Flourless Courgette Loaf with Parmesan and Olives

I may have actually managed to time a recipe post with the theme for this week's episode of The Great British Bake Off, which happens to be bread.  My love of that programme is so great, I quite literally get butterflies thinking about the next episode and now that there is An Extra Slice on Fridays too, I can hardly contain myself. Alas, I digress!

This loaf is not your traditional bread recipe as it doesn't actually have any flour in it at all, rather ground almonds. It is soft and moist on the inside and chewy and crunchy from the the pumpkin seeds on the outside.  Perfect just on its own with a little bit of butter, but also great with cheese too.  

This recipe is an adaptation of the Paleo Inside-Out Bread recipe from I Quit Sugar for Life.  I have changed it up slightly to give it more of an Italian inspired flavour.

What you will need:

150g ground almonds
100g arrowroot
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
5 free-range eggs
1 1/2 tsp cider vinegar
80g sliced black olives
125g grated courgette 
50g finely grated parmesan cheese (use vegetarian parmesan if making for a veggie)
1 tsp italian seasoning (you can use a few pinches of oregano, basil and marjoram)
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp pumpkin seeds


1.  Preheat oven to 160˚C and line a loaf tin with baking paper or a loaf case.

2.  Mix together the ground almonds, arrowroot, salt and bicarbonate of soda in a large bowl.

3.  In another bowl lightly whisk the eggs with the cider vinegar.

4.  To the eggs, add the olives courgette, parmesan, italian seasoning, dried parsley and garlic powder and whisk well.

5.  Pour the egg mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well to combine.

6.  Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and sprinkle with the pumpkin seeds.  Place in the centre of the preheated oven for 50 minutes.

7.  Turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool.

My favourite thing about this loaf is that it great for when you're in a rush, as it has all the flavours of a meal yet with the convenience of it all being contained within a slice of bread!