Bolo Podre - Traditional Alentejo Cake DSC02655 copy

It was great to go back to my country and taste its wonderful cuisine. We have a rich gastronomic tradition that showcases our local products and the particularities of each region. If you read my previous posts, you know that this time I started my trip by going south to Alentejo.

The Alentejo plains provide us with the best olive oil, wine, grains, wonderful bread, pork, lamb and aromatic herbs. Its gastronomic history shows the influence of past invaders, in particular the Romans and the Arabs. The Romans influenced the production of olive oil and wine. As for the Arabs, you can still recognize their influence in the local sweets that are made with honey and almonds. Spices were introduced later in the 16th century during our golden age of the Discoveries, in particular from India. Cinnamon became a crucial spice, used widely in the Portuguese cuisine and in Alentejo in particular.

Many of the dessert and cake recipes were then created and recreated in the convents by the nuns. The Bolo Podre is a recipe that has survived the ages and although there are different versions of it, the basis always remains the same. Honey and olive oil are always present. My older sister collects wonderful recipes and she told me about a delicious version with Port wine. I didn’t have to plead too much to have it and here it is. The Bolo Podre was a big success, a recipe I intend to reuse many times in the future. The cake is moist and so good. The honey, olive oil and Port wine are such an intense combination both in aroma and taste. The orange juice and rind give it a nice fruity taste which together with the nuts balance the flavours nicely. I had never tasted anything like it before.

Bolo Podre

(Adapted from an old recipe by Tele Culinaria)

Bolo Podre - Traditional Alentejo Cake DSC02669 copy 2

  • 2.5 dl/8.4 fl oz honey
  • 1.5 dl/5 fl oz extra virgin olive oil
  • 150 g/5.2 oz brown sugar and 1 tbsp for the egg whites
  • 4 eggs, separated
  • 300 g/10.5 wheat flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
  • 1/4 cup Port wine
  • 1 clove, grounded
  • juice and rind of 1 orange
  • 40g/1.4 oz walnut meal  (grind or blend the walnuts)
  • 30 g/1 oz pine nut meal (grind or blend the pine nuts)

 

  1.  Preheat the oven to 200ºC/392ºF. Line a round baking pan with parchment paper and then grease with butter or cooking spray.
  2. In an electric mixer, add the honey, extra virgin olive oil, sugar, juice and rind of the orange, Port wine and the egg yolks. Beat until well combined.
  3. Sift the flour with the baking powder, cinnamon and the grounded clove.
  4. Beat the egg whites until firm, add a tbsp of sugar and beat again until stiff.
  5. Add to the wet batter the flour mixture and the egg whites alternating between them. With a wooden spoon fold in carefully until all is well combined.
  6. Add the walnuts and pine nuts and fold in. Pour the batter and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Half way reduce the oven temperature to 180ºC/350º F. Be attentive not to let it bake too much. It will be ready when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let it cool down. This cake improves with time, two days later the flavours will be even stronger. Enjoy!

Bolo Podre - Traditional Alentejo Cake DSC02681 copy 2

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Maria

Maria

Welcome! Through my photography and my travels, you will discover the people I have encountered and the places that will stay with me forever. In this crazy new reality we seem to be living, it is even more important to be grateful for all the people who have crossed our path and touched us in same way. As for all the old and new stones, they can live in our imaginary for now, waiting, when the time is right again ...

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