Last week I baked some cookies and cupcakes for a friend whom I was meeting for the first time in person. I had met her on Flickr where we both belong to the same photography group and keep meeting virtually, through our photography assignments there. Other than that I haven’t baked these past few weeks since this brioche, which isn’t a big deal, but I usually bake about twice a week. A sore throat and fever also ensured that even my cooking was of the “bare minimum for survival” variety.
I have also not been keeping up with happenings on my favourite food blogs or events in the food blogdom either. It was only when Finla was talking about the bread she had baked for World Bread Day (WBD), that I realized I didn’t even know that WBD was on. Bread Baking Day, and WBD by extension, used to be events I used to enjoy baking for as they pushed me to discover a world of breads I didn’t know existed. It turns out that I am in time for WBD this year, and I have a bread for the event, even though I must admit that I did not bake this bread specially for it.
For a long time I used to keep seeing zucchini on so many blogs and wonder what it tasted like. Zucchini is not a vegetable native to India even though we have many different types of gourds here. So when I finally started seeing it at my local market I was quite thrilled, even though a bit on the expensive side.
I was disappointed by the vegetable as I found it looked a lot more promising than it actually was. I found it rather bland though it does take on flavours well, when cooked with other vegetables and spices.
Despite this, I tend to buy zucchini on and off as it does quite well when baked as bread or muffins. Most recipes for zucchini bread are chocolate versions of quickbreads using baking powder. I have made an eggless chocolate zucchini quickbread before and wanted to try making a yeasted bread with zucchini.
I found this yeasted zucchini bread recipe which seemed good and almost irresistible because the ingredient list included cardamom! I halved the recipe, and some subtractions and additions later, baked an absolutely delightful loaf of yeasted zucchini bread with chocolate chips. If you would rather avoid the chocolate in this bread, do leave out the chocolate chips and you would still have an excellent bread on hand. The yeast makes a light and soft bread unlike the dense moist type of zucchini bread made with baking powder.
Yeasted Zucchini Chocolate Chip Bread
Ingredients
- 1/2 tbsp yeast dry active
- 3/4 cup milk warm
- 2 tbsps sugar
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tbsps butter , softened
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup zucchini grated
- 3 pods cardamom , powdered
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Put about 1/4 cup of the warm milk in a large bowl. Add the sugar and dissolve the yeast in this. Add the soft butter to the remaining 1/2 cup of warm milk and whisk to mix. Add this, the salt, cardamom, grated zucchini and flours to the bowl and mix to form a soft dough.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead until it is smooth and elastic. This should take about about 6-8 minutes. If the dough feels sticky dust the dough with just enough flour to make kneading the dough manageable. Too much flour will alter the texture of the bread.
- Place the dough in a well oiled bowl, turning to coat well with oil. Cover and allow it to rise in a warm place until doubled. Thi should take about about an hour or so.
- Gently knead the dough and press it out (not very thin) into a rectangle. Sprinkle the surface evenly with the chocolate chips and roll up the rectangle from the short side. Tuck the ends neatly and smoothly under the shaped loaf of dough.
- Place it in a greased loaf tin, cover loosely and allow it to rise for about 30 to 45 minutes. Bake at 190C (375F) for 40 minutes or till golden brown and done. Unmould and cool on a rack. Serve as you wish. This recipe makes a small loaf of zucchini bread.
I'm Aparna and My Diverse Kitchen is my ovo-lacto vegetarian food blog where you'll find recipes, food stories & photography. I've been blogging since 2007 and believe the kitchen, and the dining table (by extension) is really the heart of a home. 
Hey you baked bread, I am glad i reminded you the day ;-)Now that you can get zucchini you can start making diferent dishes wiht it.I have to admit i hav enever baked with them even though i see in lot of blogs cakes etc…. with zucchini.Bread looks beutiful and itoo love that there is cardamom in it.I am bookmarking the one.So was the texture bready or cakey.
Finla, the texture is very much like bread. And thanks again. 🙂
Wow, its a must try bread Aparna.I am yet to try zucchini in bread and also in avial.I always buy it and use it for soups,pastas or simply roasted.Love the way choc is stuffed within the bread.Looks great.
Now that is one awesome bread Aparna..I don’t think we get zucchini here..but I recently saw it and was impressed..and now you tempt us like this..
True.. zucchini doesnt have much flavor by itself.. but it adds a texture element in stews etc and it’s great when sauteed crisp with a bit of chilli powder
Wow so lovely n yummy….Event: Dish Name Starts with C Learning-to-cook Regards,Akila
Love all the flavours going into the bread,looks delish.Pushpa @ simplehomefood.com
I can’t imagine how fabulous this must taste!! Thanks for sharing
zucchini and chocolate delicious
this looks wonderful. Bread is really not my forte and this sounds fool proof and am pretty tempted to try it.Glad u are better now..whns ur next visit this side of town?
Ooo… never thought to use zucchini in bread.. yours really looks so moist and tasty, can almost smell the cardamoms over here 🙂
Sounds really interesting! Love to try it..
Beautiful looking bread, absolutely stunning..
Now who would want to avoid chocolate in this bread? LOL! This is the first yeasted zucchini bread I’ve seen and I love it. Must make this, it is perfect. Gorgeous World Bread Day, Aparna. xo
I’ve alread baked bread with zucchini but never added chocolate. What a great idea! Thank you for participating in World Bread Day.
I’ve always wanted to try baking with zucchini, never really got around to it! The bread looks delicious 😀
Even though i ve couple of zucchinis in stock, i never baked yet! First time i am seeing yeast bread with zucchini! U re a bread baking queen! Lovely bread!
Yummy bread with the choco chips
lovely bread
yummy, I love zucchini with chocolate.lovely and delicious blog too.bises from FranceDelphine
I wish I lived nearby to part take in your baking delights!
I just want to say that i´ve made this bread, it turned out delicious 🙂
That’s so good to know. Though I must say its a bread that you cannot dislike. 🙂