Torta di Carote: LA CUCINA di TERRESA

I found this delicious recipe for torta di carote (carrot cake) – Italian style – on the ItalianMade website (a treasure trove of information on Italian cuisine and wine). Full of almond powder and eggs, you could say that it’s a bit rich on the rich side yet its light airiness makes it just melt in your mouth. I’ve served it with both a simple lemon glaze icing and a cinnamon-mascarpone spread. Quite nice with a sparkling Moscato d’Asti. Give it a try on an early summer evening, out on the terrace or in the back garde Hmmm… And please take a look at my website La Cucina di Terresa. Feel free to subscribe to my Conscious Palate Newsletter. Torta di Carote 1/2 lb. (250 gr) small carrots5 eggs, separated1 cup (190 gr) sugar1 cup (170 gr) almond powderZest of 1 lemonPinch of salt2 tBsp (2 cuillière à soupe) unbleached flour or rice flour2 tBsp (3 cl) rum Wash and peel the carrots, then grate them onto a cloth. Spread them out, cover with another cloth and let stand for about an hour to dry out. Whip the egg whites and sugar to a stiff meringue. Gently fold in, one at a time, the carrots, almonds, lemon zest, flour and salt, and egg yolks. Gently stir in the rum. Butter and dust a cake pan with flour and pour in the mixture. Bake at 350 ˚F for about 40 min. Remove from the oven and from the cake pan and let cool on a rack. Frost it with a mascarpone spread or lemon icing.   Mascarpone spread 1 cup mascarpone at room temperature.3-4 tBsp (60-80 gr) light liquid honey1/8 tsp (1/8 cuillère à café) cinnamon Mix together and spread over the top of the cake Lemon icing 150 g confectioner’s sugar2 tBsp (3 cl) fresh lemon juiceA few drops of bitter almond extract (optional) Mix together for 1 minute then cover the top of the cake using a pastry brush. Put in a hot oven for 1 minute to set the icing. Bon appétit!