Almond cakes

The cake and pastries made in Spanish convents are famous for their delicacy, the result of careful preparation and traditional methods. Many of the recipes, a legacy of the Arab presence in Spain, wisely combine almonds with honey and eggs and were brought to the convents by nuns who had learnt them in their homes.

It is in the provinces of Seville and Granada that there are the most convents and where the products of their kitchens are most competitive with those on sale in the shops.

The following recipe comes from a Granada convent and is said to be a secret, but we happen to know it is included in a well-known publication.

• Servings: Makes 6-8 cakes
• Prep Time: 30 min.
• Cook Time: 15 min.

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 9 oz blanched peeled almonds
• 4 oz sugar
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Cinnamon
• 1/4 cup flaked almonds
• Butter and flour to grease the pans

Preparation

Grind the almonds in an electric grinder with a little sugar to prevent them from going oily. With an electric beater, beat the eggs with the rest of the sugar until light and fluffy. (If done by hand, first beat the yolks with the sugar, add the almonds, etc. and finally the egg whites beaten stiff.)

Add the cinnamon and lemon zest then gently fold in the ground almonds. Grease and dust with flour 6-8 individual tart pans; fill them with the mixture and sprinkle with almonds flakes. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes.

Remove from the pans while hot and leave to cool.

See also...

View of Sevilla, capital of Andalusia

Andalusia recipes:  The Romans taught the Andalusians how to cultivate wheat and vines and used the fish from the seas to produce the best "garum" in the empire. The Arabs taught the Andalusians how to grow fruit and vegetables. They used irrigation systems and improved the cultivation of olive trees and the production of oil. Furthermore, the Greeks, Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Visigoths left their mark on the art, science, culture and gastronomy of Andalusia.