Sephardi citrus and polenta cake
I wanted to create a lighter, healthier version of the traditional Spanish Jewish orange and almond cake with the same vibrant flavour and luscious texture, but without all the sugar (which can lower immunity and increase your risk of diabetes).
Polenta is made from finely ground dried maize and looks like coarse, yellow sand. It’s sold in various forms – precooked, quick-cook, and natural. For this recipe you need the natural polenta, or medium-fine yellow cornmeal.
The cake will keep for three days (without oranges on the top) refrigerated in an airtight container; or frozen for three months wrapped tightly in foil.
Serves: 6-8
INGREDIENTS
3 large eggs, separated ¼ tsp fine sea salt
50g caster sugar
1 unwaxed lemon
2 large oranges
1 tsp vanilla extract 125ml olive oil
125g ground almonds 50g uncooked polenta
1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary or lemon verbena, optional
For serving
2-3 oranges, ideally a mix of blush, red and regular
METHOD
● Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm spring-form or loose-bottomed cake tin with baking paper.
● Put the egg whites and salt in a medium bowl and the yolks in a larger one. With an electric beater, whisk the whites for 2-3 minutes until they hold stiff peaks then add 1 teaspoon of the sugar and whisk until glossy.
● Whisk the yolks with the remaining sugar for a couple of minutes until pale and smooth – the mixture should fall from the beaters in a ribbon.
● Zest and juice the lemon and the 2 oranges. Add the zest, 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice and 4 tablespoons of the orange juice to the yolk mixture (reserve the rest of the juice). Using a rubber spatula, fold in the oil, ground almonds, polenta and herbs.
● Stir a quarter of the beaten egg white into the polenta mixture to lighten the texture, then gently fold in the remaining whites until even, preserving as much air as you can. Gently coax the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the top level.
● Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden and springy to gentle touch. While still warm, prick the cake all over with a fork, then pour over the reserved orange and lemon juice.
● Leave for 10-15 minutes for the sponge to absorb the juice, then run a knife round the edge and release the cake from the tin.
● Not more than an hour before serving, peel and thinly slice the oranges and arrange on top of the cake. Serve plain or with Greek yoghurt.
Recipes adapted from To Life! Healthy Jewish Food by Judi Rose & Dr Jackie Rose. Photographs by Marc Gerstein for The Judi Rose Cookery Studio