Rhubarb cake recipe with polenta, ginger, spices, almonds

When I posted this picture on Twitter, I really wasn’t ready for the reaction.
Rhubarb polenta cakeIt seemed that the idea and view of such a creation was quite attractive to many people. This made me laugh:

…god that cake looks good. I just licked the laptop screen…

I also had a fair few requests to post the recipe online.

I would love to read the whole thing on your blog, hint hint….

And after I posted this article things got better still.

This from international Chef & author Gregoire Michaud at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong:

…you should definitely try Carl’s rhubarb and ginger cake – if not THE one, it has to be one of the best recipe of what you can do with rhubarb: awesome!

And this from Sue Daws whose husband ‘doesn’t like’ rhubarb:

Cake was a big hit! OH ate rhubarb and loved it!

Lastly, one (of many more) from Jono Stevens:

OH reckons its ‘one of the best cakes I’ve ever tasted’, so you earnt me some brownie points too. 🙂

So here we go, read on for the recipe…

Rhubarb polenta cake recipe

The recipe is based on Nigella Lawson’s Rhubarb Cornmeal Cake in How To Be A Domestic Goddess. I’ve adapted it significantly. We’ve made the basic cake lots of times, it’s definitely a family favourite and a great way to use a seasonal treat in Spring. The slight crunch of the polenta is pleasant with the softness of the rhubarb.

What I wanted to do was to give the recipe some complexity by adding some other ingredients that would complement each other. I think I’ve succeeded and would welcome feedback from anyone who makes it themselves.

Rhubarb and ginger are a classic combination. In this recipe I use crystallised ginger in chunky dice. This gives small explosions of ginger flavour and the firm texture contrasts nicely with the softness of the rhubarb.

Nigella’s recipe includes cinnamon. I added ground cardamom to complement this and to provide a subtle background warmth.

The almonds give added crunch, flavour and interest to the topping. I reduced the sugar, and the final change is to substitute some of the plain flour with a light rye flour. The rye complements the rhubarb with a light nuttiness.

Brought together, these elements are divine.

Here’s how to make it…

Ingredients

500g rhubarb (washed & dried, if needed) cut into 5mm slices
250g golden caster sugar
75g crystallised ginger in approximately 5mm dice
100g plain flour
50g light rye flour (mine is from Shiptons Mill, just use plain flour if you can’t get this)
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Pinch of salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 to 1 tsp ground cardamom
155g fine polenta (cornmeal)
2 large free range eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract (I use Nielsen Massey Vanilla Extract from Lakeland. Please don’t use Vanilla ‘flavouring’)
125g unsalted butter, softened
250g natural bio yoghurt
100g flaked almonds

You’ll need a 23cm springform tin (or similar) which should be lined bottom & sides with greaseproof paper

Method

Pre-heat your oven to 180°C (356°F), shelf in the middle.

Put the rhubarb in a non-metallic bowl with 100g of the sugar and the crystallised ginger and stir gently. If you can’t get the rest of the preparation complete in under 30 mins, do this step later. If you leave longer then the rhubarb will give up too much juice to the sugar.

Sieve the flours, polenta, bicarb, salt, cinnamon and cardamom together into a bowl and stir gently to mix.

Break the eggs into another bowl and add the vanilla extract. Beat this gently.

In a mixer (or by hand if you’re feeling strong) cream the rest of the sugar with the butter.

Gradually add the egg/vanilla mixture to the sugar/butter in the mixer, beating gently.

The add alternately a bit of the flour/spice mixture and a bit of yoghurt, beating gently to combine until all is mixed.

Fold in the rhubarb and ginger until evenly mixed.

Pour this into your prepared tin and smooth the top. Sprinkle the flaked almonds evenly over the top.

Bake in the oven for about an hour until springy to the touch and a skewer comes out clean.

About 20 minutes in, you’ll probably see the almonds colouring up. When you are happy with the colour, put some foil or greaseproof over the top of the cake to stop the almonds burning.

Once cooked, take the cake out and rest it in the tin on a rack to cool. Once cool enough to handle, unmould the tin and remove the greaseproof paper. Put on your favourite cake plate.

This is glorious just by itself. You could also have it with creme fraiche, custard or similar.

Hope you enjoy, let me know what you think.

Update 2012
I’m so pleased. A year has gone past and loads of people have enjoyed the cake. Many of last year’s trailists have returned to the cake. Jono’s wife asked for it instead of an Easter egg: a woman with great taste.

I received this picture from the talented & lovely Helen at A Kentish Kitchen.

rhubarb polenta cake 5

Comments

23 responses to “Rhubarb cake recipe with polenta, ginger, spices, almonds”

  1. Jane Poyner Avatar
    Jane Poyner

    The best cake I’ve ever made. Thank you 🙂 Roll on new season of Timperly Early so I can make some more! In the meantime I will look to make with the rhubarb substituted by something else.

    1. Carl Avatar
      Carl

      Aww thanks Jane, that’s really good to hear – a smile on my face now.

      Apples would probably make a good substitution 🙂

      1. Jane Poyner Avatar
        Jane Poyner

        the rhubarb is up, not quite enough to make a cake yet, but another week….

        1. Jane Poyner Avatar
          Jane Poyner

          Forgot to say I made it with apple and ginger, eating apples not cookers, really good 🙂

          1. Carl Avatar
            Carl

            You are right Jane, very nearly rhubarb time here too. Apple & ginger sounds scrummy as well 😀

  2. Joy Avatar

    My daughter just made this and brought some round to me – it’s just wonderful. Thank you!

  3. Mel Avatar

    I’ve also made this cake, and it went down a treat at a baby shower I gave for a friend.

    I’m making this again tonight. I have only invited 2 other people, so I’m hoping that I get a bigger piece myself this time.

    Thanks Carl, a great recipe.

  4. james Avatar
    james

    how long does it take, roughly, after the initial 20 mins??

    1. Carl Avatar
      Carl

      Hi James, about an hour in total depending on your oven & shelf. See the sentence immediately before the sentence with the 20 minutes in 🙂 So about 40 minutes after the initil 20.

  5. Esther Avatar
    Esther

    I just made this cake with carnberries instead of rhubarb! Wonderful! Thank you very much for the recipe!

  6. Carl Legge Avatar
    Carl Legge

    @Mrs R

    'Domestic Deity'? Not me shurely 🙂

    @MitchdaFish

    Cake looked fabulous. And what a result with the kids. You're not the only person to convert 'non-rhubarb' eaters to the 'Joy of Rhubarb'.

    Thanks for saying how you got on

    Cheers both

    Carl

  7. MitchdaFish Avatar
    MitchdaFish

    Finally got (most) of the ingredients together to make this lovely cake, children eating rhubarb at last! Really delicious, even though I am a bit wary of polenta. Thanks!

  8. MrsR Avatar
    MrsR

    Hi Carl, The cake looks absolutely delicious. Move over Nigella – I think we are now onto "How to be a Domestic God" by Carl(no surname required).

  9. Carl Legge Avatar
    Carl Legge

    Thanks Joanna

    A really pretty cake. Thanks for making the recipe – adaptations are where we get new ideas from. Any similarity to Dan's work is a huge compliment.

    This is a clickable link to Joanna's pretty cake pictures, have a look, they're special.

    Joanna's beautiful cake

    Carl

  10. Joanna @ Zeb Bakes Avatar
    Joanna @ Zeb Bakes

    Hi Carl, made your cake, messed up in that I added all the sugar into the butter to start with, only had 350 grams of non-flaccid rhubarb, added a chopped up apple to increase the fruit volume. It made a very tall cake and I think I baked it for quite a bit longer. Anyway very delicious with crunchy almonds and nice lighter than it looks middle part. Reminds me a bit of Dan Lepard's rye and apple loaf cake. And a very forgiving recipe as you can see by my efforts. Some pics here on Flickr http://flic.kr/s/aHsju9F9pK

  11. Carl Legge Avatar
    Carl Legge

    Merci Chef

    Praise indeed.

    Your rhubarb posting is fab and so I think my readers should be able to see it:

    Chef Michaud's excellent Rhubarb

    Carl

  12. Gregoire Avatar
    Gregoire

    Carl, your cake looks mouth-watering! Great mind must think alike – I just did a post on rhubarb too 🙂

  13. Carl Legge Avatar
    Carl Legge

    Emma

    Love to see how your cake goes – send me the picture and I'll post it up.

    No problem re anonymity 🙂

    Carl

  14. Carl Legge Avatar
    Carl Legge

    Binnie

    Thank you very much. It means a lot to have you appreciate my ramblings.

    Thanks for popping by and come back soon.

    Carl

  15. Emma Bond Avatar
    Emma Bond

    All I can say is that meal times round your house must be pretty special at all times. Makes me realise how poor the offerings are at ours.. I'm going to make that cake this weekend. If I have time! Thanks for keeping my identity secret re the screen licking.

  16. Binnie Avatar
    Binnie

    You have a Divine Blog !

  17. Carl Legge Avatar
    Carl Legge

    Now there's keen!

  18. Joanna @ Zeb Bakes Avatar
    Joanna @ Zeb Bakes

    Yes, yes yes! Am going round the greengrocers to capture some rhubarb right this minute! Thanks Carl!