There are too many home cooks who make the beginner’s mistake of trying to cook a wonderful dish without first knowing enough about the amazing ingredients that go into the dish. You may think that making zucchini bread is a walk in the park, but unless you know enough about the hero of the dish, i.e. the zucchini, you will not be able to perfect the art of creating a flawless platter of zucchini bread.
What is a Zucchini?
For those of you who are not aware, zucchini belongs to a category of organisms known as the summer squash. Summer squash is a part of the cucurbitaceae family that includes cucumber and melon. There are many varieties of summer squash such as yellow straightneck, scallop and yellow crookneck. Among them all, zucchini is probably the most well known. What makes zucchini stand out is its cylindrical shape, smooth texture and dark green colour. It also has a very creamy, white and soft flesh that makes it perfect for cooking.
Nutritional Properties of Summer Squash and Zucchini
Like most summer squash, zucchini fits perfectly into a healthy diet as it is a great source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. In addition to these vitamins, zucchini contains magnesium, manganese, potassium, fibre and beta-carotene. Nowadays, you will get to hear a lot about super foods that are packed with antioxidants. Zucchini has its own set of antioxidant carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin which are very helpful in protecting the eyes against age related macular degeneration and cataracts.
Picking Zucchini at the Right Time
Zucchini are ready to be plucked within 4 to 8 days of flowering. If you have a garden at home, and if you intend to grow your own zucchini, you should keep an eye on the plant to make sure that the fruits do not grow too large. If the fruit becomes a little too large, it loses much of its unique tenderness. The zucchini is most tender when it has attained a length of around 8 inches. In other words, you should be careful to not delay the plucking of the fruit. The longer the zucchini grows, the larger the seeds get. The flesh also becomes tougher with the length.
Making Zucchini Bread with Leftover Summer Squash
In places with favourable climate, it is common for home growers of summer squash to have a great harvest. Even after giving the zucchini away to friends, family and neighbours, people are left with a surplus of this amazing ingredient. There is a lot that you can do with the leftover zucchini. One of the options is to make a beautiful platter of zucchini bread that you can serve to your guests as appetizers during a special home dinner invitation or as snacks on a game day. The best zucchini bread is made with whole wheat flour. The use of the whole wheat flour improves the texture of the bread to a great extent. If you want, you could add nuts and raisins. They certainly add a new dimension to the flavour profile of the zucchini bread. Leaving out the sugar will make it a little less fluffy, but it’s the healthier route to take. Do not worry, the absence of sugar will not compromise the moistness and the taste of the zucchini bread.
List of Ingredients
● 3 cups of whole wheat flour
● 1 half tsp of baking powder
● 1 half tsp of baking soda
● 1 tsp of salt
● 2 tsp of cinnamon
● Half a tsp of nutmeg
● 3 eggs
● 3 quarters of a cup of sugar
● 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce
●3 quarters of a cup of canola oil
● 1 Half tsp of vanilla extract
● 2 cups of packed coarsely grated zucchini (grate with skins)
● 3 quarters of a cup of raisins
● 3 quarters of a cup of nuts (using walnuts is preferable)
The first step is to pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. All the dry ingredients must be sifted. Beat the sugar, oil, applesauce and vanilla. Add the eggs and start beating them as well. Start beating in the dry ingredients steadily. Stir in the zucchini and add the nuts and raisins along with it. Divide the batter into two portions and place them in two separate 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Bake the batter for a minimum of 55 minutes. Place a cake tester or a toothpick into the batter. If it comes out clean, then you are done baking the bread.
If you are looking to try out something different, then you could use yellow squash along with zucchini. Also, it is worth mentioning that the zucchini bread freezes quite well and can be enjoyed throughout winter. Some say that it is the perfect mid-morning snack on a chilly, winter weekend.