Superfood spiced pumpkin, carrot and walnut loaf
SERVES 10 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR 45 MINUTES (+ COOLING AND STANDING TIME)
500g pumpkin, peeled, cut into 2cm pieces 2 teaspoons olive oil ½ cup (140g) natural yoghurt ¼ teaspoon baking soda 80g butter ¼ cup (60ml) pure maple syrup 2 eggs, beaten lightly 1 large (180g) carrot, grated coarsely 1½ cups (225g) self-raising flour 1 cup (120g) almond meal ½ cup (50g) coarsely chopped walnuts 2 tablespoons white chia seeds 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground ginger ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ¼ cup (50g) pepitas (pumpkin seed kernels) 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
ORANGE MAPLE RICOTTA
1 cup (240g) ricotta ½ teaspoon finely grated orange rind 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup 1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line an oven tray with baking paper. Grease a 10cm x 21cm loaf pan; line the base and long sides with baking paper. 2 Place pumpkin on tray, drizzle with oil; toss to coat. Bake pumpkin for 30 minutes or until tender. Transfer to a bowl; mash (or process) until smooth. You will need 1 cup pumpkin puree; cool slightly. 3 Meanwhile, combine yoghurt and soda in a glass or ceramic bowl. Stand for 5 minutes or until yoghurt expands. 4 Melt butter and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat until combined; cool 10 minutes. 5 Combine pumpkin puree, egg and carrot in a medium bowl. Stir in butter mixture then gently fold in yoghurt mixture. 6 Combine flour, almond meal, walnuts, chia seeds and spices in a large bowl; make a well in the centre. Gently fold pumpkin mixture into dry ingredients until just combined. Do not over mix. Spoon mixture into pan; smooth top. Sprinkle with pepitas; cover pan with foil. 7 Bake loaf for 45 minutes. Remove foil; bake for a further 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave loaf in pan for 10 minutes before turning, top-side up, onto a wire rack to cool. 8 ORANGE MAPLE RICOTTA Meanwhile, process ingredients until smooth. 9 Serve sliced loaf with Orange Maple Ricotta, drizzled with maple syrup. Undecorated loaf suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave.