There are many legends that try to determine the history of the clementine; but, the only truism is that clementines, satsumas and tangerines are part of the family of pleasant, easily peelable fruits called mandarins that form the sweet, delicate counterpart to tart oranges. Everything else, including the idea that an Algerian monk hybridised two citrus fruits, is bollocks. The fruit probably originates in China, hence the etymology of ‘mandarin.’
We do know that clementines were introduced into Californian agriculture in 1914, and have remained there ever since. Apparently, threat now comes from Donald Trump’s ‘wall’ whereby clementine farms may be deprived of their usual migrant pickers. USA kids do not want to pick fruit in the burning sun, so the future of Californian clementines is potentially standing at the gates of Hell.
The recipe given here is by Rick Stein, who penned it once back home after his trip all over southern USA. Stein described this as the most perfect Californian blend of clementines, lemon, olive oil and almonds. We are inclined to agree.
Clementines are in season from October until late February.
Clementine and almond cake
(145 votes, average: 3.79 out of 5)
Loading...Ingredients
- For the cake:
- 2 large clementines (about 200g), washed
- 4 large eggs
- 1 large lemon, zest only
- 160g golden caster sugar
- 100ml oz olive oil
- 175g ground almonds
- 2 tsp baking powder
- For the syrup:
- 15g caster sugar
- 1 large lemon, juice only
- Icing sugar to dust
Instructions
Place the clementines in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for 20–30 minutes until tender. Remove and set aside until cool enough to handle. Cut the clementines in half and discard the pips and the hard, green ends.
Put the clementines, including the skin, into a food processor and blend to a paste.
Preheat the oven to 180˚C. Grease a 20cm spring-form cake tin and line the bottom with baking paper.
Whisk together the eggs, lemon zest and caster sugar in a bowl. Add the olive oil and beat until light and well combined. Stir in the clementine paste then fold in the ground almonds and baking powder.
Spoon the mixture into the tin and bake for 50 minutes or until well risen and golden-brown. The cake should have slightly shrunken from the sides and be springy to the touch. Leave it to cool in the tin on a wire rack.
Meanwhile, to make the syrup, warm the sugar and lemon juice in a small pan over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved.
Make lots of small holes all over the cooled cake with a piece of uncooked spaghetti or cocktail stick, and drizzle over the lemon syrup. Let the cake cool completely in the tin, unlock the tin spring, and move the cake onto a serving plate. Dust with icing sugar.
7 Comments
Alfie
14/02/2019 at 6:59 amAfter checking out a handful of the articles on your blog, I truly appreciate your
way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back
soon. Please visit my web site as well and tell me your opinion. https://myspace.com/menangceme99
julie macnab-stark
03/10/2019 at 11:54 amI’m an experienced cook, this is a lovely tasting cake but something is off with the recipe. I’ve made it twice, it sinks very badly while in the oven.
Nigel Eastmond
03/10/2019 at 12:00 pmHi, I am sorry to hear this is sinking on you. Cakes usually sink if the centre is not cooked, but you say yours is sinking in the oven. Is the oven hot enough? Once solution might be to run the oven at 200˚C, put the cake in and then immediately turn down to 180˚C. That would prevent the oven temperature from dropping when the cold tin goes in, and this is the method for all temperature-sensitive things such as soufflés. The original recipe from Rick Stein is here, and we have not deviated from it: https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/clementine-almond-and-olive-oil-cake.
Linda
05/10/2020 at 9:25 amI am also an experienced cook, however there are still times requiring further info. Do you think you could elaborate re the sinking? The recipe calls for a hot oven with no disruptions. Is there anything further you can add?
Isabelle
18/01/2024 at 9:37 amI used 300 g of almond flour instead of 180 and the cake still turned out lovely and moist. It didn’t sink at all. Almonds are very high in fat so the ratio of oil to “flour” seemed weird to me and with the original measurements, the batter was extremely liquid. After upping the amount of almonds the cake only needed 40 minutes in the oven.
Christine Espley
18/02/2024 at 9:03 pmI make it often, never sinks. Professional chef and always make sure I know my oven!
Rich
08/08/2020 at 1:24 pmGreat cake now a family favourite. Super moist, fruity and so easy to make… 5stars!