đź“ŤPiedmont
Hello again, lovers of Italian food!
This month, I’ve explored the Piedmont (Piemonte) region of Italy, situated in the northwest corner of the country where it borders France and Switzerland. Piedmont’s largest city is Turin (Turino), which is steeped with history and boasts magnificent architecture. Piedmont holds several festivals and events throughout the year to celebrate everything from truffles to jazz, making the region a popular destination for both cultural and culinary enthusiasts. Piedmont is also known for some of Italy’s famous wines, produced from the Nebbiolo grape.
Since Piedmont grows the best hazelnuts in the world, I zeroed in on a recipe for a cocoa Hazelnut flourless cake. Its gluten free and oh-so-easy to prepare.
I love to cook, but the recipes I’ve shared with you up to now are entrée dishes, which are my strength. Baking desserts has always been a challenge for me, so I was delighted to find this great recipe that only requires hazelnuts, cocoa, egg whites, and sugar. I found a recipe on the website christinacucina.com, and made slight edits that are inconsequential to the outcome.
I did it! I baked the cake, and it was delicious…very rich…but mouthwatering! I hope you give it a try.
Ingredients
3 cups toasted, peeled hazelnuts. I toasted the hazelnuts by spreading them out on a parchment covered cookie pan, then roasting them in the oven for 15 minutes.
1 ÂĽ cup of sugar
2 Tbsp of dark, unsweetened cocoa
4 egg white
Instructions
Line a round cake pan, 8 inches across, with parchment paper. Butter and flour the pan.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Grind hazelnuts with sugar until fine. Be careful not to grind to a pasty texture.
Add cocoa.
Beat egg whites to stiff peaks.
Gently fold the hazelnut, sugar, cocoa mixture into the egg whites just until combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Pour into the cake pan and bake for about 30 minutes.
Put a toothpick into the cake. The toothpick should come out clean when done.
Let the cake cool for 15 minutes.
Pour warm chocolate sauce over the cake and/or serve with gelato.
