Grain-Free Gourmet: Paleo Bread with Tangy Quick Pickled Fennel

Paleo Bread + Quick Pickled Fennel (Inspired by Green Kitchen Stories)

Introduction

Craving a light yet satisfying way to enjoy classic flavors without grains? This Paleo Bread with Quick Pickled Fennel reinvents traditional bread with a nutty, tender crumb and a crisp, tangy fennel topping. Its fresh flavors and versatile texture make it a bold centerpiece for healthy breakfasts, vibrant lunches, or an appetizer platter for guests who love clean, creative eating.

Why You’ll Love This Paleo Bread + Quick Pickled Fennel

This recipe brilliantly combines the wholesome comfort of paleo bread with the zesty crunch of quick-pickled fennel. The bread’s sturdy yet moist crumb supports everything from avocado to smoked salmon, while the fennel’s sharp bite and gentle anise flavor cut through rich spreads or proteins. It’s fast, flavorful, and endlessly adaptable—perfect for anyone keeping things grain-free without sacrificing taste.

Crafting Perfect Paleo Bread

Paleo bread swaps out traditional wheat flour for a blend of almond and coconut flours plus seeds for texture. This yields a dense, nourishing loaf with a subtle nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with sweet or savory toppings. Eggs and olive oil provide structure and keep the bread tender, while a touch of apple cider vinegar helps the crumb stay light.

Quick Pickled Fennel: Bright and Balanced

Pickling fennel couldn’t be simpler: thinly sliced fennel rests in a mixture of vinegar, water, a touch of sweetener, and warming spices. In just 20 minutes, the brine unlocks fennel’s delicate crunch and aromatic sweetness—perfect for piling high on a fresh slice of paleo bread.

Serving Suggestions That Impress

Top slices of paleo bread with the quick-pickled fennel, a smear of creamy cashew cheese, and a sprinkle of toasted seeds. Serve open-faced with sliced avocado or lightly cured fish for a contemporary canapé, or add as a tapa to your next brunch spread. The bread and fennel even shine alongside a bowl of warming soup.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 12 slices of paleo bread and a jar of pickled fennel for topping. Each bread slice with a generous portion of fennel contains roughly 110–130 calories, primarily from healthy fats and plant-based proteins. Free from grains and refined sugars, it’s the perfect option for clean eating and paleo enthusiasts alike.

Ingredients

For the Paleo Bread:
1 1/2 cups almond flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup sunflower seeds (plus extra for topping)
1/4 cup flaxseed meal
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt
5 large eggs
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
For the Quick Pickled Fennel:
1 large fennel bulb, thinly sliced
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds (optional)
Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to auto-generate a categorized shopping list—making your next grocery trip faster and more organized! Plus, you’ll never forget a key ingredient again with CookifyAI’s smart list sorting.

CookifyAI meal planning interface

Instructions

  1. Preheat & Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine almond flour, coconut flour, sunflower seeds, flaxseed meal, sesame seeds, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk eggs, olive oil, and apple cider vinegar until combined.
  4. Combine & Pour: Add wet ingredients to dry, stirring until a thick batter forms. Scrape into the lined loaf pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle extra sunflower seeds on top.
  5. Bake: Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. (Ovens may vary, so check after 30 minutes.)
  6. Cool: Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely before slicing.
  7. Pickle the Fennel: While bread bakes, whisk vinegar, water, sweetener, salt, pepper, mustard seeds, and red pepper flakes in a jar or bowl. Add sliced fennel and ensure it’s submerged. Let sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  8. Serve: Slice cooled bread, top with drained pickled fennel, and any other desired toppings. Enjoy right away or store leftovers for snacking throughout the week.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Paleo Bread + Quick Pickled Fennel is a game changer for efficient, healthy meal prep. Save and schedule this recipe in CookifyAI’s meal planner to combine it with your weekly lunches or breakfast recipes. CookifyAI automatically calculates ingredient totals across recipes, organizes your shopping list by grocery aisle, and helps you avoid missing ingredients—so you can prep ahead, reduce food waste, and enjoy delicious, wholesome meals every day.

Planning Benefits:

  • Consolidates shopping lists for all planned meals
  • Sorts ingredients by store section for quick, efficient shopping
  • Prevents overbuying or forgetting key items
  • Makes weekly meal prep more manageable and streamlined

Pro tip: Schedule your favorite recipes together—like this bread with a hearty salad—to see exactly what and how much to buy, maximizing both freshness and convenience.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Pickling Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Enjoy grain-free flavor and vibrant crunch with this vibrant, easy-to-plan meal!

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