Introducing Celeriac to Your Weaning Baby
Introducing Celeriac to Your Weaning Baby: A Nutritious Root Veggie for Every Stage
By Laura Carbery of Hungry Munchkins
Weaning your baby is an exciting journey that opens up a world of flavours, textures, and nutrients.
As your little one transitions from breast milk or formula to solid foods, it’s essential to offer a variety of tastes and textures that support their growth and development. One vegetable that may not always get the attention it deserves is celeriac. Also known as celery root, this humble root vegetable is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre—perfect for your baby’s growing body.
Why Celeriac? A Nutrient-Packed Veggie
• Rich in Nutrients: Celeriac is an excellent source of vitamin C, which is vital for your baby’s immune system. It’s also packed with potassium (great for heart health) and folate (important for cell division and development).
• High in Fibre: Its fibre content supports healthy digestion, which is especially helpful for babies as they adjust to solid foods.
With its mild flavour and versatile texture, celeriac is a great vegetable to experiment with at various stages of your baby's weaning journey.
How to Introduce Celeriac to Your 6-Month-Old Baby?
Celeriac can be offered to your baby from 6 months as a finger food or as a purée / mash.
A. How to Prepare Celeriac Puree (see full recipe below):
Peel and chop celeriac into small cubes.
Steam or boil until tender (about 10-15 minutes).
Mash or puree it with a little water, breast milk, or formula to achieve a smooth consistency.
Serving Tips:
Offer the puree to your baby on a spoon. If your baby is new to solids, make sure the texture is smooth and free from lumps. After about 2 weeks of offering smooth purees, you can offer foods mashed with small lumps.
Introduce the puree in small amounts, observing your baby’s response. Start with a tsp and gradually increase. Follow your baby’s lead.
B. How to Prepare Celeriac for Baby Led Weaning / as a Finger Food.
Start by peeling the tough outer skin of the celeriac with a vegetable peeler or knife.
Next, cut the celeriac into strips or wedges for easy self-feeding. For BLW, you want pieces that are large enough for your baby to grasp comfortably but not so small that they pose a choking risk. Think of pieces about the size of your adult finger (around 3-4 inches long). These pieces will allow your baby to hold onto the food easily while they take bites.
Cook the Celeriac Until Soft. Celeriac needs to be cooked until it’s soft and tender enough for your baby to chew (or gum) safely. You can steam, boil, or roast it. The pieces should be firm enough for them to hold but soft enough for them to gum, bite, and swallow safely.
Steaming or Boiling: Cut the celeriac into strips or wedges and steam or boil for about 15-20 minutes, or until you can easily pierce it with a fork. Steaming is the preferred cooking method as it keeps most of the nutrients intact.
Roasting: For a slightly different texture and flavour, you can roast celeriac strips or wedges. Toss the cut pieces with a small amount of olive oil and roast in the oven at 190°C fan for 25-30 minutes, until soft and lightly golden. Roasting can bring out a slightly sweet, nutty flavour that might be more appealing to your baby.
How to Serve Celeriac to a 9-Month-Old Baby
By 9 months of age, you can start to serve bite-sized pieces of peeled and cooked celeriac for baby to pick up with their developing pincer grasp. You can also continue serving larger wedges for practice taking bites, or mashed celeriac for your baby to practice scooping.
Offer with Other Foods:
Combine celeriac with other veggies like carrot or sweet potato for added flavour and variety. You can also add it to stews and offer soups from a sippy cup.
How to Serve Celeriac to Your 12-Month-Old:
By 12 months, your baby is likely eating a broader range of foods and may be ready to eat celeriac as part of a more diverse meal. Textures will be chunkier, and they might be exploring more adventurous flavours.
1. Celeriac Roasted with Herbs:
Cube celeriac and toss it with olive oil, a pinch of salt, and baby-friendly herbs like thyme or rosemary. Roast at 190°C fan for 25-30 minutes until soft and golden brown. These roasted pieces are easy for your baby to pick up and enjoy.
2. Celeriac in Soups and Stews:
Chop celeriac into small chunks and add it to soups, stews, or casseroles. At this stage, your baby will be comfortable with a mix of textures, and celeriac’s subtle flavour will blend well with others.
3. Celeriac in Mashed Potatoes:
Mix mashed celeriac with mashed potatoes for a more substantial side dish. The combination of both veggies creates a creamy, flavourful mash that your baby will love.
Recipe: Simple Celeriac Puree for Babies
Here's a simple, nutritious recipe to get you started with introducing celeriac to your baby.
Ingredients:
• 200g celeriac
• 1 tbsp breast milk, formula, or water
• A pinch of cinnamon (optional, for added flavour)
Method:
1. Peel and chop the celeriac into small cubes.
2. Steam or boil the celeriac for about 10-15 minutes until tender.
3. Drain the celeriac and add it to a blender or food processor.
4. Add a little breast milk, formula, or boiled water to achieve the desired consistency.
5. If desired, add a pinch of cinnamon.
6. Blend until smooth and serve warm or cold.
Tips:
• This puree can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
