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Prep time
30 minutes
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Cook time
45 minutes
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Makes
8x3 or 9 inch round or loaf pan
Author Notes
I had a slice of cake when having brunch at a wonderful restaurant Saraghina in Bed Stuy (Brooklyn) and I immediately decided i had to re-create it. It was moist and had a wonderful rustic quality, not overly sweet and a citrus flavor that was not overpowering. I thought that the cake was probably made with semolina and olive oil so searched for recipes that seemed like they could be similar to this delicious cake. I found one on Epicurious and made it making several changes to the original recipe. I decreased the sugar, I also didn't garnish with candied orange slices and completely changed the soaking syrup using the juice from a tangerine and lemon along with the zest. The resulting cake is moist, and absolutely delicious. The bottoms and sides of the cake develop an almost crisp crust that when soaked in the syrup is so wonderful. This cake is very simple to make it comes together quickly with relatively few steps. —sdebrango
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Ingredients
- Syrup
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2 cups
granulated sugar
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1 1/2 cups
water
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1/4 cup
orange or tangerine juice
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1/4 cup
lemon juice
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zest of a small orange or tangerine and lemon
- Cake
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1/2 cup
olive oil
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1/4 cup
+2 tbs sugar divided (1/4 cup goes in cake batter and the 2 tbs in the egg whites)
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1 cup
all purpose flour
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1/2 cup
semolina flour
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1 1/2 teaspoons
baking powder
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1/4 teaspoon
baking soda
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1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt
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3
large eggs separated at room temperature
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2/3 cup
whole milk yogurt
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1 teaspoon
lemon zest
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1 teaspoon
vanilla extract
Directions
- Syrup
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Place all ingredients in saucepan, bring to a boil on high heat, reduce to med/high and boil for about 8-10 minutes or until syrup reduces by about 1/3 and all of the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
- Cake
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Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush baking pan with olive oil. Whisk both flours,baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer or whisk if beating by hand, beat 1/4 cup sugar and olive oil in a large bowl for 1 minute. Beat in yolks, then flour mixture. Beat in yogurt, zest, and vanilla only until combined. Using clean, dry beaters, beat egg whites in another medium bowl until frothy. Gradually beat in 2 tbs sugar until soft peaks form careful not to over beat, the egg whites should not be stiff. Fold egg whites into batter just to blend in 2 additions. Transfer to prepared pan; smooth top.
Bake cake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 45-50 minutes. Pierce hot cake all over with a toothpick or skewer. Slowly drizzle 1/4 cup warm syrup all over. When syrup is absorbed, slowly pour 1/4 cup more syrup over. Reserve remaining syrup for serving. Let cake cool in pan on a wire rack. Run a thin knife around edge of pan to release cake. Served with unsweetened whipped cream, a drizzle of the remaining syrup and some orange zest. Note: Once the cake is cooled and removed from the pan you can drizzle with a little more syrup if you like, I find the cake is even better the next day, wrap well in plastic wrap.
I have loved to cook for as long as I can remember, am self taught learning as I go. I come from a large Italian family and food was at the center of almost every gathering. My grandfather made his own wine and I remember the barrels of wine in the cellar of my grandfathers home, I watched my mother and aunts making homemade pasta and remember how wonderful it was to sit down to a truly amazing dinner. Cooking for me is a way to express myself its my creative outlet. I enjoy making all types of food but especially enjoy baking,
I live in Brooklyn, NY, and I share my home with my two dogs Izzy and Nando.
I like to collect cookbooks and scour magazines and newspapers for recipes. I hope one day to organize them.
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