Mar 18, 2010

Chocolate Beetrootcake...




This cake took a long time for me to be convinced... Been seeing this a lot in several versions but never ventured beyond curiosity. I was not too sure about having beetroot in my chocolate cake. This week i had a glut of beetroot in my fridge and thought why not !!.

It was both surprise and revelation to me. Not only the cake came out super soft and super moist i could never smell or feel any beetroot in there, which is what i was totally skeptical about. I layered and lathered it with rich chocolate ganache and served it with fresh strawberries . I think it is one of the best chocolate cakes i have ever tasted.

Though there are several recipes available i followed chef Ross Burden's version simply because his recipe suggests to cook and puree the beetroot though many other recipes add just plain grated beetroot like we do for carrot cake. I think the puree blended well with the cake mixture and gave it a sort of rich purplish brown colour and great texture.

Ingredients:
85g dark chocolate
3 medium eggs
300g sugar
240ml sunflower oil
300g cooked beetroot, peeled and pureed
30g cocoa powder
200g plain flour
1 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
250g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
250ml double cream

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease and flour a 25cm spring-release cake tin.

2. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl suspended over a pan of simmering water.

3. Meanwhile, lightly beat the eggs with the sugar and oil in a large mixing bowl, then gradually beat in the beetroot puree. Stir in the melted chocolate.

4. Sift the cocoa, flour and bicarbonate of soda over the surface and mix in thoroughly.

5. Spoon the cake mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 35 minutes or until the centre springs back when lightly pressed. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

6. While the cake is cooling make the ganache. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring the cream almost to boiling point, then pour over the chocolate. Beat together until the chocolate has melted into the cream making a ganache.

7. While the ganache is still warm use to ice the chocolate. Set aside to cool and harden. Serve the cake with ice cream and fresh strawberries.


11 comments:

Ushnish Ghosh said...

Dear nandini
If you had not certified it, I wouldn't have believed that such cake is possible. But I am off baking for many years, so will not be able to try .may be some one will be intwersted , she still bakes
happy cooking

gtyuk said...

chocolate beetroot cake looks gorgeous dear!!!
I have never tried this combination either, yours is tempting me to try one!!

Cham said...

I have seen this version but never tried! Looks Delicious :)

Deepa said...

wow, no one can believe this cake has beetroot..such beautiful cake...looks so mouthwatering...

Siddhi Shirsat said...

wow nandini awesome cake...loved ur use of beetroot...cake looks super yummy
http://siddhiscookingexperiences.blogspot.com/

Muneeba said...

I'm definitely intrigued ... "best chocolate cake" you say??? With beets? I believe you (coz I love beets), but must try it out for myself!

Pete said...

This is interesting combination of chocolate and beetroot! Wonderful recipe!

Namitha said...

Gorgeous cake..Never tried this beets-choco combo..

Sarah Naveen said...

Hey thanx a ton for stopping by Vazhayila!!!!
oh Gal,..this cake looks awesome!!!

Simplyfood said...

wow amazing looking at the cake I would never have guessed its got beet in it.It looks delicious.Thanks for dropping by simply.food.Your visit and comments are very much appreciated.

Pam said...

Hiii, thanks for visiting my blog.You have great recipes here too, and this chocolate cake looks so delicious, so different, I must try it :). Have a great weekend.
xxx