Spicy Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour

1 tablespoon salt
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
3 green chili peppers diced into small pieces

5 jalapeno peppers (pickled or raw) diced
2 cups grated zucchini

1 teaspoon basil spice
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon flax seed powder

1 tablespoon chia seeds

Gram flour ("besan" flour) for dusting
4 cups of water for boiling (not to be used in bread)

Variation Tips:

*The amount of green chili peppers and jalapeno peppers required is based on your desired amount of kick.

* Pickled jalapenos add a slightly stronger kick to the final product than using raw jalapenos.

Instructions:

Following these instructions exactly will provide the best results.

1.       Combine warm water (like bath water) with yeast in a large mixing bowl and let set for 5 minutes to get foamy. Then, add the whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, salt, old fashioned oats, chili peppers, jalapeno peppers, grated zucchini, basil, black pepper, flax seed powder, and chia seeds. Mix and knead dough until thoroughly mixed.

2.       Cover dough and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour.

3.       Once doubled in size, lightly sprinkle the dough with gram flour and transfer to a generously floured work surface. Knead a few times adding flour as needed.

4.       Place on a baking sheet (you may choose to lightly grease the pan). Sift a light coating of gram flour over the top to help keep the dough moist. Let dough sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

5.       Preheat oven to 450°F, fill a metal or cast iron pan (not glass, Pyrex, or ceramic) with the 4 cups of water, and place on the lowest oven rack.

6.       When the oven is ready, slash the bread 2 or 3 times with a knife, making a cut about ½-inch deep.

7.       Place bread in oven on the middle rack, above the rack with the pan now containing boiling water. Close oven door quickly.

8.       Bake the bread for 25 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown and crusty.

9.       Remove the bread from the oven and cool on a rack. Once fully cooled, store leftovers in a plastic bag at room temperature.

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