There are so many things I love about this banana zoat recipe! In fact, here’s a list of everything I adore about it:
- Simply put, this recipe is a pleasure to the senses. I love all the texture in it, created from the mixture of chia seeds, crunchy hemp seeds, creamy peanut butter and banana, and juicy fruit. The lovely array of fruits also make it rich in colour, creating a very pleasurable sensory experience not only in terms of taste, but in sight and touch, as well. For this reason, I love presenting this recipe to people, since it looks so beautifully delicious.
- I love the fact that you can’t really taste any of the zucchini in it at all, since zucchini—especially cooked zucchini—is pretty mellow and kind of takes on whatever other tastes are present. This makes it a perfect meal to make for anyone who struggles to eat enough vegetables, as it allows you to get about 1 serving of vegetables (1 serving is equivalent to about ½ cup of vegetables), without having to endure the typically strong yet bland taste of vegetables.
- I find that this recipe is fairly filling and can keep me going for quite a long time. This is probably because the protein from the seeds and the peanut butter make it very satiating. This makes it an ideal meal to have on days when you are incredibly busy all day. But if you want an even bigger protein boost, feel free to add in about a half scoop of protein powder. If you do this, then of course, first try adding a little protein powder at a time and taste it before adding an entire half scoop.
- I love that it’s a high-volume meal, so if you love eating as much as I do, you will definitely appreciate how much food this recipe yields! For this reason, I wasn’t sure whether or not to divide one serving into two servings, so in the recipe below you’ll see that I’ve stated that it serves 1-2 people, depending on how much you eat and what your appetite is like when you make it. If you’re not feeling too hungry and you just want to make it for yourself, then I would suggest making half of it, unless you want leftovers (but it is definitely best fresh).
With just a few simple ingredients, this recipe is incredibly easy and healthy to make!
How to Make it Vegan:
This banana zoat recipe can easily be made vegan, as long as you use a dairy-free alternative to dairy milk, such as soy milk, but adding milk isn’t even completely necessary, and you can definitely omit it altogether if you want. Just be sure to replace the amount of milk required in the recipe with water. Also add extra water if it is still too “dry” for your liking, of course.
Gluten-Free:
This recipe should be gluten-free, as long as none of the ingredients are contaminated with gluten. Pure oats can sometimes contain traces of gluten if they are processed in a facility that also processes grains that contain gluten, such as wheat.
Other Ways to Use this Recipe (you may need to make adjustments to the ingredients and quantities required):
- To make cookies
- To make muffins
- To make banana zucchini bread
I haven’t tried any of these suggestions out yet, so let me know in the comments section below if you try any of them, what adjustments you’ve made (if any) to the ingredients and quantities required, and how they work out overall for you!
To Reduce Food Waste:
You can try freezing the unused portion of the banana in a ziplock freezer bag. Bananas tend to last very well in the freezer (for up to 3 months, approximately). They work amazingly well in smoothies, as their thick, creamy texture seems to be amplified when they’re frozen. Just be sure to remove their peel prior to freezing them, as it’s much more difficult to remove it when they’re frozen. For more tips on reducing food waste, please check out this post.
Creamy Banana Zoats (Zucchini Oats)
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup whole rolled oats
- 1 cup water
- ½ zucchini, grated
- ½ Banana, mashed
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ – 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp peanut butter
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp hemp seeds
- ¼ cup milk of your choice
- Berries or other kind of fruit, for garnish
- Optional add-ins: whey powder, stevia, monk fruit, etc.
Instructions
- Mash the banana in a bowl.
- Add the water to a pot and bring to a boil.
- Lower heat to a low-medium temperature and stir in the oats. Let it simmer, stirring frequently, for about 3 minutes.
- Stir in the milk, mashed banana, and shredded zucchini and continue to cook until the oats are completely cooked and the desired consistency is reached. While cooking it, add extra milk or water as soon as you find the mixture starts to get dry or stick to the bottom, or if you want a thinner consistency.
- Turn off the heat and mix in the cinnamon, vanilla extract, and peanut butter. You can also add stevia, monk fruit, or whey powder at this stage, which is completely optional. A few drops of stevia or monk fruit go a very long way, so be sure to taste it before adding another drop.
- Stir in the chia seeds and hemp seeds. Top with your choice of fruit and any other add-ins, and it’s ready to be enjoyed!
Please let me know if you enjoyed this recipe by rating it and/or leaving a comment below!
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