Icon - Arrow LeftAn icon we use to indicate a rightwards action. Icon - Arrow RightAn icon we use to indicate a leftwards action. Icon - External LinkAn icon we use to indicate a button link is external. Icon - MessageThe icon we use to represent an email action. Icon - Down ChevronUsed to indicate a dropdown. Icon - CloseUsed to indicate a close action. Icon - Dropdown ArrowUsed to indicate a dropdown. Icon - Location PinUsed to showcase a location on a map. Icon - Zoom OutUsed to indicate a zoom out action on a map. Icon - Zoom InUsed to indicate a zoom in action on a map. Icon - SearchUsed to indicate a search action. Icon - EmailUsed to indicate an emai action. Icon - FacebookFacebooks brand mark for use in social sharing icons. flipboard Icon - InstagramInstagrams brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - PinterestPinterests brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - TwitterTwitters brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Check MarkA check mark for checkbox buttons.
You are reading

Recipe: Amaranth Banana Bread, Flowers Optional

Search

Recipe: Amaranth Banana Bread, Flowers Optional

April 13, 2017

Top banana bread with a dollop of yogurt and a few edible pansies, and you have a very delicious breakfast.

The only problem with my grandmother’s banana bread–perhaps the most delicious thing I ever tasted–is that a more accurate description of it would have been banana cake. With white flour, butter, and enough sugar to make your teeth ache, it was impossible in in good conscience to call it anything but dessert. Nowadays I make a healthier amaranth flour version that I can slice, toast, and eat for breakfast without a twinge of guilt.

Read on for the recipe for amaranth banana bread:

Photography by Mimi Giboin for Gardenista.

Make a loaf the night before and serve amaranth banana bread for breakfast.
Above: Make a loaf the night before and serve amaranth banana bread for breakfast.

I like Whole Foods’ recipe for Amaranth Banana Bread. In addition to being delicious, it’s a forgiving recipe you can’t really mess up–and it takes under five minutes to mix the batter. And if you don’t have any bananas? Substitute 1 cup of shredded zucchini  to make Amaranth Zucchini Bread instead.

I like to add a dollop of plain yogurt.
Above: I like to add a dollop of plain yogurt.
Finish it with a handful of edible flowers.
Above: Finish it with a handful of edible flowers.

Whole Foods’ Amaranth Banana Bread

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • 3/4 cup amaranth flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/3 cup fat-free plain yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil, more for the pan
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup chopped walnuts, divided

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a standard size loaf pan.

In a large bowl, whisk together whole wheat and amaranth flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In a separate bowl, whisk together bananas, eggs, yogurt, oil, and sugar. Add banana mixture to flour mixture and stir just until combined. Fold in 1/2 cup walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan and top with remaining 1/4 cup walnuts.

Bake one hour or until bread is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool slightly on a rack and then loosen the edges of the loaf with a knife before removing it from the pan.

No guilt.
Above: No guilt.

Feel like cooking this weekend? See 5 Delicious Ways to Eat Flowers and Weeds You Can Eat: Wild Amaranth.

(Visited 504 times, 3 visits today)
You need to login or register to view and manage your bookmarks.

Have a Question or Comment About This Post?

Join the conversation

v5.0