastrointestinal issues (like constipation) and mango puree may help alleviate them! (source)
How to Make Mango Puree
Making mango puree is super simple! First you’ll want peel the mango with a paring knife and chop it into chunks. They don’t need to be too precise since you’ll be blending them up. Next, place the diced mango into a high powered blender or food processor.
And blend until smooth!
If the puree is too thick you can add a little water or milk to thin, starting with 1 teaspoon or 1 Tablespoon and adding more as needed. If you’re making this for a baby around 6-9 months I recommend using breastmilk or formula to thin the puree, just for the added nutrients.
How to Serve Mango Puree to Baby
For early stage 1 eaters, mango puree is great served straight up with a spoon. Once baby starts moving into stage 2 and 3 foods you can make fun combination purees (see ideas below) or add mango puree to different foods like yogurt, smoothies and oatmeal. My baby oatmeal recipe would be delicious with mango puree stirred in.
Foods That Pair Well With Mango Puree
With its natural sweetness and creaminess, mango puree pairs well with so many things! Here are some pairing ideas to help make vegetables and grains more palatable to baby:
- Green veggies – kale, spinach, avocado, zucchini, peas
- Orange veggies – sweet potato, butternut squash, carrot
- White veggies – cauliflower
- Other fruit – banana, strawberries, peaches, apples, kiwis, pears
- Dairy – yogurt, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese
- Grains – quinoa, oats
- Legumes – chickpeas, lentils
- Seasonings and spices – curry, ginger, mint, nutmeg, cinnamon
Mango Baby Food Combo Ideas
Here are some baby food combos with mango that might be fun to try:
- Sweet potato and mango
- Banana, mango and coconut milk
- Mango and pear
- Oatmeal and mango
- Banana, mango and strawberries
- Carrot, mango and yogurt
- Spinach, mango and apples
Pineapple and mango is a great combo that I share in my stage 2 baby food combinations post!
Mango FAQ
Using a high powered blender or food processor should result in a very smooth consistency, but if you prefer you can put your mango puree through a sieve to reduce the fibers.
When selecting a mango, look for a fruit that gives slightly when squeezed. You only need to apply gentle pressure, similar to a ripe avocado or peach. You will also notice a slightly sweet aroma from the stem.
Yes! Frozen mango retains the same health benefits as fresh mango thanks to technologies in flash freezing. You can definitely use frozen mango to make puree. Just thaw the mango overnight in the refrigerator, at room temp or using the defrost setting in your microwave. One thawed, add the chunks to your blender or food process and puree.
Yes, as long as you cook the mango first! You shouldn’t let frozen foods thaw, puree and re-freeze without cooking them. So if you use frozen mango to make the puree, serve immediately or store in the fridge for a few days, but do not freeze it again unless you cook it. If you cook the frozen mango (simmer or steam on the stovetop) and then puree it, it will be safe to freeze.
Check out this easy how to cut a mango guide for the best tips and tricks!
How to Store Mango Puree
Fresh mango baby food should be stored in the fridge and used within 3-4 days. For longer storage, I recommend freezing the puree! I like using silicone ice cube tray or freezer safe jars because they make it easier to thaw smaller amounts for serving to babies.
reminder! You shouldn’t let frozen foods thaw (without cooking), puree and re-freeze. So if you use frozen mango to make puree, serve immediately or store in the fridge for a few days but do not freeze it again.
How to Thaw Frozen Puree
I recommend thawing frozen mango puree in the fridge the night before you want to use it, but you can also thaw it quickly with a warm water bath. It thaws quickly if you’re defrosting a small amount to serve to a baby.
Other Ways to Use Mango Puree
Mango puree is great for babies, but there are so many other ways for older kids and adults to enjoy it too. Here are some ideas:
- Mix into chia pudding – mango puree is amazing in chia pudding. Use it to make my mango chia pudding!
- Swirl into oatmeal or yogurt – drizzle on top of my tropical overnight oats or mix into your favorite yogurt.
- Topping for pancakes and waffles – level up your breakfast or brunch by topping pancakes or waffles with this puree. Try it on my greek yogurt pancakes!
- Make a smoothie – mango gives smoothies a delicious flavor and texture. You can add the pureed fruit straight into a smoothie, but I love adding using frozen mango puree for smoothies as well. No need to thaw, just pop a couple cubes of mango puree into your blender with the rest of your smoothie ingredients. Try my 3 ingredient mango smoothie with mango, yogurt and milk. Kiddos love this one!
- For cakes and desserts – mango puree is often mixed into sweet treats like mango pound cake or mango cheesecake. This mango bread looks delish.
- Serve over ice cream – mix mango puree in when making homemade ice cream or simply serve over top of ice cream or frozen yogurt for an extra touch of sweetness that packs in some nutrients! It would be delicious served over my banana ice cream for a tropical treat!
- Stir into drinks – make a mango mojito, stir into a vodka soda or use it in place of peach puree in a bellini for a tropical twist. A mango martini also sounds yummy!
More Baby Food Purees
- Sweet Potato Puree
- Butternut Squash Puree
- Peach Puree
- Carrot Puree
- Pumpkin Puree
- Applesauce
- Pea Puree
- Banana Puree
More Recipes and Resources
- Introducing Solids to Baby + My Approach
- Healthy Smash Cake
- Banana Pancakes For Babies
- Baby Yogurt Melts
- Oatmeal For Babies
Be sure to check out my full collection of mango recipes as well as all of the baby food recipes here on EBF.
How to Make Mango Puree
Ingredients
- 2 ripe mangoes, washed, peeled, and pits removed
Instructions
- Chop fresh mango into large chunks.
- Place mango in a high powered blender or food processor.
- Blend until totally smooth and serve. If the puree is too thick you can add a little water or milk to thin, starting with 1 teaspoon or 1 Tablespoon, adding more as needed.
- Store mango puree in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer or up to 3 months. I like to freeze the puree in silicone ice cube trays or small freezer-safe jars so I can easily thaw small amounts when I want to use them.
- I recommend thawing frozen puree in the fridge the night before you want to use it, but you can also thaw it quickly with a warm water bath.
Notes
- Using 1 mango – you can try using 1 mango to make the puree, but I’ve found that 2 often works better in terms of having enough volume for blending or processing.
- Frozen mango – frozen mango works too. Simply thaw and blend as the recipe instructs. 1 mango is about 1 1/2 cups of mango chunks.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
