Portuguese Yogurt Cake Food

EASY YOGURT CAKE

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 350F degrees (180 cm). Grease an 8 inch (20cm) cake pan or a 9½-10 inch (24 cm) bundt pan.
• In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer on medium speed, lightly beat the eggs approximately 30 seconds, add oil, sugar and yogurt, beat for 1 minute until smooth, add flour and baking powder and beat until well combined approximately another minute.
• Pour into the prepared cake pan and bake for approximately 35-40 minutes or until tested done (when a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out dry or with a few crumbs attached). Let cool 15-20 in the pan then move to a wire rack to cool completely. When cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.

LIME YOGURT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350ºF). Grease a bundt cake pan (24 x 8 centimeters (9 1/2-inch diameter with 3 1/4-inch-high sides)) with butter and dust with some flour.
• In an electric mixer, beat on medium speed the sugar and the butter. Add the eggs and the lime zest and beat until a creamy mixture. Add the yogurt, lime juice and mix for 1 to 2 minutes until it's nicely incorporated. Reduce the mixer speed to low, add the flour and the baking powder and beat until obtain a quite creamy mixture.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes (the time depends on the oven).
• Turn off the oven and unmold the cake onto a plate. Let cool to room temperature and serve.

YOGURT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350ºF). Grease a bundt cake pan (24 x 8 centimeters (9 1/2-inch diameter with 3 1/4-inch-high sides)) with margarine or butter and dust with flour.
• In an electric mixer, beat on medium speed the sugar and the softened butter. Add the eggs and beat until obtain a homogeneous and creamy mixture. Pour the yogurt and mix for 1 minute until it's nicely incorporated. Add the flour and the baking powder and beat until obtain a creamy mixture.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes (the time depends on the oven).
• Remove the cake from the oven and unmold onto a plate. Let cool completely, garnish with powdered sugar and serve.

PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS (PASTEIS DE NATA)

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, and cold water in a bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon until dough just comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Dough should be sticky; adjust with more flour or water to achieve what's shown in the video.
• Transfer dough onto a well floured surface. Dust a little more flour over the top. Knead for a minute or two to form a round. Cover and let rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Roll dough into a square about 1/8 inch thick, dusting with flour as necessary; dough should still be sticky.
• Spread 1/3 of the butter over 2/3 of the square using a silicone spatula, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Flip the unbuttered side over the middle of the square and fold the opposite end over it like a letter. Straighten the edges as needed.
• Turn dough with a bench scraper to unstick it from the counter; dust with flour. Flip and sprinkle more flour on top. Roll dough into a 1/8-inch-thick rectangle, carefully stretching edges as needed. Spread another 1/3 of the butter over 2/3 of the dough. Fold into thirds. Transfer onto a lined baking sheet and freeze until butter is slightly chilled, about 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle dough with flour and roll into a square a little over 1/8 inch thick. Spread remaining butter over the dough, leaving a 1- to 1 1/2-inch border on the top edge. Dip your finger in water and lightly moisten the unbuttered edge. Roll dough into a log starting from the bottom edge. Dust with more flour and polish the ends as needed. Seal with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
• Combine sugar, 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon water, cinnamon, and lemon zest in a pot. Boil over medium heat, without stirring, until syrup reaches 210 to 215 degrees F (100 degrees C). Remove from heat.
• Preheat oven 550 degrees F (288 degrees C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
• Whisk flour, salt, and cold milk together very thoroughly in a cold pot. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until milk thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for at least 10 minutes.
• Whisk egg yolks into the cooled milk. Add the sugar syrup and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. Strain custard into a glass measuring cup.
• Unwrap the dough and trim any uneven bits on the ends. Score log into 12 even pieces using a knife; cut through.
• Place a piece of dough in each muffin cup. Dip your thumb lightly in some cold water. Press thumb into the center of the swirl; push dough against the bottom and up the sides of the cup until it reaches least 1/8 inch past the top. Fill each cup 3/4 of the way with custard.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is browned and bubbly, and the tops start to blister and caramelize, about 12 minutes. Cool tarts briefly and serve warm.

PORTUGUESE YOGURT CAKE

Steps:

• Blend yogurt and butter; add eggs.
• Add sugar.
• Add flour and baking powder.
• Pour into greased tube pan.
• Bake 40 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Dust with sugar; place raspberries on top.

BOLO DE LARANJA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 320F/160C.
• Separate the eggs.
• Whisk the egg yolks and sugar until the mixture is white, has tripled in size and is firm.
• Mix the baking powder and the flour and add them to the egg yolks.
• Mix the melted butter, zest and juice of the oranges and add them.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff and incorporate very gently with the previous mixture using a spatula. Be careful not to break the whites.
• Pour the mixture into a ring mold pan (Savarin mold), previously buttered and floured and bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

ALMOND CAKE FROM ALBUFEIRA, PORTUGAL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• Beat egg, buttermilk and vanilla extract together until smooth. Stir in melted butter.
• Add flour mixture and mix with spoon until nearly smooth.
• Turn into a buttered 9" springform pan.
• Bake until center of cake springs back when lightly touched, about 35 minutes.
• Remove from oven.
• While is hot, cover top with sliced almonds.
• Slowly pour Hot Almond Syrup even over, letting syrup soak into cake.
• Broil about 6" from heat until almonds are lightly toasted.
• Cool on rack 15 minutes.
• Using knife or spatula, loosen sides between pan and cake, then cool completely before releasing springform pan.
• Hot Almond Syrup: In 1-qt saucepan combine sugar and water.
• Boil until mixture reaches 220F on candy thermometer.
• Remove from heat and add almond extract; stir well.