Ah, English summertime. If it's good, it's really good. We do garden parties, lots of Pimms, and long walks in the countryside. We get very short days in the winter, so we like to make the most of the long summer days that have the sun shining until 10 pm by eating and drinking well with friends until the sun goes down.
The vegetable gardens are overflowing with produce at the moment. Beetroot, spinach, kale, and zucchini are just some of the seasonal beauties. One of my favorite ways of using up zucchini (or courgette as it is known here in the UK) is to bake with them. This recipe for lemon & zucchini breakfast muffins is my summer go-to for breakfast or a mid-morning snack. Moist, delicious, and light; everything you want from a summer garden-glut cake. You can definitely make these zucchini breakfast muffins more of a dessert-style muffin by omitting the seeds and adding a vegan cream cheese frosting, but I like them on the healthier side most of the time. If you've got a free weekend coming up, pack a picnic and include these to please adults and kids alike. Or, make them on a lazy Sunday to enjoy as a mid-morning pick-me-up when you're stuck at your desk in need of salvation. Easy to make and deliciously satisfying--what are you waiting for?!
YIELDS
12 Muffins
PREP TIME
COOK TIME
TOTAL TIME
- 2 tablespoons chia deeds
- 6-7 tablespoons water
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil (canola, sunflower, etc.)
- 1 cup muscovado sugar
- 2 medium zucchini
- 1 1/2 cup wholemeal (whole wheat) flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 360°F/180°C and line a muffin tin with 12 muffin cups.
2. Prepare your chia "eggs" by putting your chia seeds in a large bowl and adding the water. Leave to become gelatinous for 5-10 minutes.
3. Add vegetable oil and sugar to chia "eggs" and whisk until combined.
4. Sift in flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
5. Add in almond milk, lemon juice, and zest to loosen batter.
6. Fold in zucchini and sunflower seeds and distribute evenly between the 12 muffin cases.
7. Bake for 25 minutes until inserted skewer comes out clean and top is golden. These lemon zucchini breakfast muffins are best enjoyed fresh but will keep happily in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
2. Prepare your chia "eggs" by putting your chia seeds in a large bowl and adding the water. Leave to become gelatinous for 5-10 minutes.
3. Add vegetable oil and sugar to chia "eggs" and whisk until combined.
4. Sift in flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
5. Add in almond milk, lemon juice, and zest to loosen batter.
6. Fold in zucchini and sunflower seeds and distribute evenly between the 12 muffin cases.
7. Bake for 25 minutes until inserted skewer comes out clean and top is golden. These lemon zucchini breakfast muffins are best enjoyed fresh but will keep happily in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Also by Kat: Three Mushroom Pesto Linguine
Related: Vegan Orange Currant Muffins
Gluten-Free & Vegan Blueberry Scones
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Photos: Kat Kennedy
