RECIPE ~ Zucchini Onion Bread

It's zucchini season! My mother-in-law gave me a bag of 6 giant organic zucchinis from her garden and so I gathered some recipes -- here's one that's moist and savoury! Delicious fresh out of the oven, and great toasted the next days.

1 large onion, chopped small
3 cups whole grain flour
1 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp each herbs and spices: thyme, rosemary, coriander, cumin
2 Tbsp fresh minced herbs (parsley, cilantro or rosemary)
1/2 cup grated parmesan or feta
1 large zucchini
1/3 cup olive oil
3 eggs
1/4 cup of honey
1/4 cup 'milk (if needed)

Preheat oven to 350F. Oil a loaf pan and lightly dust with flour.

Saute the onion in a bit of olive oil or ghee until golden and soft, adding a pinch of salt and pepper. Let cool.

In a large bowl, sift together all the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Then stir in the parmesan or feta, dry herbs and spices, and fresh herbs.

In another bowl, grate the zucchini. Squeeze out excess liquid with your hands, drain, then stir in the cooled sauteed onion, eggs, olive oil, and honey. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry. Depending on the amount of juice from the zucchini and onion, you may need to add some liquid (ie. soymilk or rice milk) to the batter if it is too thick to combine. The consistency should be like muffin batter.

Scrape the batter into the pan and bake for about 45-55 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a knife or skewer, which should come out dry and clean. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes then on a rack before slicing. Delicious fresh with butter, hummus or cheese, and also great toasted after a few days! Makes 1 loaf. (Can also be made into muffins by baking in muffin tins for 20 minutes or so -- great as a side to soups and stews!)

FOR A VEGAN LOAF
Leave out cheese or substitute with a soy cheese product or 1/3 cup nutritional yeast flakes for that cheezy flavour; replace honey with maple syrup or brown rice syrup; replace eggs with 3/4 cup water mixed with 3 rounded tablespoons of ground flax seed (well mixed and left to sit for 10 minutes to thicken).

Inspired by Vanessa's recipe at What Geeks Eat.

FOR INDIVIDUAL DOSHAS
Ayurvedically, it's best not to cook honey as its only nutritional value is when eaten raw and unpasteurized; substitute with maple syrup or molasses. Hard cheeses are also not recommended; substitute with paneer or soft cheese.
VATAS choose wheat, oat, rice and/or quinoa flours; choose brown rice syrup or molasses
PITTAS choose wheat, spelt, barley and/or oat flours; reduce onion to half; choose maple syrup; use egg whites only, or flax mixture
KAPHAS choose oat, barley, rye, and/or quinoa flour; reduce salt and oil by half; choose maple syrup; add some chili flakes for extra heat