Ottolenghi's chocolate fudge cake

 So my eldest sister has been requesting me for the past few months to make this: Ottolenghi's chocolate fudge cake. He has a bakery in the London which I would love to go to. I mean look at the picture...

Source: Triptease.com

Let me warn you that this is a chocolate cake not for the faint-hearted. This is a true chocoholic's dream (and I have a chocoholic family).

There's a lot of chocolate and butter involved. And you bake it twice! I accidentally used a big cake pan because I thought the mixture was going to over-flow, so my cake was rather flat. The texture of this cake is incredibly fudgy with a crackly top, almost like a brownie, but a bit on the lighter side since you have whipped egg whites. It's also not too sweet. Unlike the other flourless chocolate cake I made (using almond meal), it's more rich & dense.

The cake is indeed quite rich, and berries would complement it real well. Or even with ice cream. It's also pretty delicious when warmed in the microwave..Think warm fudgy cake.. 

But do you know what also goes really well with this? Green tea ice cream. We had a family lunch with my two sisters' boyfriends and my mum made some Malaysian food and I made this cake and green tea ice cream. Combine chocolate & green tea and voila, c'est super! 

Ottolenghi's chocolate fudge cake
Serves 8-10
Ingredients
240 g unsalted butter, cut into cubes
265 g dark chocolate (52% cocoa), chopped
95 g dark chocolate (70% cocoa), chopped
290 g light muscovado sugar (I just used light brown sugar) *
4 tbsp water
5 large eggs, separated
Pinch of salt
Cocoa powder for dusting
* I reduced the sugar to about 250 g

Method
1. Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F).
2. Butter a 20 cm (8 inch) springform pan and line bottom & sides with parchment/baking paper.
3. In a large heat proof bowl, combine chopped chocolates & butter and melt.
4. Combine the brown sugar/muscovado sugar with water in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Pour the boiling syrup over the chocolate & butter and stir until they have melted.
5. Add the egg yolks, one at a time to chocolate mixture and then set the bowl aside until the mixture comes to room temperature.
6. In a large bowl, using an electric whisk, beat the egg whites & salt to a firm but not dry meringue.
7. Pour 2/3rds of the batter into your prepared pan (about 800 g, saving the remaining batter for later)
8. Bake for 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
9. Remove the cake from the oven, and leave it on a wire rack to cool completely. Flatten the cake with an offset spatula, don't worry about breaking the surface crust and pour the rest of the batter on top.
10. Level the surface again. Return the cake to the oven and bake for a further 20-25 minutes. When tested with a skewer, the cake should have a few moist crumbs clinging to it.
11. Allow to cool completely in the pan before removing it. Dust with cocoa powder before serving.

Adapted from Ottolenghi's cook book (via Not so humble pie)

Flourless chocolate cake

Flourless chocolate cakes are really good. Like really, really good. Especially with some ice cream.

I achieved a very moist, spongy texture from this, and it certainly wasn't too sweet. I loved the contrast of the raspberries with the chocolate. It cuts through the dark chocolate.  The coffee flavour is also there, and in my opinion, essential in a good chocolate cake. It's not too obvious, but my piano teacher commented that there was a lovely 'after-taste' of the coffee. Am I the only one who has found chocolate cakes creates a bit more depth with the taste if you put some coffee in?

Sprinkle with icing sugar (to cover the cracks), top with some berries and eat with some whipped cream. Oh, and if you're feeling a little bit more indulgent, eat it with some ice cream.

Flourless chocolate cake
Slightly adapted from Taste

*Serves 8-12 people

Ingredients:
125 g almond meal
125 g unsalted butter, chopped
3-4 tablespoons strongly brewed black coffee
200 g (1 bar) good quality dark chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/3-1/2 cup sugar, depending on your preference. Leave about 4-5 tablespoons of sugar for the egg whites.
5 eggs, separated
*Optional: Chopped raspberries

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 F). Grease the sides of a springform cake pan (6 cm deep, 23 cm base) with some butter and line the base with parchment paper.
2. Combine butter, coffee and chocolate in a heatproof, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in intervals, for about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring every minute until smooth.
3. Add cocoa, sugar, egg yolks and almond meal. Combine well.
4. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until soft peaks. Add the sugar, 1 table spoon at a time. You should be able to lift a spoonful of egg white, without it falling over.
5. Fold the egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture until just combined. At this point, add the chopped raspberries or any other mix ins. Just be careful not to overdo your mix ins!
6. Bake for about 40-45 minutes (I baked for 40), until a skewer inserted into the centre has moist crumbs clinging.
7. Cool completely in the pan. Release side and transfer to a plate. Dust with icing sugar or cocoa, top with fresh berries and serve with whipped cream.