Wednesday, April 14, 2010

VEGAN LEMON & SESAME SEED LOAF



On last night's Desperate Housewives, Bree said baking is 'all about precision'. Not with me Mrs Van de Kamp-Hodge. No, here it's all about cravings and experimentation (the latter not always successful).

Today's experiment is Lemon and Sesame Seed Loaf. Hmm. We had delicious Lemon and Poppy Seed muffins in Paperchase in London at the week-end and I've had lemon cake cravings since Easter, so here we are. Our local veg shop, which also sells seeds, didn't have poppy seeds so instead I bought sesame and just sprinkled them on top. It turned out grand - not very sweet but the lemony-ness makes up for that. Add another 25g to 50 g sugar if you like a sweeter loaf.

Here's the recipe:

150 g of wholemeal spelt flour
100 g self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
25 g of light brown sugar
25 g of caster sugar
1 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp NoEgg mixed with 2tblsps water (or 1 beaten egg for non vegans)
150 mls of soya milk
juice and rind of one large lemon
1 tblsp vegetable oil
a handful of sesame seeds


* Preheat the oven to 160˚C
* Grease a 2lb loaf tin (or line with paper liner)
* Zest the lemon, then squeeze it
* Sieve the flour
* Mix flour, sugar and spice
* Make the NoEgg mix as per pack
* In a jug, mix together the soya milk, oil and NoEgg mixture
* Make a well in the flour and beat in the milky mixture
* Fold in the lemon zest and lemon juice
* Pour the mixture into the loaf tin. Gently shake to flatten the top
* Sprinkle with the sesame seeds
* Bake for an hour in the top of the oven. Move down a shelf if top browning too quickly.
* Test with a skewer to see if it is baked through
* Cool the cake in the tin

3 comments:

Group 8 said...

Hi Deon, you are welcome!

lux lux said...

hey there, just wanted to drop a short note to say how much i like this blog! the recipes look yummy and inspiring- i found it because i'm a veggie considering going vegan, and searched 'how to be vegan and not hungry', hehe! but what also interested me is that you're writing in Ireland. im from Dublin and aside from Cornucopia and Fresh, dont know too much about the vegan community around those parts.
shall keep reading, anyhow, and keep up the good work!

Group 8 said...

hi Lux Lux
thanks a mill for your nice comments.
Protein is the key to not going hungry: pulses, beans, nuts and/or tofu at lunch and dinner. Lentils are brilliant!
I'm veggie, my husband is vegan so i cook vegan.
Soup is his big fall back position.
Eating out can be a pain. Gazillions of waiters do not understand the phrase 'no dairy'.
Best of luck with the decision. Do try to be smart about it - lots of people turn vegan and their health suffers. Maybe plan menus for a few weeks at teh start so you get into the swing of it.
Best of luck!
Sorry I don't update this much - my literary blog takes precedence!
Govindas is another good Dublin spot (Abbey St and Aungier St); Juice Café on Sth Great Georges St.
I live in Galway and Ard Bia and Da Tang Noodle are the best here.
Nuala x