Monday 16 March 2009

thai pineapple curry banana bread...devilishly divine!

so what do you do when you read on another blog, in this case the fabulous Not Quite Nigella, about a recipe that seems sure to tantalise the taste buds in a variety of ways? why you get out your mixing bowl and start making it, that's what! i mean how could i resist this recipe...curry pineapple banana bread??? the name itself conjures up a mixture of reactions ranging from the thoughts in your head...how can there be curry in a cake? to the impending taste on your tongue...hmmm, curry and banana...ok, ok...there's a possibility it could work...so i jsut had to find out for myself. the recipe originally came from an entry by Catherine from Clever Monkey Studio in a competition that was held on the blog...a banana bread bake-off, where everyone submitted entries based on their favourite banana breads. i entered it but don't remember seeing this recipe until it popped up last week on Not Quite Nigella's blog and my curiosity was piqued...i knew i had to give it a go.

and what a treat...i mean really, this has to be one of the nicest banana breads i have tasted in a long time. from the moment i started making it, there was surprise after surprise. i mean, the way you mix the ingredients for starters seems to be all back-to-front...start with the wet ingredients, end with the dry? but i have faith so i followed and the final batter was lovely and thick, with that beautiful orange tinge that can only come from the addition of the curry powder. and then 3 tablespoons of curry powder, i mean it seemed so excessive? could it really need that much? but in it went...as per instructions...

well, the smell of it baking in the oven was really enough to produce enough saliva to...umm, not sure where i can go with that...but you know what i mean. it was heavenly. rich and spicy and aromatic. and then when it came out...all golden and cracking open...oh, did i really have to wait for it to cool. i mean where was my brother when i needed him?...the one who always demands instant cutting of cakes...

and once i had a peek inside...oh it was better than opening the cover of a brand new book...those pieces of pineapple had become little blobs of soft, jammy, gooey stuff and the bread was rich and dark, and the smell...the bananas came through so wonderfully but then there was that faint hint of the curry. and that first mouthful...oh, divine upon divine...i loved it. not too sweet, but oh-so-flavourful...this is definitely to be made again...and if you know what's good for you...you'll get those mixing bowls out and be inspired to make one too!

Thai Pineapple Curry Banana Bread

3 ripe bananas
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp coconut milk powder (or unsweetened coconut)
1 tbsp lime juice
3 tbsp curry powder
1/2 cup chopped pineapple
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 325F. Spray Mix with spoon in a large bowl, melted butter, mashed bananas and coconut milk powder. Mix in sugars, egg, lime juice and curry powder. Add pineapple and mix. Mix in baking soda. Add the flour and mix. Pour into greased 4x8 loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on rack before removing from pan.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

YAY Sinead! So glad that you liked it :D Despite the somewhat unusual combination of ingredients it really does taste great :)

Unknown said...

Lorraine, i LOVED it...it's absolutely delicious. what a great recipe...all those flavours...hmmm, might need to go have another slice now ;)

The Caked Crusader said...

Sounds....interesting! The only ingredient I'm not sure about is the curry powder, but that's because I don't like curry.
I am always interested in unusual combinations though, and it certainly looks great

Unknown said...

hey caked crusader...i was very sceptical about the curry powder too and especially 3 tablespoons...seemed very excessive...but it was perfect. gave this lovely aromatic flavour to the cake...it didn't taste like curried cake at all ;)

Maria♥ said...

Interesting combo of flavours, but looks absolutely delish!

Maria
x

Anonymous said...

trying it for sure!! love from your pals in vermont.

Cancemini4 said...

This sounds so amazing! Can't wait to try it.

Erndog said...

I just bought all the ingredients to make a version of this delicious looking bread. I have fresh pineapple and wondered if that's what you used?
Thanks!
~erin

Unknown said...

hi erin - yes! i used fresh pineapple...i guess tinned would be fine too though and easier if it was all nicely chopped for you! cutting up pineapples is not a favourite activity of mine! enjoy the bread...it's yummy!

job new Zealand said...

simply amazing.. Look really delicious..

Anonymous said...

Hi, I obviously have been a bad blogger but was so happy to see your comment about the banana bread.

I just kept adding the curry until it seemed to be enough :) and I was so surprised that it didn't overpower the flavour at all... of course, I love curry but I'm glad its not just me who feels this way.

And I love all of your blogs! Makes me want to jump on the next plane to Indonesia... the colours in your photos have such an intense warm glow. I think I will zoom in and bask in it!

Furniture removals said...

Your loaf looks perfect

tal said...

what a great recipe- i am so glad you are blogging here again! i put my pics of it and a tweaked version of the recipe on my blog, it was so good! thanks!

the pink tink said...

interesting and again will try. only wish my tasters were more adventurous as i fear they will not eat hearing ingredients!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful recipe! The bread has a sweet, spicy flavor that DOES smell irresisible while baking. But, RESIST! When refrigerated and tasted the next day, it is fabulous! It does not taste of curry but enticingly spicy that is hard to place. Moist, flavor-packed, so good! YOU'LL LOVE IT!