Torta di polenta gialla
9 servings
Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredient | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanilla bean; very finely minced OR | |
| ½ | teaspoon | Pure vanilla extract |
| 1 | cup | Granulated sugar |
| ¾ | cup | Unsalted butter; softened (that is 1-1/2 sticks) |
| 3 | larges | Eggs; separated |
| ½ | cup | Blanched almonds; very finely ground |
| 3 | tablespoons | Fresh orange juice |
| ½ | cup | Yellow cornmeal |
| ½ | cup | All-purpose flour |
| 1 | teaspoon | Baking powder |
| pinch | Salt | |
| 2 | tablespoons | Potato starch OR arrowroot |
| Confectioners' Sugar (opt.) | ||
Directions
"This is a lovely light citrusy cake that keeps well. Serve it with sherbet or lightly sweetened berries. Makes 8 - 10 servings." Lightly butter and flour 9-inch round cake pan. Put minced vanilla and sugar in blender; blend until vanilla is completely pulverized.
(If using extract, add later with orange juice.) In medium mixing bowl cream butter until light and fluffy. Using a sifter to hold back any pieces of vanilla bean that didn't disintegrate, slowly sift vanilla and sugar into butter a little at a time, beating continuously. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating after adding each. Stir in almonds and orange juice (and vanilla extract, if using). Stir in cornmeal, blending thoroughly. Set cornmeal mixture aside.
Mix flour, baking powder, salt and potato starch; place in sifter and set aside.
In separate bowl beat egg whites to stiff peaks. Stir in about ¼ of egg whites into batter, then sift about ⅓ of flour mixture over it. Fold flour into batter. Continue adding egg whites and flour twice more, foling after each addition and ending with remaining egg whites.
Pour batter into prepared cake pan and bake in preheated 325ø oven 30 ~ 35 minutes or until cake is golden brown and springs back to the touch. Cool on rack. Remove from pan.
If using, sift a little confectioners' sugar over top before serving.
Nutrients per serving: calories 313, protein 4g; carbohydrates 34g; total fat 18g (saturated 10g), 52% of calories; cholesterol 102mg; sodium 84g.
SOURCE: Nancy Harmon Jenkins is the author of "The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook, Bantam Books. She teaches at food writing and history at Radcliffe.
posted by teri chesser 6/95
Submitted By TERI CHESSER On 06-22-95