Some of our greatest childhood recollections revolve round meals. Food recollections typically spark nostalgia, and luxury and likewise strengthen our bonds with family and friends. My earliest recollections round plum cake are rekindled every year round November and early December when motels in most Indian cities organise Christmas cake mixing or fruit mixing ceremonies. While it is easy to dismiss this as PR or photograph alternatives, they’re organised for a cause. There are accounts that recommend that the cake-mixing traditions have been a part of British tradition because the seventeenth century. This quintessential English custom first started as plum porridge earlier than evolving into the normal Christmas or plum cake as we all know it.
According to Ashutosh Nerlekar, Director of Food Production, The Park, Chennai, cake mixing in earlier days was in regards to the starting of the harvest season. Communities mates and households acquired collectively to have a good time the season. Ashutosh provides that substances utilized in cake mixing-dried fruits, nuts, spices, and spirits are symbols of abundance and prosperity. “It is seen as a gesture of gratitude for the yr’s blessings and a prayer for a fruitful yr forward.”
Ashutosh’s tip for dwelling bakers is to soak the fruits at the very least 6 weeks forward of baking. He additionally strongly recommends giving this fruit combine a churn each week. “Make certain the fruits are reduce small and evenly. Uneven and massive fruits will make the cake crumbly. Use molasses for the great darkish color. Add apricot jam to raise the style and richness. After the cake is baked spray it with some alcohol to maintain it moist and boozy.” Many pastry cooks I spoke to, imagine that the fruit soaking course of helps the flavour, provides to the moisture content material and likewise results in the plumping of fruits. It’s a significant step in preserving the flavours and textures of the plum cake.
Rehana, who’s the Baker and Co-owner of OVN Bakehouse shares her secret step – “We cook dinner the dry fruits in wine. The following day we add rum, whiskey and freshly floor spices and mix earlier than letting it ‘sit’ for 10-12 months. Shri Bale, a Celebrity Chef and culinary anthropologist believes that spices are the important thing. She makes use of a spice combine powder with cinnamon, cloves, a touch of nutmeg together with a great deal of floor dry ginger. Her different secret ingredient is orange rind and zest. She additionally suggests using Blackjack caramel (caramelised sugar water) to moisten the cake.
Chef Ravi Varma (Area Pastry Chef, Tamil Nadu, Indian Hotels Company Limited) who shared his plum cake recipe with us (See recipe under) believes the depth of the flavours relies upon fully on how lengthy you soak the fruits. It’s why lots of the company at fruit mixing occasions this yr could style the ‘fruits of their labour’ solely subsequent yr. Many motels protect this yr’s fruit combine till subsequent yr when it soaks in alcohol for these intense flavours. While basic plum cake tastes scrumptious at room temperature, you can even heat it up and serve it with brandy sauce. You can strive our recipe at dwelling:
Plum Cake Recipe
Recipe courtesy: Chef Ravi Varma, Area Pastry Chef, Tamil Nadu, Indian Hotels Company Limited
Ingredients:
- Unsalted Butter – 100gm
- Brown Sugar -100gm
- Eggs-2nos
- Flour -100gm
- Ginger Powder-1gm
- Cinnamon Powder 1gm
- Nut Meg Powder 1gm
- Candied Orange peel 28 gm
- Candied lemon peel 28 gm
- Candied Ginger Chips-12 gm
- Candied Cherries -167 gm
- Orange rind- 1
- Raisins -167gm
- Black currents-167gm
- Dried figs -83gm
- Dates-83gms
- Black raisins-117gm
- Chopped almonds – 42 gm
- Cognac-120ml
- Treacle / Blackjack-17ml
Method:
- Mix all of the dry fruits, Cognac and Blackjack and let it marinate for at the very least 24 hours.
- Sift flour & spice powders collectively in a bowl.
- Cream butter and brown sugar till mild and fluffy
- Gradually add the eggs one after the other
- Add flour, spice combination & chopped almonds to the marinated fruit combination.
- Fold the 4 and fruit combination into the butter combination to type a easy batter.
- Pour batter right into a greased pan and bake at 170 levels C for 20 minutes and 40 minutes at 150 levels C.
- Remove from the oven as soon as it is performed.
- To make sure the cake is moist and flavorful spray cognac over the crust of the cake and permit it to chill.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed inside this text are the private opinions of the writer. NDTV shouldn’t be liable for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any data on this text. All data is supplied on an as-is foundation. The data, information or opinions showing within the article don’t mirror the views of NDTV and NDTV doesn’t assume any accountability or legal responsibility for a similar.
About Ashwin RajagopalanI’m the proverbial slashie – a content material architect, author, speaker and cultural intelligence coach. School lunch bins are often the start of our culinary discoveries.That curiosity hasn’t waned. It’s solely acquired stronger as I’ve explored culinary cultures, road meals and wonderful eating eating places the world over. I’ve found cultures and locations by culinary motifs. I’m equally obsessed with writing on shopper tech and journey.
