posted by lake monster 04-13-103 12:32 PM
Clementine Cake
From chef and author Nigella Lawson
December 27, 2002
4 to 5 unpeeled clementines (about 1 pound total weight)
6 eggs
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 1/3 cups ground almonds
1 heaping teaspoon baking powder
Put the unpeeled clementines in a pot with cold water to cover, bring to the boil, and cook for 2 hours.
Drain and, when cool, cut each clementine in half and remove the seeds.
Then chop everything finely — skins, pits, fruit — in the food processor (or by hand, of course). Preheat the oven to 375°F. Butter and line an 8-inch spring form pan.
Beat the eggs. Add the sugar, almonds, and baking powder. Mix well, adding the chopped clementines. I don't like using the processor for this, and frankly, you can't balk at a little light stirring.
Pour the cake mixture into the prepared pan and bake for an hour, when a skewer will come out clean; you'll probably have to cover the cake with foil after about 40 minutes to stop the top burning.
Remove from the oven and leave to cool, on a rack, but in the pan. When the cake's cold, you can take it out of the pan. I think this is better a day after it's made, but I don't complain about eating it any time.
* Variation: I've also made this with an equal weight of oranges, and with lemons, in which case I increase the sugar to 1 1/4 cups and slightly anglicize it, too, by adding a glaze made of confectioners' sugar mixed to a paste with lemon juice and a little water.