Ingredients
Method
- Pre-heat oven to 325°F. Grease and dust pan with 1 - 2 Tbls Sugar. I used an 8 inch Bundt pan and for the second "loaf" I made them in a paper-lined muffin pan.
*DO NOT USE METAL Spoons or Bowls for mixing.
- In a large bowl, mix the Starter with the whisked Eggs, add in the Oil, Milk and Vanilla. Mix well.
- To the batter, add the Sugar and 1 1/2 cups of the All-Purpose Flour, mixing well.
- In a food processor, add the Pistachios with 1/2 cup of the All-Purpose Flour, giving it a good blitz until the Pistachios are chopped and combined well with the flour.
- Add the Pistachio blend to your batter along with the Baking Powder, Salt, Pistachio Pudding Mix and Cardamom, mixing until well combined.
- Now add the Zest of 1 Lemon and if using, add the Juice.
- Pour the batter into the greased and sugar dusted pan until 2/3 full. You can bake the remaining batter in paper lined muffin pans or a small loaf pan, always filling 2/3 full.
- Bake in pre-heated 325°F oven. For 8-inch Bundt Pan: 50 -65 minutes. For a Muffin Pan: 25 - 30 minutes. For loaf pan: 45 - 55 minutes. All times may vary depending on your oven.
- The Bread is ready when a cake tester inserted, comes out clean. If needed, add 3 - 5 minutes at a time until done. Top should be lightly golden.
To make the Ganache:
- In a small saucepan over low heat, simmer the Heavy Cream until heated through, about 5 - 8 minutes, do not boil.
- Remove cream from stove and add in the Chocolate, allowing to sit for about 3 - 5 minutes.
- Stir for about 2 minutes until well blended, scraping the bottom and sides to incorporate all of the chocolate.
- Add the pinch of Salt and stir until Ganache is well blended and glossy.
- Allow to cool to room temperature for a pourable icing or chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes for a spreadable icing.
To finish off:
- For the bundt cake version, I like to generously spoon the room temp Chocolate Ganache and allow it to cascade down the sides.
- For the loaf pan version, using the chilled Chocolate Ganache and spreading it like a thick icing works wonderfully.
- For the muffin pan, my favorite way is to pull off the paper liners, then dip the tops, swirling it around a bit, into room temp Chocolate Ganache.
- Finally top them off with welled chopped Pistachios.
- Enjoy.
