Cottage Cheese Banana Bread

🍌 Cottage Cheese Banana Bread (Mediterranean Style)

Ingredients

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat or low-fat, blended smooth)

• 3 ripe bananas, mashed

• 2 large eggs

• ⅓ cup honey or pure maple syrup

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil (or mild avocado oil)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

• 1½ cups whole-wheat flour (or oat flour for lighter texture)

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon sea salt

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Optional Mediterranean Add-Ins

• ¼ cup chopped walnuts or almonds

• 2 tablespoons chia seeds or flaxseed

• ¼ cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

• Zest of 1 orange (bright Mediterranean flavor)

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Instructions

1. Preheat Oven
   Preheat to 175°C (350°F). Line or grease a loaf pan.

2. Blend Cottage Cheese
   Blend cottage cheese until smooth for a creamy texture.

3. Mix Wet Ingredients
   In a bowl, whisk blended cottage cheese, mashed bananas, eggs, honey, olive oil, and vanilla.

4. Combine Dry Ingredients
   In another bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

5. Make Batter
   Fold dry ingredients into wet until just combined. Stir in nuts, seeds, chocolate, or zest if using.

6. Bake
   Pour into pan and smooth top.
   Bake for 45–55 minutes, until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.

7. Cool & Serve
   Cool in pan 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack. Slice once fully cooled.

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🌿 Why This Is Mediterranean-Friendly

✔ Naturally sweetened
✔ High protein from cottage cheese
✔ Healthy fats from olive oil & nuts
✔ Whole grains for sustained energy