Vanilla Angel Food Cake With Mango Ginger Sauce

GINGER ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Sift the flour, confectioners' sugar and salt onto a sheet of parchment paper. Sift again, then set aside.
• Beat the egg whites in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in the granulated sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, then increase the speed to medium high and continue beating until stiff, shiny peaks form, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the vanilla, lime zest and ginger and beat a few seconds to combine.
• Sprinkle one-quarter of the flour mixture over the egg mixture and gently fold with a rubber spatula. Fold in the remaining flour mixture in 3 additions. Transfer the batter to an ungreased 10-inch tube pan. Bake until the cake feels springy and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Invert the pan onto a funnel or the neck of a bottle and cool completely. Loosen the edges with a small knife, tap the sides of the pan against the counter and unmold.
• Make the sauce: Puree 2 half pints raspberries in a blender with 2 tablespoons water, the granulated sugar, lime zest and lime juice. Strain to remove the seeds. Top the cake with confectioners' sugar, the sauce and the remaining raspberries.
• SERVES: 8 (Dessert); Calories: 325; Total Fat 0.5 grams; Saturated Fat: 0 grams; Protein: 7 grams; Total carbohydrates: 75 grams; Sugar: 57 grams Fiber: 3 grams; Cholesterol: 0 milligrams; Sodium: 150 milligrams

VANILLA ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH MANGO-GINGER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Sift 1/2 cup sugar, flour and salt into medium bowl 5 times. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in large (at least 4-quart) bowl until foamy. Add 2 teaspoons warm water and cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1 cup sugar and vanilla and beat until stiff but not dry. Sift sugar-flour mixture over whites 1/4 cup at a time and gently fold in.
• Transfer batter to ungreased 12-cup angel food cake pan with removable bottom (do not use nonstick pan).
• Bake until cake is light golden, top springs back when touched lightly and cake begins to pull away from sides of pan, about 45 minutes. Remove cake from oven. Turn cake pan upside down; place center tube of pan over narrow bottle neck or funnel. Cool cake completely.
• Using knife, cut around sides and center tube of pan to loosen cake. Push up cake. Cut cake from bottom of pan. Transfer to platter. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap tightly with plastic and store at room temperature.) Dust cake with powdered sugar. Garnish with crystallized ginger, if desired. Serve with Mango-Ginger Sauce.

ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH MANGOES

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, puree 1 of the mangoes with the lime juice, sugar and Cointreau until smooth. Dice the remaining mango. Slice the cake, pour 1 tablespoon of the mango sauce over each slice, and toss some diced mango on top. Garnish with mint leaves and serve.

MANGO-GINGER SAUCE

Steps:

• Place 1 cup chopped mangoes in medium bowl. Combine remaining 1 3/4 cups chopped mangoes and sugar in processor. Puree until smooth. Add to bowl with chopped mangoes. Stir in crystallized ginger and lime juice. Let stand at least 30 minutes. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)