The avocado loaf was the result of watching back-to-back episodes of Top Chef Just Dessert. I know it’s kinda late to blog about the show now which has already ended on 17 November 2010.
Can you imagine how tough it was for me not to google its winner?
Yes, besides my secret identity as a food blogger, I’m also a suspense killer (Don’t worry, I’m considerate enough not to mention the winner here in case you haven’t watch it 🙂 ). Unfortunately, Adam, who introduced me the show as well as knowing me too well, made me promise not to check the result. Damn, it was tough! But part being a good friend is not breaking a promise. So I resisted the temptation of googling “top chef just dessert winner”. 😛
I can never picture myself becoming a pastry chef – too much precision required and seriously, you need the hands of a surgeon don’t you agree? I was truly inspired and amazed at some of the outrageous flavour combinations. Madras curry and chocolate palette with raspberry gelee, anyone?
While watching half way through the show, Adam came up the idea of replacing bananas with avocado in his go-to banana bread recipe, namely he has some ripe avocados lying around. And my contribution for the loaf was adding pepitas and lime. (Oh, I’ve just discovered some other avocado loaf recipes on the web, so obviously we are not the first one, darn!)
The verdict? My first comment about the loaf was “it tastes like avocado”. Okay, it’s no brainer there as it was an avocado loaf after all, duh! I must say, since I’m stepping into unusual loaf territory, it took me a couple of bites to get used to the taste. That said, it didn’t stop us from almost finishing the loaf on the same day. Thist must tell us something right? 😛
One thing for sure about the loaf is it has a very smooth and moist texture. I guess that’s why avocado is known as the nature’s butter. I must say it has a lot of potential to be great, possibly some spices would help? Anyway when you don’t know what to do with extra overripe avocado, this may a recipe for you?
Avocado & Lime Loaf Topped with Pepitas (Pumpkin Seeds)
(tweaked from ninemsn.com)
Ingredients
1 1/2 avocado, halved & stones removed
2 tbsps of maple syrup or golden syrup
¾ cups of white sugar
1 Egg
1 Cup of self-raising flour
A handful pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
Juice & zest of 1/2 lime
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (356 degrees Fahrenheit) for convection oven) / 160 degrees Celsius (320 degrees Fahrenheit) for fan-forced. Line baking pan with parchment paper and grease the sides without the parchment paper with vegetable oil.
2. Add avocado, lime juice, zest, maple syrup, and sugar to a bowl and mash everything together with a spoon.
3. Mix in egg. Use a hand mixer to mix everything well.
4. Add flour and mix until batter is smooth.
5. Pour batter in pan and sprinkle on top with pumpkin seeds. Bake for 45 minutes or until the cake tester comes out clean.
{Enjoy! <3 Emily}
Fabulous color! What a neat quick bread…and a surprisingly small number of ingredients. I’ll have to give this a whirl.
Wasn’t Top Chef Just Desserts full of drama! And wow, I would never have thought to have made an avocado loaf but I love avocado anything so I should give this a go. All it needs a little disco dust, no? lol
I know right? I was getting “stress” as in who was going to be the winner. Also, I was getting sick of disco dust towards the end of the show, lol – too much of a good thing can be bad for this case, hehe!
Beautiful – the only part my stroppy (surgically shortened) innards would dislike is the pumpkin seeds which can so easily be ignored for this recipe.
I have some just ripe avocadoes lurking in my living room. Wow, have you come up with just the right recipe for me today!
Super thanks, I hope this New Year of 2011 is very kind to you.
I’m used to some crunchy texture in my loaf so I need something to crunch up the loaf – and hence the pumpkins seeds. I’m going to check what nuts can go with avocado for my future baking adventure, hehe! I hope you’ll like the loaf. 🙂 And wishing you a Happy New Year!
How interesting! I would never have thought to use the avocado this way, but I’m really eager to give this a try. The lime and pepita addition are perfect complements. Nicely done!
Thanks Kim! Glad that you like our crazy concoction. 😀
Looks hearty and delicious! Spectacular site! Greetings from Romania!
That looks wonderful. I am loving the combo of avocadoes and lime.
Beautiful photos! I love avocado and lime, I’m betting that this tastes pretty much amazing!
This looks so scrumptious, but I would also probably need a few bites to get used to it.
Emily, What a gorgeous loaf you have there!
I love baking – everything eggless though. Would you have any suggestions for replacing egg in this recipe?
Hi Radhika,
Thanks for your compliment. 😀 Unfortunately I haven’t tried this recipe without egg and hence, not in the position to advise you with any egg replacement. Sorry about that, but I’ll keep this in mind when I bake this again. It’d be a nice challenge to recreate this recipe into an eggless recipe.
I am a vegan and found that ground flaxseeds worked well in this recipe as an egg substitute. 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water = approx 1 egg.
Thanks for sharing this helpful tip! 🙂 It’s greatly appreciated.
Oh, what a gorgeous green colour! Totally nomworthy.
P.S.:- I know how it feels to be watching TC Just Desserts so late (I have been too) and especially not jump to the finale. However, I have much less self-control than you do…..I googled it!
Genius! That looks absolutely amazing… though I might have to substitute the pumpkin seeds for sesame. 🙂
Well this is new for me. I never tried this kind of bread…looks so beautiful! Love the photos!
Oooooo, such an interesting idea. Worth trying just to taste what avocado in a “loaf” format tastes like, but I love the green color! Thanks for sharing!
I have never thought to add avocado to a bread before, I love the color. Looks amazing!
I’ve also baked with avocados before and I love it. Your post reminds me that I should do it again… soon, hopefully!
I would love this bread! I’m obsessed w/ avocado… I think adding some red pepper flakes or cayenne to the batter would be cool. And some garlic? That would be interesting… Hmmm….
wow – i would have never thought of this! i saved the recipe to my online cookbook (cookmarked.com) and the next time i end up with an extra avacado on hand, I’ll give this a shot.
Yeah, I’ve gone a little “too creative” with this one, haha! I hope you’ll like it as it is an acquired taste, I must say. 🙂
First of all…you have amazing pictures that just makes you want to eat right of the screen and your recipes are refreshing and very fresh!! keep it up.
Thanks for your words of encouragement, Alay! I’ll keep it up! lol
I just tried this recipe this evening and I have to say I thought it was great! The avocado gave the bread such a nice, moist texture. Thanks!
Hi again, glad that you’ve liked it! 😀
Hey Emily,
I just tried this recipe and the bread turned out to be fabulous!! I just substituted the self-raising / all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour which gave the deeper flavor 🙂
after all, the result was amazingly delicious! 😉
This seems like a great type of bread to make Cali BLT’s with, and insted of avocado ON the bread, it’s IN the bread! amazing.
Thanks Kelsey. 🙂