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Friday, February 02, 2007

Hate turned love – Gâteau au chocolat et à la mandarine

[Mandarin chocolate cake]

When I was younger – and by younger I mean a lot more younger -, my father who worked at home used to take me to Cannes where we would go to Rohr, a posh salon de thé for tea.

He always had orangettes: candied orange peels dipped in bitter chocolate.
That was the kind of love me, feed me and hug me moments; except that I secretly loathed orangettes.
C’est amer et dégoutant! [it’s bitter and horrid], I would think hard (penser fort).

From then, I happily declined every chocolate/citrus treat I have been offered.
This combination is just not appealing to me. Well, I should say was, because I’m now happily and officially converted.

Gâteau au chocolat et à la mandarine
adapted from Bill Granger’s open kitchen

This cake combines the deep flavour of dark chocolate and the subtle sweetness of mandarin.
I think it works particularly well because mandarin is both fragrant and sweet; definitely not too sharp and it gives a satisfying intensity to the flourless chocolate base.

Serve the cake with mandarin slices to enhance the citrus taste and provide lovely juices.

Mandarin chocolate cake

serves 8-10

250g quality dark chocolate
250g unsalted butter, diced
6 eggs, separated
1tbsp mandarin zest
115g caster sugar
3 tbsp plain flour
25g almond meal
a pinch of salt

Preheat the oven to 190°C and line a 23cm spring form pan with baking paper.
Place the chocolate and butter in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and stir until just melted. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Place the egg yolk, mandarin zest and sugar in a bowl and mix until combined.
Gradually add the melted chocolate-butter, stirring.
Mix in the flour, almond meal and salt.

In a clean, dry bowl, whip the egg whites until stiff and fold gently into the chocolate mixture until barely combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes. The cake might look wet in the centre, but don’t worry, it’ll firm up while cooling.
Allow to cool completely in the tin and transfer to a serving platter.
Serve with mandarin slices.

Labels: cakes of all kind, chocolate, recipe inside

sweet link | posted by *fanny* at 20:25

9 sweets:

Fabienne said something sweet:: Oh, i think it's gorgeous !; 02 February, 2007 21:10
Anonymous said something sweet:: Vraiment très beau!; 02 February, 2007 21:19
leonine194 said something sweet:: i love dark chocolate & i love mandarine so sûre i love this Gateau miam.; 02 February, 2007 23:23
Lisa Fain (Homesick Texan) said something sweet:: I love orange and chocolate together, such a delightful combination of flavors. Yum!; 03 February, 2007 18:50
Lisa Johnson said something sweet:: There is something really wonderful about chocolate and orange. And the photo of them together is like a match made in heaven. Beautiful!; 03 February, 2007 21:28
Unknown said something sweet:: Beau et simple, tout ce que j'aime!; 04 February, 2007 16:47
Anonymous said something sweet:: Bonjour Fanny! I agree with the others, your cake looks gorgeous! It's nice that you gave the chocolate/orange combination another try!; 05 February, 2007 16:11
Anonymous said something sweet:: I love oragnettes. We sell them at my work and I just cannot resist eating one everyday. Your cake looks beautiful and delicious! I especially like that the recipe calls for almond meal. Sounds lovely.; 05 February, 2007 17:29
Anonymous said something sweet:: I love the combination choco-mandarine! The cake looks delicious! yummy :); 07 February, 2007 19:50