There is, believe it or not, a happy medium between what you want to eat and what your child is willing to eat, and it can be summed up in a single word: dips. Hummus, baba ghanoush, yogurt-based spreads–make it silky and/or smooth, serve it on a cracker, make it handheld and you’ll be able to get your kiddo to eat anything, vegetables and seafood included. Heck, you can make a whole dinner out of it! Next stop: carrot dip.
This carrot dip for kids plays off the nuts-red pepper-oil formula that makes Spanish romesco and Turkish/Syrian muhammara sauces so great, with the added bonus of carrots for taste, nutrition, and color. The use of cashews adds creaminess and protein; you could easily sub in almonds or pepitas, though. Apple cider vinegar provides sweetness and sharpness in equal measures; balsamic or sherry vinegars would also work. (A big hit of lemon could also substitute.) The good news: this is one of those dishes where whatever works for you here is likely to work for your child, too.
Is this dip safe for infants starting solids? Yes! Just ensure you soak the cashews and blend until the dip is completely smooth to avoid any choking hazards.
Can I substitute the cashews? Absolutely. If you have a nut allergy in the house, sunflower seeds (pepitas) or even white beans (cannellini) work great as a creamy substitute.
How long does this keep in the fridge? It stays fresh in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days. It’s a great "prep once, eat three times" snack.
My kid won't eat anything orange. What do I do? Try calling it "Sunshine Sauce" or "Superhero Spread." Sometimes a name change is all it takes to bypass the toddler "no."
Can I make this without roasting the vegetables? You can steam the carrots for about 15 minutes instead. You’ll lose that deep, roasted sweetness, but it still makes a very tasty, healthy spread.
And check out all of our toddler vegetable recipes!
"This roasted carrot dip for kids is a vibrant, dairy-free spread that makes eating vegetables fun and easy. Packed with roasted peppers and creamy cashews, it’s the perfect healthy snack for even the pickiest toddlers."
We smear this on Ritz or Saltines as if a cheap canape—and it works! Because the dip will hold in the fridge for 3-5 days, you can serve/try it again and again quite easily–especially ideal if your child doesn’t take a shine to it immediately. (Our son didn’t try it until our third attempt…then promptly ate six crackers with it the next day.) Because the dip has a creamy and subtly sweet flavor profile, you can serve it as a spread on any number of things, such as pieces of chicken, on toast, in a sandwich, etc.
We noted several possible substitutions in the introduction to the recipe; here are a few more: you can simply steam the carrots for 15 minutes and skip the roasting–you’ll lose a bit of the depth from not getting the high heat on the roots but the dip will still be delicious. You can also sub out the carrots altogether, such as with beets or sweet potatoes; you can also go the tomato route, though add breadcrumbs or half a slice of bread to the mix to keep the mixture thick and creamy.
Servings 8
Serving Size one big scoop of dip
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Brad (the Dad) is the founder and Chief Recipe Officer of New Dad's Kitchen. His own cooking/feeding journey started humbly during his son's infancy, preparing and managing his son's bottle intake in order to support his wife; it has since blossomed into a full-on passion to feed his child and family delicious and healthy meals that can satisfy both a toddler and his very tired parents.
