Cheesy Garlic Zucchini Bread

Cheesy garlic zucchini bread is a recipe I make when summer squash are abundant.  It’s a quick bread recipe, not a yeast bread, so it goes together in a flash.  The texture is nice and moist, and the garlic gives it real “pop”.  This recipe is adapted from the Zucchini Cheese Square recipe in The Garden-Fresh Vegetable Cookbook.

Cheesy Garlic Zucchini Bread Recipe

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

• 3 cups grated zucchini or summer squash (You may prefer to peel and seed overgrown zucchini, but it’s not absolutely necessary.  I don’t peel younger ones.)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour, or whole wheat flour (a gf flour blend would probably work, too)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cups grated cheddar
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 3 large chicken eggs, beaten or 2 duck eggs, beaten – preferably at room temp

Combine the zucchini and salt in a colander and toss to mix. Set aside to drain for 30 minutes. Squeeze out the excess water.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 7×11 inch baking dish with butter or lard. (I use a 9×9 inch pyrex dish and reduce the heat to 330.)

Stir together the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl. Add the onion, zucchini, cheese, garlic powder and pepper. Mix well with a fork, breaking up any clumps of zucchini. Whisk together eggs and butter in a small bowl. Pour into the zucchini mixture and mix well. Spread evenly in the baking dish.

Bake for about 35 minutes, until golden.  You want the whole top golden and the entire pan cooked through, so don’t be afraid to give it some extra time if needed.  The batter is very thick and moist.

Let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature.  Store leftovers (if there are any) in the refrigerator.

And that’s it – yet another way to use up some summer squash. This goes well as a side dish with grilled food and cold salad.

Don’t forget to check out the summer squash gummy candy, just for fun.