Zucchini to Blueberry: 5 Breads Infused With Fruits And Veggies

Bread is a common food item that can be found in every kitchen all across the world. From simple breakfasts like sandwiches to hearty desserts like bread pudding, these soft and spongy loaves can be transformed into a variety of dishes. When it comes to Indian cuisine, bread has made its own space here. We have a plethora of recipes like bread pakora, masala sandwiches, shahi tukda, cutlets, upma, and whatnot! 

There are many types of bread available in the market; some of them are white bread, brown bread, multigrain bread, and sourdough bread. But if you are looking for more taste and flavour, bread can also be baked along with fruits and veggies. These varieties of bread are moist and tender, with a burst of flavour. Whether you include them in your meals or enjoy them as a snack, they perfectly fit into both categories.

Often, there is a debate that fruit breads fall under the category of cake due to their sweet taste, but that is not actually true. Fruit breads are denser and have a chewier texture as compared to cakes, and they are generally less sweet. On the other hand, a cake is a sweet baked dessert that is often frosted or decorated and served as a celebratory dessert for special occasions. 

So, if you also want to try baking bread with the goodness of fruits and veggies, here are five recipes to try:

Zucchini Bread  

Zucchini is rich in nutrients, including vitamins; however, it is among the least favourite vegetables for most people. But this recipe is definitely going to change your mind. Zucchini bread is low in carbs, and you can customise it with your favourite spices or nuts. It is moist, slightly sweet, and has a subtle, nutty flavour from the zucchini.

Ingredients  

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup of vegetable oil
• 2 ¼ cups white sugar
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated zucchini 
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Method  

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour two 8-by-4-inch baking pans. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl. 
• Beat eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla together in a separate bowl with an electric mixer until combined; add flour mixture and beat well. Stir in the zucchini and walnuts until well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. 
• Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 to 60 minutes. Cool it in the pans on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen them. Invert carefully onto a wire rack, let cool completely, and enjoy.

Banana Bread  

Banana bread is one of the most popular fruit breads and is used to make a variety of dishes, including banana bread pudding and French toast. It has many variations and can be combined with multiple ingredients, such as chocolate chip banana bread, walnut banana bread, caramel-rum banana bread, and much more. Banana bread has a soft and moist texture like a muffin, along with a distinct flavour of banana. It is a great pre-workout snack, as a slice of it can lend an extra dose of energy. If you want to try it at home, here is a simple recipe. You can improvise with the ingredients according to your diet and preferences.

Ingredients  

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• ¼ teaspoon salt 
• ¾ cup brown sugar 
• ½ cup butter 
• 2 eggs, beaten 
• 2 ⅓ cups mashed overripe bananas

Method  

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. 
• In a separate large bowl, beat brown sugar and butter with an electric mixer until smooth. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. 
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean, about 60 minutes. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Apple Cinnamon Bread  

Loaded with cinnamon and juicy apples, this buttery and moist bread can also be enjoyed as a cake. Made with basic ingredients, it is very simple to prepare. It has a spongy texture along with the warm flavours of apple and cinnamon. You can also replace apples with other fruits, such as strawberries or peaches. 

Ingredients  

• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce 
• 3 large eggs 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 1 cup brown sugar 
• 3 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 
• 3 cups green apples peeled, cored and chopped

 Method  

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Lightly grease two bread loaf pans. 
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together applesauce, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk in the sugar and brown sugar until combined. 
• Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until thoroughly mixed in, then fold in apples. 
• Divide the batter between the two prepared pans. Bake in the 300-degree oven for 90 minutes.  
• Remove pans from the oven and let cool for 10–15 minutes before removing the loaf from the pan. Cool completely on a wire cooling rack.

Spinach Bread  

If your children make excuses for eating spinach, this is the best way to incorporate this green into their diet. Made with fresh spinach, this slightly savoury and spongy bread is perfect for breakfast as well as dinner. This gorgeous green-coloured bread can be enjoyed as a wholesome meal when paired with boiled eggs or grilled chicken. You can also make sandwiches with spinach bread and pack them for your child's lunch box.

Ingredients  

• 120 g fresh spinach, roughly chopped
• ⅔ cup + 2 teaspoons buttermilk 
• 3½ tablespoons vegetable oil 
• 3 large eggs 
• ½ cup mature cheddar, heaped, coarsely grated 
• 2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 2 teaspoons baking powder 
• ⅓ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 
• ½ teaspoon onion granules and fine salt each  

Method  

• Start by preheating the oven to 350 °F. Lightly grease and line a 23-cm loaf pan with parchment paper; set aside. Roughly chop the spinach and place it in the food processor. Pulse until finely chopped but not pureed. 
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, soda, salt, and onion granules and stir thoroughly using a whisk. 
• In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, and buttermilk until smooth. Add most of the grated cheese and spinach and stir until thoroughly mixed. 
• Combine the dry and wet mixtures and stir only until the dry ingredients are no longer visible. The batter will be thick. 
• Pour into the prepared pan, smooth out the top with a spatula or spoon, and scatter the remaining cheese over the top. Bake in the centre of the oven for 1 hour.  
• Remove from the oven and set aside for 10 minutes, then lift out of the pan with the paper and place on a rack.  

Blueberry Bread  

This moist and delicious bread is loaded with fresh blueberries. You can also use any of your favourite berries, including strawberries, to prepare this easy and yummy bread. Blueberry bread serves as an amazing dessert after a family dinner and also makes a quick breakfast or snack. They can be slathered with butter and marmalade of your choice or eaten on their own as well. 

Ingredients  

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 
• ¾ cup white sugar 
• 2 teaspoons baking powder 
• ⅛ teaspoon salt 
• ½ cup milk 
• ¼ cup vegetable oil 
• 1 egg 
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 1 ½ cups blueberries

Method  

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a loaf pan. 
• Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Stir the milk, oil, egg, and vanilla extract into the flour mixture until just blended; gently fold the blueberries into the batter, and pour into a loaf tin. 
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean, 60 to 70 minutes. Cool briefly on a wire rack before inverting carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack. Let it cool completely.