If there’s any way to make homemade gluten free zucchini bread better, it’s to make it better FOR you!
Not that you’d ever know that this moist and flavorful quick bread was healthy in any way. There are little flecks of green dotted throughout, giving away the fact that this is zucchini bread, of course, but most of us have long since lost any hang-ups we might have had in thinking of zucchini bread as health food.
Of course I have other gluten free zucchini bread recipes (even one with pumpkin AND zucchini and another with chocolate, coffee AND zucchini) — and I love them! — but this one is fun too, especially knowing I can have extra extra slices because of the extra extra nutrition tucked inside from the secret ingredients.
What secret ingredients? you would be justified in asking.
Peas or lentils! Now before you turn up your nose at the thought, I promise you’d never know! They are cooked up and puréed, then added to the bread batter for moisture, vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein.
I give lots of other options with this recipe — you know I love to give options! — so it’s easy to make this recipe vegan and to use what you’ve got in the fridge. So no excuses! I hope you get to try this recipe one day soon, and I hope you love it! Remember, you can always still make one of my other gluten free zucchini bread recipes, or any other zucchini recipe on my site. There are so many options!!!
I’ve never been opposed to increasing fiber, protein, vitamins, and complex carbs in my foods, but only where the end result is a dish that’s just as yummy, moist and aftertaste-free as it would have been without the nutritional boost.
So without further ado, I present to you the peas & lentils recipe that intrigued you the most: Gluten Free Veggie Zucchini Bread!
Gluten Free Veggie Zucchini Bread
What could make homemade gluten free zucchini bread better? Making it even better FOR you!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated cane sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter or non-dairy alternative (e.g. Earth Balance® Buttery Sticks
- 2 large eggs or egg substitute (like 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas, apple puree or applesauce, or canned pumpkin)
- 1/2 cup sour cream (dairy or non-dairy sour cream OR plain coconut or soy yogurt like So Delicious®)
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup split pea purée
- 2 cups gfJules™ Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
- 2 Tbs. flaxseed meal (optional, or use gfJules Flour)
- 1 Tbs. cinnamon
- 1 Tbs. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 2 cups packed fresh zucchini, unpeeled and grated (approximately 1 1/2 zucchini squash)
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- Cinnamon-sugar mixture to sprinkle on top
Instructions
Measure and rinse 1/2 cup dried split peas. Add to a large saucepan with 1 1/4 cups of water and bring to a boil. Then reduce to simmer, cover and continue to cook for approximately 30 minutes, or until the peas are quite soft, but not falling apart. Drain, then purée, using a food processor, blender or a potato masher. Add water by tablespoons to purée if necessary to thin it — peas should be the consistency of canned pumpkin when done.
Measure out 1/2 cup of purée for the recipe and if there is any remaining, cover and refrigerate for use in other recipes — it will keep for 3-4 days or longer, if frozen.
To prepare the bread:
Preheat oven to 350° F (static) or 325° F (convection).
Beat the sugar and butter until fluffy, then add the eggs or egg substitute, sour cream, vanilla and cooled pea purée – mix well.
Sift together the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, then pour slowly into the wet ingredient bowl and beat together until integrated. Fold in the zucchini and nuts, if using. The batter will be fairly stiff.
Oil one loaf pan and scoop batter into pan, then smooth with a rubber spatula. If using mini loaf pans, oil 5-6 pans; if using muffin tins, oil 24 muffin tins. Fill each no more than one-half full, then sprinkle the tops with cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Bake large loaf for 50-55 minutes; mini loaf pans for 30-35 minutes; muffins for 20-30 minutes. Test the middles with a toothpick to be sure they are cooked through before removing to cool on a wire rack. Do not overbake!
Don’t forget to pin for later!
This looks great! Gluten free AND a way to use up all that zucchini that we end up with!!
Thanks!
Lisa
Great recipe! Looking forward to making it.
I can’t wait to try the Zucchini Bread recipe. Soon my garden will be full of fresh organic zucchini and this bread looks amazing!
I am always looking for ways to get extra veggies into our diet. I have a one year old and a picky husband! Thanks for the idea!
Thanks Jules!
Baking with GF flours has made me aware of the need to add fibre by whatever means possible to my baking. Bravo to Jules for developing these recipes using peas and lentils. I look forward to trying them out.
This too looks good. Another reason to plant zucchini! And I usually have frozen cooked peas. Easy to do up a batch.
Healthy, gluten free and with a great protein source! I’m making it today. Yummm!
Wow! I love how you stuck not just zucchini in the quick bread but other veggies too! I’m going to have to give this recipe a try soon!
This recipe looks really yummy! Can’t wait to try it!
Zucchini bread is always good !! Adding a little protein makes it even better.
Can’t wait to try this one and see if my son will eat it!
I can’t wait to try this with fresh zucchini growing in my garden. Horray for making quick breads GF and Nutritious!!!
Love, love, LOVE Jules’ zucchini bread. The healthier, the better!
I have to try this recipe. It sounds so yummy!
I love the idea of putting split pea puree in baked goods. There is little taste impact but great on the nutrients–especially nice protein boost for those of us who are vegans.
Thanks for another great recipe!
Oh, looks really good! This would also be great as a muffin!
I’m super excited to try this recipe for my daughter who was recently diagnosed with gluten/wheat/egg/milk intolerances.
I love zucchini bread. I’ll have to try this recipe with the added nutrients.
I am all about hiding healthy foods into desserts & treats. My biggest complaint about GF baked goods is the lack of nutrition(replacing white flour with gf white flour), plus your recipes eliminates the guilt about eating them! Thanks so much for all the great recipes. I plan to try them all.
Sounds wonderful and great way to add more protein and fiber. I will have to try it.
How wonderful to get all the extra protein and fiber in a gluten free recipe. I love peas and lentils.
Thanks, Jules
My nephew hates veggies but he didn’t know they were in this YUMO bread! Thanks for the wonderful recipes!
Laura