Green Beans, Arugula and Pears with Mint

This recipe adds a bit of mint to introduce your baby to a new flavor and reduce the boredom of green purées while also keeping the flavor of pears which they love.

Cuisine

Modern

Course

Kids

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

15-30 min

Diet

Plant-Based, Vegetarian

Cooking Technique

Blender, Pressure Cook

Keywords

15-30 min, 2 cups, blender, chopped fresh mint, contributed, cook 25 min, countertop blender, easy, green beans, ground cinnamon, instant pot, instant pot baby food, instant pot recipes, Jennifer House, kids, lightly packed arugula, modern, pears, plant-based, prep 5 min, pressure cook, steamer basket, vegetarian

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

25 min

Servings

2 cups

Ingredients

1 lb green beans
2 pears
1 cup lightly packed arugula
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp chopped fresh mint
Steamer basket
Countertop blender

Instructions

Add 1 cup water to the inner pot and place the steamer basket in the pot. Arrange green beans and pears in the basket. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp (2 mL) cinnamon. Arrange arugula on the top.
Close and lock the lid and turn the steam release handle to Sealing. Set your Instant Pot to Pressure Cook or Manual on High for 2 minutes.
When the cooking time is done, press Cancel and turn the steam release handle to Venting. When the float valve drops down, remove the lid. The arugula should be wilted, and the pears and beans should be tender. (If more cooking time is needed for the pears or beans, transfer the arugula to the blender and continue pressure cooking on High for 1 minute.) Reserve liquid.
Transfer pears, beans, remaining cinnamon and mint to the blender. Cover and purée until smooth. Add 1 tbsp (15 mL) reserved liquid. Cover and purée until smooth. Continue adding liquid, 1 tbsp (15 mL) at a time, until desired consistency.
Spoon a small amount into serving bowl. Test temperature before serving. Transfer remainder to ice cube trays.

Notes

Variations
Stir in a pinch of turmeric in step 5 for an added boost of nutrients.
Before step 4, set aside a small portion of beans and/or pears and cut into small pieces. Continue with step 4. Serve pieces with purée for babies who are starting solids.
Nutrition Tip
Arugula has a strong, slightly peppery taste. Your baby may make a face at first, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like the flavor — it’s just new! Keep on introducing tastes, even if they’ve been refused before.

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