As previously discussed it's not always easy to get veggies into your family, especially once they've made their minds up about what they do and don't like! But thankfully hope is not lost, because there are many ways to disguise veggies in other things... you just have to pop your creative head on.
Last time I tricked my hubby into drinking a smoothie made of beets when he thought it was berries, and now I'm baking veggies into bread, since that's my son's favourite food at the moment. He does eat vegetables, but not as many as I'd like him to, so instead of insisting and making an issue of it I decided the best thing I can do is work with reality, right?
He loves bread, so let's make the bread more nutritious. Let's put the veggies INTO THE BREAD!!!
In all honesty this is the loveliest bread I've ever made. It's super tasty, and so soft, similar to freshly baked naan bread. The best thing is it's so easy to make, and versatile as you can use any veg you like. You simply use pureed raw veggies (with a little warm water) instead of adding warm water to the dry ingredients, and it forms the most beautiful dough I've ever kneaded!
And my little boy, unaware, is getting extra nutrition with every bite. Mama's not just a pretty face it seems, haha!!!
Ingredients (organic recommended):
3-4 large carrots
500g wholewheat flour
4 tblsp olive oil
1 tsp baking soda
1 sachet yeast
1/2 tsp unrefined salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp turmeric
2 tsp dried herbs (I used rosemary & oregano)
Directions:
In a large bowl add the olive oil to the flour and rub in using your fingertips.
Add the baking soda, yeast, salt, pepper, turmeric and herbs and mix in.
Slice up your carrots (skins as well if organic).
Pop into a blender/food processor with half a cup of warm water (warm for the yeast! and the water helps the carrot to blend to a smooth puree).
Add the pureed carrots to the bowl and mix in thoroughly (I use my hands to really 'squeeze' the wet into dry).
Knead on a well-floured surface - I find this dough is stickier than normal bread dough so add extra flour as necessary whilst you knead it. The dough should be really soft and smooth and beautiful after a few minutes!
Roll the dough out to about 0.5cm thick, and use a pastry cutter to press out desired shapes. My boy is into circles right now, but I have made stars, hearts, people and bread twists with this dough!
Place onto floured baking trays or greaseproof paper, and pop into a preheated oven at 210 degrees Celsius for 120-15 minutes, until firm but soft (similar to naan bread). Freeze whatever you're not going to eat within a few days for future snacks or to serve alongside soups, stews, curries, or whatever!
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