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Recipes from my Lincolnshire kitchen

chili chocolate orange cake – we should cocoa

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… in the world of food there are some wonderful combinations that, according to Heston Blumenthal have a natural fit on the molecular level. The concept is that if the major volatile molecules of food are the same, they might taste (and smell) nice when they eaten together… thus we get some unusual flavour pairings such as; white chocolate and caviar, caraway and lavender, liver and jasmine and salmon and licorice… there are of course the more classic combinations such as carrot and coriander, pork and apple and coffee and walnut…

… whilst one may think the food pairing of chocolate and chili is a new culinary discovery it does, in fact have it’s root way back in the legends of the Aztec, who used it in a hot chocolate drink…

… it does the most wonderful thing to your mouth, which gently but deeply explodes with richness and flavour and it’s something i’ve never cooked with before.

… this months we should cocoa challenge brings these two ingredients together and I for one can’t wait to see what everyone else brings to the table… i’ve added a third ingredient of orange to the mix, which sweetens the deal and subdues the chili… slightly!…

chili chocolate orange cake
i’ve got to say this cake is both dense and moist at the same time… I had some for breakfast this morning and it was heavenly… thanks to Sam Stern at The Guardian for the recipe.
150g plain chocolate
½ tsp coffee granules
1tsp chilli flakes (or more if you like), crushed with pestle & mortar or bashed with a rolling pin
125g butter
125g caster sugar
5 eggs, separated 
75g self raising flour
1 pinch bicarbonate of soda
1½tsp baking powder
2tbsp cocoa powder
1tbsp rum or orange juice or water
1tsp vanilla essence
1tbs water 
Peel of half a medium orange, finely grated

chocolate fudge glaze:

a few drops of red food colouring for depth and chiliness
200g caster sugar
25g cocoa powder
125g butter
4tbsp of water

– Preheat the oven to 160°C/gas 3.



– Line and grease a 20-22cm tin (springform or loose-based).
– Melt the chocolate by placing the pieces in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, not allowing the bowl to touch the water. Add the coffee granules and chilli. Let the mix melt then stir with a wooden spoon. Remove bowl and leave to cool.
– Cream the softened butter with the caster sugar in a food mixer or the proper way, with a wooden spoon, until light and white. Gently stir in the cooled chocolate and four egg yolks. 
– Sift the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder into the bowl and then add the grated orange rind. Fold the mix gently together with a met
al spoon using big scooping movements. Add the rum, vanilla and water.
– Whisk 5 egg whites until stiff (don’t overwhisk). Add to the mixture by beating in the first tablespoon to loosen the consistency. Then fold the rest in very gently using a metal spoon. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect, as it can be hard to combine the two.
– Pour the mix into the tin and put it in the oven for 45-50 minutes (check after 35 – ovens vary!). To test it, prick with a cocktail stick. It should come out clean. Don’t worry if the top of the cake has cracked a bit – you’ll be icing it up. Remove and place on a cooling rack. Take out of the tin after five minutes and leave to cool. Brush the glaze on while still a bit warm.
– To make the fudge glaze: combine the sifted icing sugar and cocoa powder in a bowl. Melt the butter and water and pour into the icing sugar mix. It may be quite runny but this is only a sweet glaze. 
– grate chocolate on the top before serving
eat and of course, enjoy!


… oh and one more thing, i’m off to London tomorrow to be filmed for a new food TV show called Perfect to be shown on the Good Food channel next year… i’ll let you know more next week but needless to say i’m very excited!

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Comments

  4. Suelle says

    Dom – I love this recipe! I've made it several times and blogged about it at least twice. Not only is the flavour combination very good, but the texture of the cake is excellent. I think I've described it before as perfection!

    (Now I'll have to think of something else!)

    Good luck with the filming – is Good Food now known as the Food Network? Unfortunately, the Freeview receiver in our TV won't pick that up!!

  5. Karen S Booth says

    I was fist introduced to chilli and chocolate when I lived in the States and went to New Mexico, as I LOVE spicy food I was hooked from then on!
    This cake looks amazing, so moist and rich, those are great photos Dom!
    A wonderful entry.
    Karen

  6. Katy Salter @ Pinch of Salt says

    I'm not always convinced by the chilli and chocolate combo – overdone it's like having your throat scratched by your snack, but with a gentle hand it's a glorious thing. This beautiful fudgy cake definitely looks like it falls into the latter category x

  7. Choclette says

    You've made a real beauty there Dom – love the chilli on the top. And the flavours sound sooooo good. I still have no idea what to make! Thanks for being such a star participant in the challenge – star being the operative word. Well done, what will you be doing?

  13. Baking Addict says

    Good luck with the filming, how exciting indeed!!! This cake looks delicious – chocolate, chilli, orange and a bit of coffee! Can I have a large, large slice please? 🙂

  14. From Beyond My Kitchen Window says

    Have fun filming your entrance into television. I'm so excited for you and can't wait to hear more. The chocolate cake with chili looks so delicious. They really pair nicely together. I always add a little chocolate to my chili con carne.

  15. Nicoletta says

    Ciao Dom!!!!! wow….I love this cake!!!!!! Thank you for your visit!!!! The magazine in English will be out in just a few days…that was my secret on my last english post. I've translated all the italian magazine into English….I'll let you know when is out 😉 !!!!

  16. Jenn says

    Dom, you have definitely out done yourself this time! The cake looks so incredibly decadent and I just know the combo of chocolate, chili, and orange is out of this world good!

  20. The KitchenMaid says

    That looks gorgeous – and check out the whopper of a chilli! I am really stumped by this month's challenge, want to dream up something amazing but no joy thus far. Fab to hear of your TV fame… but why aren't you performing?!

  22. C says

    Gorgeous looking cake – I've often wondered about making that one after seeing it on Suelle's blog, good to have a second good review of it.

    Look forward to hearing more about the filming and how it all went!