Courgette mash with unsalted curd cheese

A thick, lumpy mash with courgette pieces that are soft enough to chew, and never a watery consistency.

Serve warm. If it is watery, let it drain briefly in a sieve.

The skin must be peeled and the courgette pieces must be soft enough to chew. Unpasteurised dairy is not used.

Cool within 1 to 2 hours of cooking, then refrigerate or freeze in small portions. Use a refrigerated portion within 2 days. Eat a defrosted portion within 24 hours. When reheating, heat until steaming hot all the way through, then let it cool before serving, and reheat any portion only once. Throw away a half-eaten portion rather than storing or reheating it.

Your baby should be sitting upright and someone should stay with them while they eat. Add no salt, sugar or honey; honey is not given before one year. Your baby may not have teeth yet, so cook foods until soft and offer small pieces. Babies do not all manage the same texture at the same age — follow your baby's pace rather than pushing. If your baby has an allergy, eczema, or a family history of allergy, talk to your family doctor or paediatrician before introducing new foods. Introduce foods that can trigger an allergic reaction one at a time and in small amounts, so you can spot any reaction.