I had a couple of brown and squishy bananas hanging around that really needed something done with them. They'd been eyeing me for a few days now. I also happen to have a wee tot hanging about who isn't excited about eating most meat proteins and quickly growing a bit tired of cheese and beans. So, I figured making quinoa banana bread was a great solution!
Quinoa is an odd little grain that turns from a small round ball into a spiraling curl no bigger than a pea. Along with a nutty flavor, quinoa is packed with protein - a healthy 22 grams per cup. For finicky eaters already feeding on solids that don't find chicken or tofu enticing, creating a meal that provides nourishment and is enjoyable can be accomplished through introducing quinoa into recipes.
This quinoa banana bread recipe creates a moist and tender bread that isn't too sweet allowing the banana and quinoa flavors to shine through. You might notice that instead of butter, the recipe calls for oil. That's because I enjoy my banana bread with a good layer of soft butter. Using oil in the bread instead of butter helps me to feel less guilty when indulging in a thick slice!
Ingredients
I cup cooked quinoa (follow package directions)
3 mushy bananas
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
dash of salt
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups flour
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place the cooled cooked quinoa in a mixing bowl and stir together with bananas. Get the kids to help smashing and mushing the bananas, which encourages their fine-motor skills and is just plain fun!
Add the cinnamon, vanilla, salt, yogurt, oil, sugar and egg and continue mixing.
In a separate bowl, mix together the baking soda, baking powder, and flour. Add to the wet ingredients 1/2 cup at a time until all the dry ingredients are incorporated.
Grease a loaf pan and pour in the batter. Bake in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 1 hour.
Remove the bread from the oven and let rest for as long as you can wait before cutting a slice. Cover with butter and enjoy the tasty flavor that also provides a healthy dose of protein. For even extra protein, spread the bread with peanut or almond butter, which is irresistible to kids (and most adults).
