Baby’s First Superfood: Liver Pâté
Brain-boosting choline, anti inflammatory omega 3’s, serotonin making tryptophan, copper + iron + zinc. This is a super common first food being recommended by top nutritionists, as it is easily digestible and a nutrient powerhouse! This is a common first food being recommended by top nutritionists today, and it isn’t new! Liver has been a traditionally introduced first food in other cultures, as well as the US in the 1950’s. Gerber had ads back in the day titled “Look Who’s Started Loving Liver,” boasting about their nutritious offerings. Iron-fortified rice cereal is a newer thing, and as convenient as it may be, here’s why I’m not about it. Iron levels need a big boost for breastfed babies around 6-9 months, and liver (or bone marrow in our next recipe) does just the trick. Here’s how we serve it to our kids:
Liver Pâté (Meal Prep)
Makes 1.5-2 ice cube trays, or about 1-.5-2 cups of liver pate
Ingredients
1 lb raw liver (chicken or beef)
¼ cup fat of choice: ghee, grass-fed butter or coconut oil
¼-½ cup bone broth
Preparation
Warm broth and coconut oil (or fat of choice) on stove.
Add liver once fat of choice is melted, turning heat to medium.
Simmer 2-4 minutes on each side (depending on size, liver should be light pinkish brown in color when ready).
Remove from heat. Remove from heat.
Puree in a blender, thinning if necessary. Thin if necessary with extra broth or breastmilk to a hummus-like consistency.
Storage
Divide into ice cube trays, freeze overnight, then transfer to an airtight zip bag or glass container/jar for up to 6 months. You can alternatively save some in the refrigerator in a glass jar, then divide the rest to freeze.
Serving
Serve to your baby in a bowl and give them the spoon. Help teach them to scoop and preload a spoon for them, allowing them to be in control of the feeding. Serve just 1 cube (either alone or with a veggie like pureed sweet potato or carrot) to your baby every other day, since liver has an incredible amount of Vitamin A. For older toddlers on up, I love to serve this on a cracker with a few drops of mustard (thanks for the recommendation Elizabeth on IG @pureplyparsons!). My favorite way (as a mama) to eat liver is on a cracker with mustard, then topped with a pickled onion or jalapeño.
Notes
This particular recipe is a puree because it’s a pâté and you’re making a large amount to incorporate into future meals, feel free to offer it BLW style.
Once you’ve introduced onion later on and come back to re-make this, sautéing onion for several minutes before adding liver and then blending can be a delicious flavor.
On days you give liver, omit cod liver oil (if you are giving it to your baby) since it also contains high amounts of Vitamin A
Sources:
https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/childrens-health/nourishing-a-growing-baby/#gsc.tab=0
Super Nutrition for Babies by Katherine Erlich