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Mela grattugiata (grated apple)
6m+ · Sweet apple grated very finely, or briefly steamed for first tries, Italy's classic baby merenda
Ask any Italian nonna what a baby has for merenda, the mid-afternoon snack, and she will mime grating an apple: in homes from Turin to Bari, a sweet apple is grated very finely on the small holes of a grater and spooned up at once, before it turns brown. Paediatricians in Italy suggest it from six months, and for the first few times many parents steam the apple briefly so it is softer still. It tastes fresh and naturally sweet; the old habit of crumbling in a biscuit or a spoon of sugar is not for babies under one, and honey never. It is free of the major allergens. Chef's tip: a squeeze of lemon is often added to stop browning, but for babies simply grate it right before serving.
- Total time
- 8 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 1
Baby & toddler safety
- Age: from 6 months+.
- Allergens: none of the common allergens found in the ingredients. Offer one new allergen at a time, in the morning, so you can watch for a reaction.
- Texture and choking: purée or mash smoothly for 6–9 months, then soft, finger-sized pieces that squash between your fingers. Cut round foods such as grapes and cherry tomatoes into quarters lengthways, never give whole nuts, and always stay with your child while they eat.
- Under 1: no honey, no added salt or stock cubes, and no added sugar.
Every child is different. If you are unsure, especially about allergies, check with your health visitor or paediatrician.
Ingredients
- 1 sweet applesuch as Golden Delicious or Gala, about 150 g
- 2 tbsp water (optional)for steaming the first few times
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Wash, peel and core 1 sweet apple, removing every pip and the tough core membrane.
2 minStep 2: Grate on the finest holes of a box grater or a ceramic grater into a bowl, until you have a wet, smooth pulp. Common mistake: using the coarse side; shreds of raw apple are a choking risk at this age, so it must be a fine mush.
3 minStep 3: For a baby's first tries, put the pulp in a small pan with 2 tbsp water and cook over a low heat for 2–3 minutes, stirring, until soft and slightly translucent, then cool to lukewarm.
3 minStep 4: Serve the raw pulp straight away, while it is pale; it browns within minutes.
Step 5: Raw grated apple does not keep. Cooked apple can be cooled quickly, covered and kept in the fridge for up to 2 days, or frozen in small portions for up to 1 month; reheat only once until piping hot, then cool before serving.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 70 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 18 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mela grattugiata (grated apple) take?
- About 8 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 3 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 1 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sweet apple?
- Pears, same amount.
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