Banana, rhubarb and yoghurt cake with pistachios and halva

Name: Banana, rhubarb and yoghurt cake with pistachios and halva
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 6 to 8
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients: 250g self-raising flour; 50g almond meal; 1 1/2 tsp baking powder; 120g unsalted butter; 120g castor sugar; 3 extra-large eggs; 60g natural yoghurt; 60ml rosewater; 160g cooked rhubarb, cut into 3cm lengths; 120g *ripe banana, sliced (about 2); 2 tbsp honey; 100g shaved halva (a nutty, sugary sweet sold at Middle Eastern grocers); 30g pistachios

Karen Martini

July 5, 2016

Banana, rhubarb and yoghurt cake with pistachios and halva. Bonnie Savage

Time:1-2 hoursServes:6 to 8

This is my idea of a teacake – not that I seem to make a lot of time for tea and cake these days. I really love the sesame flavour of the halva with the banana, pistachios and subtle scent of rosewater, while the yoghurt gives the cake a lusciously dense but very moist texture that holds well over a couple of days. This recipe calls for cooked rhubarb – and a little of the syrup works well drizzled over when serving – but you can use frozen berries or just more banana instead

Ingredients

250g self-raising flour
50g almond meal
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
120g unsalted butter
120g castor sugar
3 extra-large eggs
60g natural yoghurt
60ml rosewater
160g cooked rhubarb, cut into 3cm lengths
120g *ripe banana, sliced (about 2)
2 tbsp honey
100g shaved halva (a nutty, sugary sweet sold at Middle Eastern grocers)
30g pistachios

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160C conventional. Grease and line a 20-centimetre loose-bottomed cake tin.
2. Add the flour, almond meal and baking powder to a large bowl and dry whisk to break up any clumps.
3. Using a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time until incorporated. Add the dry mix and beat until incorporated. Follow with the yoghurt and rosewater, and then fold in the rhubarb and banana by hand.
4. Tip the mix into the prepared tin and bake for about 70 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. Set aside to cool a little before unmoulding.
5. Warm the honey in a small saucepan until softened and brush over the whole cake. Top with the halva and pistachios and serve.

*Tips
1. Make sure the bananas are properly ripe but not mushy.
2. You could use pinenuts or almonds instead of pistachios.
3. Add some ground cardamom to the flour to add a spicy lift.