Banana bread is the most forgiving thing you can bake, so it’s a good place to do something slightly strange. Black sesame turns the crumb an unapologetic grey and adds a toasty, nutty note that sits somewhere near halva.
Makes one loaf.
Ingredients
- 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
- 60 g black sesame seeds, toasted and ground (or 3 tbsp black sesame paste)
- 110 g unsalted butter, melted
- 130 g brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 200 g plain flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- a handful of white sesame seeds, for the top
Method
- Heat the oven to 175 °C (350 °F) and line a loaf tin.
- If using seeds, grind the toasted black sesame to a coarse paste in a mortar or spice grinder.
- Whisk the melted butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla together, then stir in the mashed banana and ground sesame.
- Fold in the flour, baking soda and salt until just combined — don’t overmix.
- Pour into the tin, scatter white sesame on top, and bake 50–60 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean.
- Cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out.
Notes
- Toasting the sesame is what makes it taste like anything — do not skip it.
- The grey is the point. Lean in.