Chefs' Recipes

Almond lemon cake with roasted plums

Australian Gourmet Traveller and Vini restaurant dessert recipe for almond lemon cake with roasted plums

By Andrew Cibej
  • Serves 10
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Almond lemon cake with roasted plums
"I love Vini's beautiful almond and lemon cake with roasted plums. Would chef Andrew Cibej share his recipe?"
Jean Denton, Pearl Beach, NSW
Request a recipe
To request a recipe, write to Fare Exchange, Australian Gourmet Traveller, GPO Box 4088, Sydney, NSW 2001, or email us. All requests should include the restaurant's name and address or business card, as well as your name and address.
In this variation of a recipe inspired by London's River Café, ricotta and honey add textural interest.

Ingredients

  • 450 gm unsalted butter
  • 450 gm caster sugar
  • 6 eggs
  • 450 gm almond meal
  • 225 gm fine polenta
  • 4 lemons, finely grated rind only
  • 1 lemon, juice only
  • 400 gm ricotta
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • For dusting: icing sugar
Roasted plums
  • 12 blood or other red-skinned plums, halved and stones removed
  • 1 sprig rosemary, leaves removed
  • 300 ml red wine
  • 200 gm caster sugar

Method

Main
  • 1
    Preheat oven to 160C. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until pale and creamy, then add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Fold in almond meal, then add polenta, lemon rind and juice. Add ricotta and honey and stir until just combined, trying to keep walnut size lumps of ricotta throughout mixture. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased and baking paper-lined 26cm-diameter cake pan. Bake for 1 hour or until golden and a skewer withdraws clean when inserted. Cool completely in pan.
  • 2
    For roasted plums, place plums cut-side up in a roasting tray. In a saucepan, combine 300ml water and remaining ingredients, bring to the boil and pour over plums. Roast for 20-25 minutes or until tender. Remove plums, return liquid to saucepan and slowly bring to the boil. Cook for 30 minutes or until reduced to 1 cup.
  • 3
    Dust cake with icing sugar. Serve wedges of cake with plums and syrup to the side.