Banana Bread

Nigella has famously said in her book "How to  Be a Domestic Goddess":

"This is the first recipe anyone hesitant about baking should try: it's fabulously easy and fills the kitchen with that aromatic fug which is the natural atmospheric setting for the domestic goddess."

There are numerous ( make that infinite ) recipes for Banana Bread on the internet and various books, yet this recipe is the one which I keep coming back to. Banana bread starts with a thick sweet batter that is full of mashed bananas, ground cinnamon and toasted nuts. It is, as the name "Quick" Bread implies, quick to make. The dry ingredients are mixed together in one bowl, the wet ingredients are mixed together in another bowl. The two are combined and you are done. When you pull this banana bread from the oven the golden brown crust is delightfully crisp and although the crust softens once the bread is covered and stored, its wonderful moist texture and sweet flavor remain intact. 

Bananas are picked while still green which means its flesh will be hard with little flavor. As time passes and the banana ripens its skin begins to turn yellow and with that its flesh softens and flavor sweetens. Further aging causes the skin to brown and its flesh to become very soft and sweet. At this stage some people throw these bananas in the garbage thinking they have gone bad, not realizing how delicious they will be when mashed and baked in a bread or cake.

If you are like me, almost every time I buy bananas a few (not enough though to make this Banana Bread) will turn brown before we get around to eating them. Instead of throwing them away simply slip them into a plastic bag and place them into the freezer until you have enough for baking.( I have learned this trick from the wonderful Sally of sallythemessybaker. Go ahead check out her blog. She has an amazing recipe for Banana and Chocolatechip Muffin on her blog.) You can also peel and mash them, stir in 1 teaspoon lemon juice for each banana, and freeze in an airtight container or bag. They will keep about six months in the freezer.

Banana Bread:

Ingredients: 

1 cup (115 grams) walnuts or cashews, toasted and coarsely chopped (optional)

1 3/4 cups (230 grams) all-purpose flour

3/4 cup (150 grams) caster sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

3 ripe large bananas (approximately 1 pound or 454 grams), mashed well (about 1-1/2 cups)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius and place oven rack to middle position. Butter and flour the bottom and sides of a 9 x 5 x 3 inch (23 x 13 x 8 cm) loaf pan. Set aside.

Place the nuts on a baking sheet and bake for about 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Let cool and then chop coarsely.  

In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nuts. Set aside.

In a medium-sized bowl combine the mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, lightly fold the wet ingredients (banana mixture) into the dry ingredients just until combined and the batter is thick and chunky. (The important thing is not to over mix the batter. You do not want it smooth. Over mixing the batter will yield tough, rubbery bread.) Scrape batter into prepared pan. Bake until bread is golden brown and a  toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 to 60 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool and then remove the bread from the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature. This bread can be frozen.

Sending to ABC Series-Fruit Fiesta Event at Ramyas Space