Filed Under: banana, banana bread recipe, healthy food, healthy recipe, healthy snack, it all begins with food, snack idea, spinach

Popeye’s Banana Bread

Have your kids help you make this bread to encourage the idea that greens are a good thing and nothing to be wary of. 

May 8th, 2017

From: It All Begins With Food, by Leah Garrad-Cole, published by Penguin Random House Canada

Spinach in banana bread isn't exactly traditional, but it gives this treat a boost of green muscle which is hardly noticeable in the finished product. It might be tempting to keep the spinach on the low down, but I recommend pointing out (with convincing enthusiasm) that this banana bread has spinach in it!
Servings
1 loaf
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup virgin coconut oil, melted + extra to grease the pan
  • 2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour (or 2 cups of spelt or whole wheat flour)
  • 1 tbsp flaxseeds
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 3 large ripe bananas
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup liquid honey
  • 1 tsp ground chia seeds
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 packed cup chopped baby spinach leaves, stems removed
  • 2/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a deep 9- × 5-inch loaf pan with coconut oil and then dust it with gluten-free flour. Even better, use a silicone loaf pan, which doesn’t need any preparation and won’t stick.

  2. Place the flour, flaxseeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl and mix to combine.

  3. In a food processor fitted with the steel blade, combine the bananas, eggs, honey, coconut oil, chia, and vanilla until completely smooth.

  4. Add the spinach and pulse gently until it is in very small pieces but not completely blended in. You don’t want to turn the mixture green by blending it too much.

  5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, mix until just combined, and then stir in the nut pieces and chocolate chips (if using).

  6. Pour into the loaf pan and bake for approximately 1 hour. A toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf should come out clean, and the top should be dark golden.

  7. Allow to cool slightly before removing from the pan and cooling on a wire rack. Slice off pieces as needed and serve plain or spread with butter or coconut oil.

  8. To store, wrap whatever is left unsliced in parchment paper or foil. This will keep well for a few days on the counter, or you can wrap slices individually and freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Popeye’s Banana Bread
Copyright © 2017 Janis Nicolay

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