Friday, June 5, 2009

Persian Love Cake


Are you looking for love?
Lilian Singer, Lilian's Story by Kate Grenville

I have just started clinical pilates classes again. In my view, clinical pilates is the best thing since sliced bread if you have back problems. I have also found that clinical pilates and food magazines in the waiting area seem to go hand in hand. In Melbourne, I always used to read the latest edition of Australian Gourmet Traveller at the clinical pilates studio, which gave me plenty of quality time to drool over the pictures.

When I started at my new studio in Brisbane, I was pleased to find a copy of the September 2008 Australian Gourmet Traveller on the spare chair next to me. Flicking through it, I was delighted to meet up with an old "friend" that I remembered from Melbourne - a recipe for Persian Love Cake by Gerard Yaxley of Qom restaurant at Coolum, Queensland.

I am not sure how authentically Persian this recipe is, but it is a truly gorgeous cake. Rather than lemon chiffon with rosewater buttercream, like the Epicurious version, this cake consists of almond meal, pistachios, brown sugar and Greek yoghurt. It captured my imagination, and luckily for me, when I searched for the recipe, I found it available here on the Australian Gourmet Traveller website.

This cake has a nutty, caramel-flavoured base, and is topped by a creamy, nutty filling. The texture is not really cake-like - it is more like a cross between a streusel and a pudding. It is moist and almost melt-in-the-mouth, while the edge of the cake is caramelised and crispy.

I could definitely fall in love with this cake, and I believe that quite a number of my colleagues felt the same way. It is not a cake for those who are not fond of nuts, but if you do love almonds, and are looking for something a little different to the every day, then do give this cake a try.




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14 comments:

  1. FinlaJune 5, 2009 at 9:28 PM

    The cake looks so moist will have to check out the recipe.

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  2. IvyJune 5, 2009 at 9:44 PM

    I love cakes with Greek yoghurt so this is a recipe I would like to try. Cake, I thought you lived in Melbourne. Have you moved to Brisbane?

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  3. Lorraine @ Not Quite NigellaJune 5, 2009 at 10:26 PM

    Looks delicious! Interesting that they're both called Persian Love Cake. I made the Epicurious version and it was lovely and light!

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  4. CakelawJune 5, 2009 at 11:00 PM

    Hi Happy Cook - it is indeed moist - very good in my view.

    Hi Ivy, I moved not that long ago.

    Thanks Lorraine. The Epicurious version certainly looked pretty, and I only found it by accident when searching for the Gourmet Traveller version.

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  5. ellyJune 6, 2009 at 12:10 AM

    This sounds like a delicious cake. I love almond cakes and the greek yogurt must make it so moist.

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  6. UnknownJune 6, 2009 at 1:42 AM

    I'm in love with yogurt cakes, they are usually so moist! This sounds good, I'll have to try it.

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  7. CathyJune 6, 2009 at 3:06 AM

    I LOVE almonds, so I am already in love with this cake. The clinical pilates classes sound fantastic - enjoy!

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  8. CakelawJune 6, 2009 at 3:50 PM

    Hi Elly, the yoghurt did make it lovely and moist.

    Hi Jenny, this recipe is good and very unusual.

    Thanks Cathy :)

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  9. YJune 6, 2009 at 11:13 PM

    I've had that recipe bookmarked to make for some time now. Was very curious about what it would taste like. Judging from your description, I think I should make it soon!

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  10. foodcreateJune 7, 2009 at 12:48 AM

    Delicious I love almonds what wonderful yogurt cake prefect to clebrate the begin of summer!

    Thanks for sharing your recipe!

    Thank you for your lovely comment on my site:)

    http://foodcreate.com

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  11. adeleJune 8, 2009 at 5:25 PM

    I have a stack of issues of Australian Gourmet Traveller piled up with my other cookbooks. I like to drool over the recipes, too. :)

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  12. The Caked CrusaderJune 8, 2009 at 5:37 PM

    Lovely looking cake!

    Can't believe how similar we are - I have been doing pilates for over a year now to help sort out a back problem and preach the wonders of my classes to anyone who'll listen

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  13. CakelawJune 8, 2009 at 8:16 PM

    Hi Y, I really enjoyed it - I like unusual cakes that are not too sweet.

    Thanks Foodcreate.

    Hi Adele, it's the best isn't it? Worth the price of the magazine, even if you never make anything.

    Hi Crusader, pilates is terrific, isn't it. I have had so much less trouble with my back since I took it up.

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  14. Mermaid SewsJune 10, 2009 at 2:07 AM

    Cake sounds fabulous, and I hear you on pilates, I am a regular because of darn back problems, it is a godsend.

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Thanks for dropping by!