Eid Recipes Series - First Edition: Banana and Walnut Bread with Cream Cheese Sauce

Why did I choose my banana and walnut bread for your Eid trolley? 1. Every time I’d make it in Karachi for my friends, the platter would end up with a clean sweep. It is THAT good. 2. Chocolate based desserts and kheer/firni types are done to death. 3. After those heavy Eid lunches, this is a great meetha to sit back with, chill out and wash down with a hot cup of chai.

Simple ingredients, no taraddud. With this, lots of wah wahs are sure to come your way. Minha had it yesterday and said “mama, you’re surely the best cook in the world”.

Prep time: 15 minutes

Baking time: 50 minutes – 1 hour

The Bread

Ingredients:

3 eggs

175 gm sugar

175 gm butter (melted)

2 bananas (mashed)

2 tsp lemon juice

50 gm chopped walnuts

225 gm flour (makes about 16 tbsps)

¾ tsp cinnamon powder

1 + ¼ tsp baking powder

Method:

·        Beat the eggs

·        Add all the ingredients except bananas and walnuts and whisk

·        Now fold in the bananas and walnuts

·        Oil a bread pan

·        Pour in the mixture and bake in a pre-heated oven at 170 degree C for 50 mniutes to 1 hour (all ovens are different so if your loaf is not done after 45 or 50 minutes, bake more)

The Sauce

Ingredients:

1 tin condensed milk (I used Comelle in Pakistan)

¾ jar of cream cheese (I used Kraft or Puck in Pakistan)

Method:

On very low heat, mix both ingredients with a whisk and remove after a few minutes. Do not boil. Just make sure the consistency is smooth and there are not cheesy lumps in the sauce. Ideally, make the sauce right before serving so it is warm.

How to serve: When the bread is ready, you can pour the warm sauce on top. Garnish with banana slices and whole walnuts.