PISTACHIO & LEMON CURD CAKE

1¼ HOURS

cooking oil spray 1¼ cups (160g) finely chopped pistachios (see tips) 125g unsalted butter 1 cup (220g) caster sugar 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest 3 eggs 2/3 cup (100g) cake flour (see tips) 1 teaspoon baking powder thick cream, to serve 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped pistachios, extra

LEMON CURD

3 eggs 1½ tablespoons finely grated lemon zest ½ cup (125ml) lemon juice (see tips) ¾ cup (165g) caster sugar 100g unsalted butter, chopped

1 Make lemon curd.

2 Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan. Grease a 22cm springform pan; line base and sides with two layers of baking paper. Spray the side lining paper with oil, avoiding the base. Place ¼ cup of the nuts in the pan; rotate pan on its side to coat with nuts.

3 Beat butter, sugar and zest in a medium bowl with an electric mixer for 3 minutes or until pale and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until combined.

4 Sift flour and baking powder into a small bowl, add ⅔ cup of the nuts; stir to combine. Using a large metal spoon, fold dry ingredients into egg mixture until just combined.

5 Spoon cake mixture into pan; drop pan on work surface to settle the mixture. Spread 1 cup of the curd over batter, levelling the surface; sprinkle evenly with remaining pistachios. Cover surface of remaining curd with plastic wrap; refrigerate.

6 Bake cake for 40 minutes; cover surface with a round of baking paper to prevent nuts burning, then bake for a further 10 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean (the top will still be slightly wobbly). Serve cake warm or at room temperature, with cream, remaining lemon curd and extra pistachios.

LEMON CURD

Combine eggs, zest, juice and sugar in a medium heatproof bowl set over a medium saucepan of simmering water. Stir for 10 minutes or until mixture thickens and thickly coats the back of a spoon. Gradually add butter, stirring until smooth between additions. Strain mixture into a medium bowl. Cover surface with plastic wrap; cool. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until chilled.