Name: Ricotta-polenta cake with lemon-rosemary syrup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 8 - 10
Ingredients: 150 gm softened butter, plus extra for greasing; 120 gm honey; Finely grated rind and juice of 3 lemons; 6 eggs, separated; 400 gm firm ricotta; 200 gm almond meal; 180 gm fine polenta; 2 tsp finely chopped rosemary, plus 3 extra sprigs; 330 gm caster sugar (1½ cups); Flaked almonds, for scattering; 1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped

Ricotta-polenta cake with lemon-rosemary syrup

Enjoy a slice of this fragrant, versatile cake at any time of day. And you can make the whole thing in just over an hour.

Serves 8 - 10

Prep

20M

Cook

50M

Total

1H 10M

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This tangy ricotta-polenta cake is just as good served a day or two after baking as it is served warm. Although once you’ve finished drizzling the sweet and herbal lemon-rosemary syrup over it, you’ll find it difficult to stop at one slice.

Ingredients

150 gm softened butter, plus extra for greasing

120 gm honey

Finely grated rind and juice of 3 lemons

6 eggs, separated

400 gm firm ricotta

200 gm almond meal

180 gm fine polenta

2 tsp finely chopped rosemary, plus 3 extra sprigs

330 gm caster sugar (1½ cups)

Flaked almonds, for scattering

1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped

Method

Main

1.Preheat oven to 150°C and butter the base of a 26cm diameter cake tin (we used a fluted tin) and line it with baking paper. Beat butter, honey and lemon rind in an electric mixer until light and fluffy (4-5 minutes), scrape down sides of bowl, then add yolks one at a time, beating well between additions. Transfer to a large bowl, fold in ricotta, then almond meal, polenta, rosemary and a pinch of salt.

2.Whisk eggwhites and a pinch of salt in an electric mixer to soft peaks, then gradually whisk in 110gm sugar and whisk until glossy (1-2 minutes). Fold into ricotta mixture, then spoon batter into tin, smooth top and scatter with almonds. Bake until golden and a skewer withdraws clean (45-50 minutes). Remove from oven and pierce all over with a skewer.

3.Stir lemon juice, remaining sugar and 80ml water in a saucepan over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves. Add vanilla bean and seeds, bring to the boil and cook until a light syrup forms (4-5 minutes). Discard vanilla bean, add rosemary sprigs and pour half over cake. Chill remaining.

4.Serve cake warm or at room temperature drizzled with remaining syrup.