Moroccan Orange Cardamom Cake Recipes

MOROCCAN ORANGE & CARDAMOM CAKE

Steps:

• Put the whole oranges in a pan, cover with water and boil, covered, for 1 hr until a knife easily pierces them. If the oranges won't stay under the water, place a small saucepan lid directly on top to keep them submerged. Remove the oranges from the water and cool, then quarter and remove any seeds and obvious pith where the stalk was. Blitz the oranges to a rough purée with a hand blender or in a food processor and put in a large bowl.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and line the base and sides of a 21cm loose-bottomed cake tin with baking parchment. Beat the cardamom, xylitol and eggs into the orange purée, then mix the ground almonds with the polenta, flour and baking powder, and fold in until well blended. Scrape the mixture into the tin, level the top and bake for 40 mins.
• After 40 minutes, scatter over the almonds, quickly return to the oven and bake 20-25 mins more until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from the tin and leave to cool. Serve sliced as a cake, or with Greek yogurt or cream as a dessert.

ORANGES IN CARDAMOM SYRUP

Steps:

• Using vegetable peeler, remove 5-inch-long strip of peel from 1 navel orange; reserve. Using knife, cut off remaining peel and white pith from oranges. Cut oranges lengthwise in half, then crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices; place slices in bowl.
• Using mortar and pestle, grind cardamom to break open pods and pulverize black seeds and husks, yielding about 1/2 teaspoon crushed cardamom. Transfer cardamom and reserved orange peel strip to heavy medium saucepan. Add 3 cups water, sugar, lemon peel, and cinnamon stick; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer until mixture is reduced to 1 cup, about 50 minutes. Cool syrup 10 minutes. Strain, discarding solids in strainer.
• Pour warm syrup over oranges and chill at least 6 hours or overnight.

MOROCCAN ORANGE & CARDAMOM CAKE, SWEETENED WITH XYLITOL

Steps:

• Put the whole oranges in a pan, cover with water and boil, covered, for 1 hr until a knife easily pierces them. If the oranges won't stay under the water, place a small saucepan lid directly on top to keep them submerged. Remove the oranges from the water and cool, then quarter and remove any seeds and obvious pith where the stalk was. Blitz the oranges to a rough purée with a hand blender or in a food processor and put in a large bowl.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and line the base and sides of a 21cm loose-bottomed cake tin with baking parchment. Beat the cardamom, xylitol and eggs into the orange purée, then mix the ground almonds with the polenta, flour and baking powder, and fold in until well blended. Scrape the mixture into the tin, level the top and bake for 40 minutes.
• After 40 minutes, scatter over the almonds, quickly return to the oven and bake 20-25 mins more until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from the tin and leave to cool.
• Serve sliced as a cake, or with Greek yogurt or cream as a dessert.
• Recipe from Good Food magazine, January 2015.