Middle Eastern Orange Cake

I was once invited to an associate of my husband's house for afternoon tea. My husband's friend set down a huge plate filled with great hulking slices of cake (bought up from a shop in Melbourne) and the one that caught my eye was a fragrant orange cake. I figured the man of the house was a little clueless as men usually tend to be around cakes and tea as there was no fork or knife around and I only wanted a small slice (I usually start small in case I don't like it as I feel rude not finished things). As I didn't know them very well I didn't want to interrupt the fascinating sailing conversation that was going on between the menfolk (ok sarcasm there) so I kept quiet and transported the huge hunk of cake onto my plate.

And once I lifted the slice to my lips, I was so sweetly rewarded in the most wonderful way. The cake was incredibly soft, cool and damp inside and sweet and heady with zest.

Of course when his wife sat down, out came the forks and knives and proper instruments but did I give up my slice or offer a taste to anyone? Absolutely not. I was shamelessly and unrepentantly greedy that day. And ever since I tried that cake, I sought a recipe for it, making orange cake after orange cake, ones with syrup, ones claiming to be the moistest Orange cake, hoping to replicate that cool, sweet fragrance. And when I finally found it several years ago, I became ecstatic. I should have known that the moistness was due to the exclusion of flour and the inclusion of almond meal.

I don't remember which cookbook I got this from, although I do know that the printout I have attributes this recipe to Claudia Roden. She used regular Oranges rather than Blood Oranges but I have a stash of Blood Oranges at the moment and couldn't wait to use them. They are in season for a shortish time, although they are now being imported, and I have seen them around a lot lately at a very reasonable price so if you do see some, grab them. They make a fantastic juice (but the juice must be drunk straight after juicing). Or use it as an excuse to make this divine cake.

Claudia Roden's Middle Eastern Blood Orange Cake

• 2 large oranges, washed (I used 3 medium sized blood oranges)

• 6 eggs, beaten

• 250 g. ground almonds

• 250 g. sugar

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• Icing sugar to dust if desired

Step 1 - Boil whole, unpeeled oranges in a little water in a covered saucepan for 2 hours (you can do this step a day or so ahead of time and keep the boiled oranges, once cooled, in the fridge). Discard water, allow to cool, then cut open, remove pips and chop roughly or pull apart into smaller pieces with fingers. OR if you don't want to spend as much time on this step (and let's face it, who does!), Julie from Cookbookaddict posted a comment below suggesting piercing the skins with a fork, microwave in a closed container on high for about 8 mins (depending on size of fruit) and turning them around after a few minutes.

Step 2 - Preheat oven to 190ºC/170ºc fan forced and line the base and sides of a springform tin with baking paper.

Step 3 - Blend oranges and remaining ingredients thoroughly in a food processor. Pour batter into prepared tin. Bake for 1 hour. If cake is still very wet, cook a little longer. Cool in tin before gently removing. Dust with icing sugar and zest and prepare to swoon...

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