Hairy Gourd Bread
A warmly spiced quick bread packed with grated hairy gourd, tender crumb, and optional walnuts for an easy loaf with a little mystery.
Prep 15 min · Cook 1 hr 15 min · Total 1 hr 30 min · Makes 1 9x5-inch loaf (10 slices)
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups peeled, grated raw fuzzy squash
- 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 cup shelled walnuts, chopped, optional
- Butter for greasing the pan
Directions
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees F, then butter a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with a generous hand. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to whip the eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla until the mixture is pale and thickened, about 5 minutes. Lightly press the grated squash to remove extra liquid, then fold it into the egg mixture.
- Sift the dry ingredients together. Add them to the wet mixture, folding gently and stopping as soon as everything is combined. Fold in the walnuts.
- Scrape the batter into the buttered pan. Place it on the center rack and bake for approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, until a cake tester shows no wet batter.