Moroccan Chocolate Cake Food

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.

MESKOUTA (MOROCCAN ORANGE CAKE)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 8½-by-4½-inch loaf pan with olive oil, and line it with a sheet of parchment paper so that you have extra on the sides. (You'll use this to lift the loaf out of the pan.)
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt until well combined. In another large bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar and eggs until well combined. Add the yogurt, olive oil, orange zest, orange juice and vanilla extract to the sugar and egg mixture, and whisk until well incorporated.
• Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently mix using a spatula until you no longer see flecks of flour, making sure not to overmix. (The batter will be slightly lumpy.) Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, and use a spatula to spread into an even layer.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with some small, moist crumbs. (If the cake needs another minute or two, but is becoming too brown, tent with foil.) Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before using the parchment overhang to remove from the pan.
• Make the optional whipped cream: Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whisk the cream and the confectioners' sugar for about 2 to 3 minutes on medium-high until medium peaks begin to form. You want a spreading consistency. Cover and keep in the fridge until ready to serve the cake.
• To serve, cut the cake in slices, top with whipped cream, if using, and garnish with chocolate shavings, if using. Alternatively, you can also top the whole cake with whipped cream, then slice it. Without the whipped cream, the cake keeps for up to 5 days in an airtight container on the counter.

MOROCCAN CAKE (LE RUSSE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Generously grease 3 (8-1/4-inch) pie pans or molds; Cut 3 rounds of waxed paper to line the bottom of each mold and generously grease the waxed paper.
• To prepare the meringue, in a large bowl, using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the egg whites with the salt and cream of tartar; Slowly add the sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form; Divide the egg whites among the three molds and smooth the tops with a spatula; Place in the oven and immediately decrease the heat to 275°F (135°C); Bake until the meringue is hard but not brown, about 1 hour; (At this point, you can turn off the oven and let the meringues stand for a few hours or overnight).
• To prepare the ganache, reserve 12 hazelnuts for garnish; In a food processor, grind the remaining nuts with 1 tablespoon of the sugar until you have a fine meal.
• Combine the chocolate, coffee, brandy, and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a heatproof bowl; In a large, heavy skillet, bring water to a simmer over medium-high heat; Remove the skillet from the heat; Place the bowl filled with the chocolate mixture in the skillet and stir gently until the chocolate melts; Set aside and allow to cool slightly.
• Pour the cream into a large chilled bowl and whip with an electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form; Gently fold the melted chocolate into the whipped cream, and then fold in half of the ground nuts.
• To assemble the cake, carefully peel the paper from the bottom of each meringue; Set one round on a serving platter; With a spatula, spread one third of the ganache over the top; Cover with a second round, and repeat the procedure; Top with the third round, and spread with the remaining ganache, spreading it over and around the sides of the cake; Sprinkle with the remaining ground hazelnuts and garnish with the whole nuts; Refrigerate for 2 to 6 hours before serving.