15 Easy and Tasty Soup Recipes for Babies

Introducing your baby to solid foods is a delightful milestone in their journey of growth and development. While there are numerous options, homemade soups offer a perfect introduction to new flavours and textures. Packed with essential nutrients and gentle on delicate palates, these easy and tasty soup recipes for babies are nourishing and provide a wonderful opportunity for exploration and culinary discovery. Warm and liquidy, they won’t have any issue gulping it down and asking for more. It’s also healthy when you add vegetables and tasty if made the right way.

Healthy Soup Recipes for Babies

There are many baby soup recipes – Indian, Western as well as Oriental – that you can try out at home:

1. Corn Soup Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 corn on the cob/2 cups corn kernels
• 1 cup mixed veggies (Carrot, beans, peas etc.) in small cubes
• 1/4^th teaspoon turmeric powder
• ½ tsp butter or clarified butter (ghee)
• Pinch of pepper and salt (optional)
• ¼ tsp grated garlic and ginger
• Water

How to Prepare

1. To make this soup, take the corn and pressure cook it with the turmeric powder, salt, and water for three whistles. Once the pressure reduces, remove the corn and puree it smoothly. You can adjust its consistency with water.
2. In the meantime, steam veggies that you can add to the side. If they mash when you squeeze them, they’re steamed well.
3. Heat butter or ghee and add minced garlic and ginger once it’s hot. Then, add the veggies and stir it.
4. Add the pureed corn for a little boil and season it with salt and pepper.

2. Mixed Vegetable Soup Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 onion and carrot, finely chopped
• French beans (7-8 in number)
• 2-3 broccoli florets and 3-4 button mushrooms, finely chopped
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 2 tsp butter
• Salt
• Black pepper or jeera powder
• 1 tbsp milk
• ½ glass of water
• Other veggies (optional)

How to Prepare

1. Add butter and some oil in a pan.
2. Saute onions till they are light pink.
3. Add grated ginger and cook it till the smell leaves.
4. Add all veggies and stir-fry for around two minutes.
5. Boil it with water.
6. Add salt and black pepper powder and let the water simmer on low flame.
7. Add milk and boil it for a bit.
8. Serve with coriander and pepper garnish.

3. Chicken Soup

Ingredients

• 1 chicken breast (boneless and diced)
• 1 carrot
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• ¼ teaspoon of ground dried thyme
• ¼ teaspoon basil
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 2 shakes of garlic powder
• 4 cups (water)

How to Prepare

1. Add all the ingredients in a saucepan and boil.
2. Once it begins boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for an hour. Check the water level.
3. When the chicken is cooked, turn the heat off and allow it to cool for 15 minutes. Transfer the ingredients to the food processor or blender to make it a puree.
4. Substitute the basil and garlic powder with coriander, cardamom, ginger or cinnamon.
5. Garnish and serve.

4. Egg-Drop Soup

Ingredients

• 4 cups of broth
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 shake of garlic and pepper

How to Prepare

1. Boil the broth and let it simmer. Beat the egg yolks and add them slowly to the broth.
2. Keep whisking as you add the yolks. You can have nice little “threads” of yolk throughout. If you want it lumpy, you can add the yolks quickly.
3. Add the pepper and garlic and let it cool before you serve it to your baby.

5. Beefy Barley Soup

Ingredients

• ½ pound of stew cubes of beef (uncooked and diced)
• 2 carrots (peeled and diced)
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 parsnip
• ½ clove of garlic, crushed
• ¼ teaspoon each of basil, rosemary and pepper
• 6 cups of water
• ½ cup barley

How to Prepare

1. Add the ingredients and bring them to a boil. Make sure you use a saucepan that is large enough.
2. Once it begins boiling, turn down the heat to low and let it simmer for about an hour. Check the water level and add more to maintain the consistency.
3. Once the beef and barley are cooked, turn the heat off and allow it to cool for around 15 minutes before you transfer the ingredients to your food processor and puree it into a soup.

6. Quick Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients

• Pumpkin puree
• Chicken broth – 2 parts broth and 1 part pumpkin spice (Nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger)

How to prepare

1. Whisk all the ingredients into a pot and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes.
2. Ensure the heat is not too much, as you could overcook the chicken and veggies.
3. Put it in a blender/processor and serve it to the baby.

7. Asparagus Creamy Chicken Soup

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons of olive oil
• onion, chopped
• 1 pack of frozen asparagus
• ½ cup chicken broth
• ¼ teaspoon of basil and garlic powder
• 1 cup of fat-free plain yoghurt
• ½ cooked and diced breast of chicken

How to Prepare

1. Heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet and add onion and saute it until its tender.
2. Add the asparagus, chicken broth, basil as well as garlic powder and bring it to a boil over a medium-high heat.
3. Reduce the heat to a medium-low and let it simmer till the asparagus is tender. Remove the heat and insert the chicken and yoghurt and puree the same.

8. Broccoli Soup

Ingredients

• 1 head of broccoli florets
• ½ medium onion (chopped)
• 1 tablespoons of olive oil
• ½ teaspoon of salt (only if the baby is above a year)
• 1/8 teaspoon of pepper
• Water and baby carrots, chopped

How to Prepare

1. Saute the onions and carrots with olive oil for about 5 minutes.
2. Add the broccoli and enough water.
3. Cover the pan and boil. Reduce it to a simmer until the broccoli is tender but green.
4. Remove the pan and puree it until it is smooth with an immersion blender. Add salt and pepper.

 9. Tomato Soup Recipe for Baby

Ingredients

• 1 red tomato
• ½ teaspoon of butter
• 1 pinch of pepper powder
• 1 cup of water

How to Prepare

1. Wash the tomatoes and cut them into small pieces. Place them in a pressure cooker with half a cup of water.
2. Add pepper powder and close the cooker for two whistles.
3. Open the cooker, transfer the cooked tomatoes to a blender, and blend them into a puree.
4. Heat a pan, transfer the tomato puree, and heat it with butter.

10. Carrot Soup Recipe for Baby

Ingredients

• Carrot (chopped or big)
• Onion (2 tbsp chopped)
• Ginger and garlic (3 cloves)
• Salt
• Butter (1 tsp)
• ¼ tsp Cumin seeds
• Pepper powder
• Water

How to Prepare

1. Wash and peel the carrots and chop onions, garlic and ginger.
2. Heat a pressure cooker with a tsp. of butter and add cumin seeds till they crackle.
3. Add the onions, ginger, and garlic and stir for 2 minutes. Then, add the carrot along with salt and pepper.
4. Add the required water till it boils and pressure cook everything on a medium flame. Once the carrots become soft, transfer them to a blender.
5. Strain the soup and serve.

11. Avocado Soup

Ingredients

• 1 ripe avocado
• 1 small potato, peeled and diced
• 1 small carrot, peeled and diced
• 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth (or water)
• 1/2 cup breast milk or formula (optional for added creaminess)
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• A pinch of salt (optional and only for babies over 1 year old)

How to Prepare

1. In a small pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and saute until translucent.
2. Add the diced potato and carrot to the pot, then pour the broth or water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until the vegetables are tender for 15-20 minutes.
3. Cut the avocado in half while the vegetables are cooking. Remove the pit and scoop the flesh into a bowl. Mash it with a fork until smooth.
4. Once the vegetables are tender, add them and their cooking liquid to a blender or food processor. Add the mashed avocado. 
5. Blend until smooth and creamy. If the soup is too thick, add breast milk, formula, or additional broth to reach the desired consistency.
6. Let the soup cool to a safe temperature before serving it to your baby.

12. Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup

Ingredients

• 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 cups vegetable broth

How to Prepare

1. In a pot, combine sweet potato, carrots, and vegetable broth.
2. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender.
3. Blend until smooth using a blender or immersion blender.
4. Let cool before serving.

13. Apple and Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients

• 2 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and diced
• 2 apples, peeled, cored, and diced
• 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• Dash of cinnamon (optional)

How to Prepare

1. Peel, core, and dice two apples and 2 cups of butternut squash.
2. Combine the diced apples and squash in a pot with 2 cups of low-sodium vegetable broth.
3. Optionally, add a dash of cinnamon for flavour.
4. Simmer the mixture until the fruits and vegetables are tender.
5. Blend the soup into a smooth puree.
6. Ensure the soup is cooled down before feeding it to your baby.

14. Creamy Spinach Soup

Ingredients

• 2 cups spinach leaves
• 1 cup potatoes, diced
• 1/2 cup onion, diced (optional)
• 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter or olive oil

How to Prepare

1. In a pot, saute 1/2 cup of diced onion in 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter or olive oil until soft.
2. Add 1 cup of diced potatoes and 2 cups of low-sodium vegetable broth to the pot.
3. Allow the mixture to simmer until the potatoes are tender.
4. Add 2 cups of spinach leaves to the pot and cook until wilted.
5. Blend the mixture into a smooth soup, adjusting the consistency with additional broth if needed.

15. Mild Lentil Soup

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup red lentils, rinsed
• 1 cup carrots, diced
• 1 cup sweet potatoes, diced
• 1/2 cup onion, diced (optional)
• 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

How to Prepare

1. Rinse 1/2 cup of red lentils thoroughly under running water.
2. In a pot, combine the rinsed lentils with 1 cup each of diced carrots, sweet potatoes, and 1/2 cup of diced onion.
3. Pour in 2 cups of low-sodium vegetable broth and bring the mixture to a boil.
4. Reduce the heat and let the soup simmer until the lentils and vegetables are soft and cooked.
5. If necessary, blend the soup into a smooth consistency before serving it to your baby.
6. You can try multiple soup recipes for 6-month-old baby and older kids. Make sure it’s not too hot when you serve them!

Points to Remember While Making Soups for Baby

Introducing soups to your baby’s diet can be an exciting culinary experience while ensuring they receive essential nutrients. However, there are several crucial points to consider when making soups for toddlers. Here’s what to keep in mind:

1. Introduce soups when your baby is 6-8 months old after starting solids.
2. Start with smooth, pureed soups and gradually introduce chunkier textures as your baby develops chewing skills.
3. Choose fresh, organic produce and lean proteins to ensure optimal nutrition.
4. Avoid adding salt, sugar, or spices to your baby’s soup to prevent overwhelming their taste buds and developing unhealthy preferences (4).
5. Be cautious when introducing allergenic foods like nuts, dairy, and shellfish, and monitor for any adverse reactions.
6. Soup for babies should be thin enough to swallow safely, especially if they are transitioning from breast milk or formula.
7. Always cool the soup to a safe temperature before feeding it to your baby to prevent burns.
8. Maintain proper hygiene throughout preparation to prevent contamination and foodborne illnesses.
9. Stay attentive while feeding your baby soup to monitor for choking hazards and ensure a positive mealtime experience.

FAQs

1. Can soup help with my baby’s digestion?

Yes, soups can be gentle on a baby’s digestive system. Ingredients like carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes are high in fibre and can aid digestion (5). The warm liquid can soothe the digestive tract, potentially helping with issues like constipation.

2. How can I ensure my baby gets enough protein from soup? 

Ensuring your baby’s soup is protein-rich is crucial for their growth and development. Including ingredients like lentils, beans, chicken, or fish, which can be cooked until very soft and then pureed or finely chopped to suit your baby’s age and chewing ability, will provide them with the necessary nutrients. Remember to introduce new proteins one at a time to monitor for any allergic reactions (3).

3. Are there any ingredients I should avoid in baby soups for health reasons? 

Avoid ingredients that can cause allergies or digestive issues in babies, such as cow’s milk (1), honey (for babies under one-year-old) (2), and highly seasoned or spicy foods. Also, be cautious with high-sodium ingredients like store-bought broths or added salt. Always choose fresh, high-quality ingredients to ensure the best nutrition and safety for your baby.

Homemade soup for infants can be a nutritious and enjoyable experience. These easy and tasty infant soup recipes provide an excellent opportunity to introduce a variety of flavours and nutrients to babies’ diets while fostering healthy eating habits from an early age. Parents can ensure their babies receive the essential nutrients needed for growth and development by utilising fresh, seasonal ingredients and incorporating wholesome ingredients like bone broth.

References/Resources:

1. Why Do Infants Need Baby Formula Instead of Cow’s Milk?; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/formula-feeding/Pages/Why-Formula-Instead-of-Cows-Milk.aspx

2. Why Should Babies Not Have Honey?; Nemours KidsHealth; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/honey-botulism.html#

3. McCarthy. C; Beyond Chicken Nuggets: Protein-Rich Alternatives for Picky Eaters; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Beyond-Chicken-Nuggets.aspx

4. Vegetables and fruits; Government of Newfoundland and Labrador; https://www.gov.nl.ca/healthyeating/baby/offering-healthy-foods/what-foods-should-i-offer-my-baby/vegetables-and-fruit/

5. Sweet Potatoes; Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health; https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/food-features/sweet-potatoes/

Also Read:

Best Baby Breakfast Recipes
Easy Kheer Recipes for Infants
Finger Foods for Your Babies
Instant Porridge Recipes for Your Baby

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