Day to day, things can get a little chaotic to say the least. Time runs away, mealtimes are sometimes snatched on the run, and before you know it it’s time for the next serving of wholesome goodness. (Kids really like to eat hey!) So creating healthy savoury snacks that are ready to go, on the go, is really a lifesaver when the going gets… chaotic!
Check out my recipe for Zucchini & Pepita Muffins, the perfect savoury muffin treat to enjoy as a mid-day snack, as a savoury breakfast or even as a lunch with a side of veges. Try them halved and toasted, with bacon and egg in the middle. Or sliced open and drizzled with honey. We love them dipped in soup at dinner time, or in place of hamburger buns for mini burgers! And you can add some chopped up veggies, cooked bacon, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, or olives for additions to savoury muffins – or change them to a sweet muffin by adding a couple of tablespoons of honey and a couple of handfuls of sultanas and some mixed spices! Play with the flavours and see what you come up with.
Best of all, these are dairy free (if made with coconut oil), nut free, grain free and gluten free. Great for school lunch boxes, and they freeze well.
Note: This recipe makes 12 large muffins. I cook them in “If You Care” muffin cups, and never have a problem with them sticking. (These paper cups are bleach free and non-toxic.)
Zucchini & Pepita Muffins (Grain Free)
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- Author: QuirkyJo
Ingredients
250g activated* pepitas or 300g raw (non-activated) pepitas (2 cups)
3 eggs
150g zucchinis, quartered
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
1/2 tsp bicarb soda
60g coconut oil or unsalted butter
50g sunflower seeds
Instructions
1. Place pepitas in bowl and mill 8 sec/speed 8. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
2. Place eggs in the bowl, insert butterfly, and mix 5 mins/speed 4. Remove butterfly.
3. Add zucchini and chop 5 sec/speed 4.
4. Add remaining ingredients including pepita meal, and mix 10 sec/speed 5.
5. Pour mixture into muffin cups and cook at 180C for 20 mins.
Notes
Add fried, chopped bacon bits, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, or other savoury additions to the batter and stir through.
Or top each muffin with a halved cherry tomato.
Or swirl a tsp of pesto through each muffin in the muffin cups.
Muffins can also be made into sweet muffins by reducing salt to 1/4 tsp, adding 2 Tbsp honey, 2 tsp mixed spices (or just cinnamon), and a couple of handfuls of sultanas or other dried fruit.
* Activated pepitas are soaked overnight in slightly salty water and then dehydrated until very dry and crispy. This makes them easier to digest. The sunflower seeds can be activated too if desired.
Can these be made egg free also?
Hi Tracey – probably not sorry. 🙂
I’ve successfully used chia as a substitute for eggs. Guess it’s a matter of trying and seeing if you like the result.
http://detoxinista.com/how-to-make-flax-eggs-or-chia-eggs/
Yum! I just whipped up a batch of these while waiting for dinner to cook. The mixture tastes delicious.
Thanks Dani, we love them! Hope you do too 🙂
Thanks Jo, these are fantastic. So tasty, healthy and a great way to use up excess zuchhinis.
Thanks – we love them too !
Non thermomix can you just process the nuts, beat the eggs and mix together?
Hi Shannon – Yes – that should work. Just make sure you process the zucchini quite small, as the thermomix cuts it up quite small in the process of mixing. Also- make sure the eggs are beaten well and nice and fluffy. Happy cooking.
Thanks for this recipe Jo – I made this into a slice (cos I couldn’t be bothered with muffins) but added home made sun dried tomatoes, leftover bacon, feta, coriander pesto, some herbs and chia seeds it was YUMMO!! We then topped it while warm with our tzatziki
Sounds great, Anna! We often make it into a slice when we’re in a hurry! Its delicious with bacon and sun-dried tomatoes, isn’t it!? 🙂
sorry to ask this, but what are “pepitas”? I live in south america and have never heard this before… in spanish this means ” seeds.
thank you ,
everything sounds great!!
Pumpkin seeds!
Hi Jo,
What does the dehydrated part after soaking mean/ how do you do it?
Cheers
Hi Jo! 🙂 After soaking the pepitas, you dry them out again in a low oven or dehydrator. 🙂
Hi Jo! These sound delicious – fingers crossed my Thermomix arrives on Friday – this recipe is on my list to try this weekend! Do you think they would freeze ok? I am planning to put some of the things I make into a care package for a friend. Thanks!
Hi Megan! 🙂 How very kind of you. Yes, these will freeze well in an airtight container. Hope you are loving this recipe and your Thermomix! xx
These are incredible Jo! Seriously yum 5 stars hands down!
Yay Sarah!! 🙂
Just made these with a sweet version – added cinnamon, honey and some goji berries. Great!
Yum!! 🙂
Hi Jo,
Can you tell me how long the cooking time would be, if I made this into a loaf?
Probably about 10 mins more – just stick a skewer in to test it.
Hi Joe!
I have been wanting to make these muffins since you first posted about them, i finally got around to it today, and found i didn’t have enough pepitas!
So i substituted the rest with almond meal (up to 250g), the mixture was think and i needed to spoon it into the muffin tins, but it worked and it tastes divine!
Thank you so much for yet another amazing recipe!
Great to know, thanks for that Ann! 🙂
Thanks for the lovely recipe. Great texture – not eggy and wet like some other savoury muffins we’ve tried. I used 50/50 almond/pepita, cut the salt (as per your sweet variation), added 2 tsps honey, cinnamon & mixed spice (again, as per your sweet variation), and used 30g chia seeds in the place of mixed seeds. Next time I will add a bit more zucchini I think as the chia seeds soak up moisture nicely and I’d like to up the vege content.
Fantastic recipe. Great for me, the toddler, and the baby! Portable snacks for all three of us. 🙂
Yay Laura, that’s fantastic! Glad the recipe is kid-approved! 😉
Thanks for the recipe Jo. Great texture – not wet and eggy like some grain free muffins.
We tried your sweet variation (just the honey & spices, didn’t do the dried fruit yet) which was lovely. And even great portable food for my 9 month old. Mum, toddler, and baby all happy eating these.
🙂
Yay!! 🙂
They really look good your muffins. An easy recipe and super delicious!
It’s a great recipe…hope you enjoy it too. 🙂
Hello Jo!
Can you dehydrate the peptise in the oven once soaked? If so at what temp and for how long?
Looking forward to trying these
Vanessa
Yes just keep the heat as low as you can, and keep an eye on them. Not sure of temp and time!
Do you think it’s possible to sub the pepitas with sunflower seeds instead?
yes although it may turn muffins green 🙂
I made these yesterday and ate my first one with honey and butter today… Its the best thing I’ve eaten that’s kinda bread like in 2yrs!! YAY!! Thanks Jo! You rock!
You’re very welcome Kristy – glad you liked them! xx
Hi Jo, thanks for posting this recipe I’m looking forward to trying it! My son is allergic to dairy and coconut, do you have any suggestions for which oil might sub best for coconut oil and ghee?
Hi Danica! 🙂 You could try using macadamia oil or olive oil. xx
H Jo – should the coconut oil or butter be soft/room temp? We’re in Canberra so our coconut oil is still rock solid in the jar. Wondering whether to warm it a bit just to soften or can I melt it completely?
Thanks!
– Amanda
Melted is fine 🙂
I just made these, combining stage probably needs a little longer to be thorough, as eating them there are a few ‘dry’ parts to the cooked muffin, or maybe add a little more oil/butter.
Ah ok, yes maybe mix a little more as they shouldn’t have dry spots!
Really nice! Didn’t have pepitas (never seen them here in the U.K.) so did 50% almonds, 50% mixed seeds & it worked well! Kids I care for had them for lunch with pesto, ham & salad veg.
Yum Jenny! Sounds fantastic. Pepitas are dried pumpkin seeds. 🙂
Hi Jo, what’s the soup in the photo? Do you have a recipe for it on your blog? Looks yum 🙂
Thanks
Hi Julia, it’s the Cabbage Patch Soup in my Quirky Cooking Cookbook! 🙂
Nice and fluffy using whipped aquafaba to replace the eggs!!! I will try half sunflower half pepita next time. Might add some dairy free cheese and use less salt too. Thanks Jo!! I’d love if you added a note about being able to use whipped aquafaba ????????
Hi Joy! Thanks for sharing – that’s fantastic to know!! 🙂 xx
Made zucchini muffins with sunflower seed and a little pepita meal which I’d activated and dried in oven 50 degrees for around 3-3.5 hours. Was horrified when bright green spots started to appear in muffins. Thinking they were mouldy threw them out. Now I know it’s from the sunflower seed meal. Why does this occur?
Oh no Jo! Such a shame. The green colour is from the chlorophyll in the sunflower seeds which reacts with the other ingredients and/or when they are crushed. If you don’t want green muffins, etc, we recommend using pepitas. xx
Are there nutritional values for these?
No, sorry. But you may be able to find an app to work them out.