From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash

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Can Babies Eat Chilacayote? Yes, From 6 Months

Also known as fig-leaf gourd.

Chilacayote, also called fig-leaf gourd, is a mild squash whose flesh turns soft and slightly stringy when cooked. Babies can have it from around 6 months, cooked soft with the black seeds removed and mashed smooth.

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When to introduce: Around 6 months
Common allergen?: Not a common allergen
Texture: Cooked soft; seeds removed; mashed smooth
Key nutrients: Water, vitamin C, potassium, a little fiber

Chilacayote, or fig-leaf gourd, is a green-and-white striped squash grown across Latin America and beyond, with pale flesh that turns soft and gently stringy when cooked, a bit like a mild spaghetti squash. It is mild and lightly sweet, and it is used both in savory stews and in sweet dishes and drinks. From around 6 months, cooked until soft with its distinctive black seeds removed, chilacayote makes an easy, gentle purée. It is a watery squash rather than a rich orange one, so think of it as variety and texture more than a nutrient powerhouse.

Prep School: how to prepare chilacayote for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées

🍴 Baby-led weaning

6 monthsPeel the squash and scoop out the hard black seeds and any tough core, since neither is for a baby. Cut the flesh into strips, steam or simmer until it squashes easily between your fingers, and offer a strip rather than a firm chunk.

9 monthsSoft-cooked small pieces suit a developing pincer grasp. The flesh is slightly stringy, so keep pieces small and soft enough to squash.

12 months+Chilacayote works in family stews and soups, taking on the flavors it is cooked with. Keep it plainly cooked rather than in the very sweet candied preparations, which are not suitable for babies.

🥄 Purées

6 monthsPeel the squash, discard the black seeds and any tough core, and simmer the flesh until very soft. Mash or blend it into a smooth purée, mixing in another vegetable or fruit if you want more flavor.

9 monthsMash it lumpier, or stir the soft flesh through rice, beans, or minced meat for a thicker spoonful.

12 months+Serve it soft in family stews and soups. Keep it plainly cooked and unsweetened rather than in the candied desserts and syrups it often goes into, which are not suitable for babies.

Is chilacayote safe? Choking & prep

Chilacayote is a gentle food when cooked soft. Peel it, and always remove the hard black seeds and any tough core before serving, since these are not for a baby². Cook the flesh until it squashes easily between your fingers, and cut it into strips or small pieces rather than firm chunks. Note that chilacayote is often used to make very sweet candied desserts and syrups; those sugary preparations are not suitable for babies, so serve it simply cooked and unsweetened. It is not a common allergen. Keep your baby seated and supervised.

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Nutrition

Chilacayote is a watery squash, so like other pale gourds it is light, hydrating, and gentle, offering a little vitamin C, potassium, and fiber rather than the deep beta-carotene of orange winter squashes. Its value for a baby is mostly in variety and texture, getting them used to a new mild flavor and a soft, slightly stringy mouthfeel. Because it is low in calories, pair it with iron- and protein-rich foods like beans, meat, or egg so the whole meal supports your baby's growth.

Goes well with

Soft-cooked beans or lentils · Cooked rice or soft corn masa · Minced beef or chicken · Mashed sweet potato or carrot · A little olive oil

Storage & freezing

Whole chilacayote is a remarkable keeper and can store for months in a cool, dry, dark place thanks to its hard shell. Once peeled and cooked, cover and refrigerate and use within about 3 days. Being watery, the cooked flesh can weep a little after freezing, so it freezes best blended into a purée or cooked into a soup in small portions.

More vegetables to explore

🥬

Yu choyAround 6 months

🥬

Chinese celeryAround 6 months

🥔

Chinese yamAround 6 months

🌸

Chive BlossomAround 6 months

🌿

ChivesAround 6 months

🟠

ChontaduroAround 9 months, always long-boiled

Common questions

Can babies eat chilacayote?

Yes, from around 6 months. Cook it until soft, remove the black seeds, and mash the mild flesh into a smooth purée. It is not a common allergen.

What is chilacayote?

It is a green-and-white striped squash, also called fig-leaf gourd, common in Latin American cooking. Its pale flesh turns soft and slightly stringy when cooked, a bit like a mild spaghetti squash.

Are chilacayote seeds safe for babies?

No. Remove the hard black seeds and any tough core before serving, and cook only the soft flesh for your baby.

Can I give my baby candied chilacayote?

No. Chilacayote is often made into very sweet candied desserts and syrups, which are not suitable for babies. Serve it simply cooked and unsweetened instead.

Sources

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Last updated September 2026. Next review December 2026. How we write these: built from current published guidance from the AAP, CDC, FDA/EPA, NIAID, WHO, and other pediatric and public-health authorities, with sources cited on the page. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these, and how we double-check the food advice.

This is general information, not medical advice, and is not individualized for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.

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