Can Babies Eat Eggplant?
Yes, and it is a lovely soft food once it is cooked properly. Eggplant works well from around 9 months. The golden rule is simple: cook it until it is completely soft, peel it for younger babies, then mash it or serve soft pieces. Raw eggplant is a no.
Eggplant is not the first food most people reach for, and that is a shame. Roasted until soft, it turns silky and mild, and it soaks up whatever you cook it with. It does need cooking, though, so this one is a little later than a banana. Here is how to serve it.
What is an eggplant?
Eggplant, also called aubergine, is the glossy purple fruit of a plant in the nightshade family. Yes, another fruit pretending to be a vegetable. Raw, it is spongy and bitter. Cooked, it goes soft, creamy and gently savoury, which is exactly what you want for a baby.
Roasted eggplant has a mellow flavour that pairs beautifully with sharper foods. Mash it with a little cooked tomato and you have a simple, soft vegetable meal.
Eggplant nutrition for babies
Eggplant is light on calories and carries fibre, potassium and some antioxidants in its skin.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g (raw) |
|---|---|
| Energy | 25 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 5.9 g |
| of which sugars | 3.5 g |
| Fibre | 3.0 g |
| Protein | 1.0 g |
| Potassium | 229 mg |
Typical values for raw eggplant. Source: USDA FoodData Central.
When can babies eat eggplant?
Around 9 months is a good time, once your baby is used to soft cooked vegetables. Adjust as they grow:
Roast or steam eggplant until very soft, scoop out the flesh, peel away the skin and mash it smooth.
Offer small pieces of soft roasted eggplant as finger food. Thin, soft skin is usually fine at this stage.
Stir eggplant into mild stews, bakes and pasta sauces, keeping the salt low.
Tip: undercooked eggplant is rubbery and no fun to eat. Cook it well past the point where you think it is done. It should collapse when you press it with a fork.
Health benefits of eggplant for babies
Fibre
Eggplant brings a decent amount of fibre for such a light food, which helps keep digestion moving.
Antioxidants
The purple skin holds antioxidant plant compounds, so once your baby can manage soft skin it is worth keeping on.
Soft and mellow
Cooked eggplant is soft and easy to eat, and its mild taste carries other flavours your baby is learning to like.
Eggplant loves company. Fold soft roasted eggplant through cooked lentils for a filling meal with a bit more protein and iron.
How to serve eggplant safely
Do
- Cook eggplant until it is completely soft.
- Peel it for younger babies.
- Mash it or cut it into soft pieces.
- Roast it to bring out a mild, sweet flavour.
Avoid
- Raw or undercooked, rubbery eggplant.
- Deep-fried eggplant, which soaks up a lot of oil.
- Adding salt.
- Tough skin for young babies.
Risks and safety
Eggplant is low on both the allergy and choking scales when it is cooked soft, so the main thing is texture. Cook it properly and it more or less mashes itself. It is a nightshade, but nightshades are normal foods and there is no reason to avoid them for a healthy baby.
A varied plate: the World Health Organization recommends a range of safe, nutritious foods from 6 months, so treat eggplant as one vegetable among many rather than a daily staple.
For a classic pairing, swirl a spoon of plain yogurt through mashed roasted eggplant. It is basically a gentle, baby-friendly baba ganoush.
Easy eggplant recipe (9 months)
Roasted eggplant mash for baby
Makes 3 baby portions, from 9 monthsIngredients
- 1 small eggplant
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp plain yogurt (optional)
Method
- Halve the eggplant, brush the cut sides with a little oil, and roast at 200 C for about 30 minutes until the flesh is completely soft.
- Scoop the soft flesh away from the skin and mash it well.
- Stir in a little plain yogurt for a creamier texture if you like, then cool before serving.
Eggplant FAQ
When can babies eat eggplant?
Eggplant suits babies from around 9 months, once they are handling a range of textures. Always cook it until soft, peel it for younger babies, then mash it or cut it into soft pieces.
Can babies eat raw eggplant?
No. Raw eggplant is spongy, bitter and tough to chew, and it does not sit well in a baby's tummy. Roast, steam or bake it until it is completely soft first.
Do I need to peel eggplant for my baby?
For younger babies, yes. The skin is chewy and hard to manage. Once your child chews well you can leave thin, soft skin on, especially after roasting.
Is eggplant safe as a nightshade?
Eggplant is in the nightshade family, along with tomatoes and potatoes, and it is a normal, safe food for babies. There is no need to avoid nightshades unless your doctor has told you to.
Sources
- Eggplant, Wikipedia.
- FoodData Central, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Infant and young child feeding, World Health Organization.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Every baby is different. Talk to your doctor, health visitor or paediatrician about your own baby, and about starting solids or any allergy concerns.
