Pistachio Cake With Lebanese Cream
Pistachio cake with Lebanese cream
This is one of the easiest and at the same time delicious dessert recipes. It's a pistachio sponge cake with Lebanese cream pudding on top. My wife and I consider this as one of our absolute favorites. It's light and refreshing, perfect to accompany your lunch or dinner.
We are pretty sure you will love it as much as we do, especially if you like pistachios. Give it a try and let us know...
Cook Time
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 5 eggs
- 200gr pistachio nuts, unsalted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon cognaq, or any other brandy you like
- 1/3 cup sugar
For the cream:
- 1 liter milk
- 250 milliliters fresh cream
- 5 tablespoons corn flour
- 1 teaspoon mastic powder (optional)
- 2 tablespoons orange blossom water, or rose water
- 5 tablespoons sugar
Instructions for the cake
- Put a few pistachios in a blender, chop coarsely and set aside for garnish
- Grind the rest of the pistachios in the blender until powdery
- Beat the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until creamy
- Add the cognac and the pistachio powder over the egg mixture and stir gently by hand to blend
- Preheat the oven for 5 minutes to 180 degrees C
- Pour the mixture in a square or round cake pan and bake for 25 minutes
- Allow to cold
Instructions for the cream
- Dissolve the corn flour in 1 cup of milk
- Heat the rest of the milk gently and add gradually the sugar, dissolved corn flour, fresh cream, orange blossom water and mastic powder, stirring all the time until the mixture thickens
- Pour the mixture over the pistachio cake
- Garnish the cream with the reserved chopped pistachios
- Allow to cold and put it in the refrigerator
- Keep in the fridge until serving time
- Serve cold
That's it! - Enjoy...
The equipment we used
- KitchenAid Pro Food Chopper
- SHARDOR Hand Mixer 350W
- Paderno World Cuisine 11 Inch Non-Stick Springform Pan
- OXO Good Grips 11-Inch Balloon Whisk
Our Hand mixer...
A few nutrition facts about pistachios...
A quick research on the Internet will reveal that pistachios contain large amounts of phytosterols which have the ability to reduce cholesterol levels. They are also high in antioxidants like lutein, beta-carotene and gamma-tocopherol which also reduce cholesterol and at the same time promote eye-health.
Pistachios are a good source of protein and dietary fiber. Fibers help control blood sugar levels as well as reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Last but not least, pistachios are packed with vitamins and minerals including potassium, magnesium, vitamin B1 and vitamin B6, vitamin C, phosphorus, manganese, copper etc which all have multiple advantages to the human system. One serving of pistachios (about 45 nuts) contains over 10% of the daily requirements of dietary fiber, magnesium, copper, phosphorous, and B vitamins.
What is Mastic?
Photo Courtesy of wondergreece.gr
Mastic Gum comes from the resin that seeps like teardrops from the bark of the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus). It is an exclusively Greek product, because although the mastic tree grows in many places it only sheds its tears, thus producing its valuable crystals, in the Aegean island of Chios. According to scientific evidence, this phenomenon is related to the temperate climate of the island and the underwater volcanic zone of the area and Chios' ground which is rich in limestone.
In July and August the producers go out early in the mornings and make small slits in the bark to release the resin. The resin dries on the bark into a Clear, crystalline "tears" which are collected at the end of August, cleaned, sun dried, sorted, and sold.
The teardrops were the first version of chewing gum in Greece. As you masticate, they soften into a firm, chewy mouthful with flavors of licorice and pine. Mastic has been utilized for a wide range of purposes such as a flavoring for alcohol, a spice, as toothpaste and breath fresheners, in cosmetics, dental fillings, natural adhesives, and varnish. Mastic has been found to have antibacterial and anti-fungal properties and is often used in holistic medicine to treat a variety of gastric ailments. Typically mastic is sold as teardrops although it can also be found as a paste or a powder. The teardrops must usually be ground to a fine powder, usually with sugar, in order to be used for culinary purposes.
High quality mastic has a slight edge of bitterness and a soft resiny flavor and may have hints of licorice and vanilla. It is used in various culinary applications from drinks to breads to desserts and ice creams. It is a trendy ingredient at the moment, popping up in kitchens everywhere.
Pistachios Nutritional information
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving size: 1 cup (123g) | |
| Calories | 702 |
| Calories from Fat | 504 |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Fat 56 g | 86% |
| Saturated fat 7 g | 35% |
| Unsaturated fat 45 g | |
| Carbohydrates 34 g | 11% |
| Sugar 10 g | |
| Fiber 13 g | 52% |
| Protein 26 g | 52% |
| Cholesterol 0 mg | |
| Sodium 1 mg | |
| * The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. | |
Guestbook - Please let us know your comments
I bookmarked this to try it later. I love pistachio so this looks interesting.
This sounds amazing. I usually am not interested unless it has chocolate but I think I just will try this.
Thanks for liking my lens. This cake sounds absolutely scrumptious. I'll have to give it a try.
Sounds delicious :) Off to find me some nuts...
I love pistachios! When in Greece, we went to an Island and bought some of the best I have ever had. I love the recipe but sadly, cream is out for me.
Story of my life... I start a diet on Wednesday and find this lens on Saturday.. Now the eternal quandary for a pistachio lover... to cook or not! Great recipe
yummmm! thanks for this
Nice recipe with lots of extra helpful information.
The recipe sounds delicious - I love pistachios. I use mastic medicinally for stomach issues but never cooked with it.
Thanks for the like. This cake looks heavenly! I love pistachios and who doesn't like cream?
This makes me Hungry!! Thanks for the like on my walking dead video game lens
Looks good
Nice easy to follow instructions. Looks good but I am not sure if I would like this. will have to make one and see
Interesting recipe
I've really got to make this!
I'm not much into desserts but I might try this recipe when I find some extra time.
Yummmmy! Looks really good!
This cake look yummy.
Interesting about mastic. I'd never have guessed.
Personally, I've never tasted pistachios, but it look delicious!
wow it looks delicious....and I love pistachio so I can't wait to try it :)
- AUTHOR
@juditpaton: I sure do!! Thanks for your nice comment :)
it looks yummi, i will make a try...
welcome to the Squidoo community, i hope you will enjoy being here, i certainly do.
- AUTHOR
@John Dyhouse: Thank you!! Glad you liked it :)
- AUTHOR
@momsfunny: And thanks for leaving this nice comment :)
- AUTHOR
@Metalpriest: Thanks for stopping by!! Let us know how it goes :)
Oh boy, I have to try this recipe. Sounds and looks delish!
- AUTHOR
@Bellezza-Decor: Thanks so much! It's taste is delicious too :)
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@TemporaryTattoo1: Thanks so much! Let us know how it goes :)
Sounds wonderful, will have to try and make this for myself
Looks delicious. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Delicious! Gonna try this!
Looks Delicious i`ll have a go at making it thanks for the knowledge.
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@getmoreinfo: Thank you so much!!
This Pistachio cake looks great.
- AUTHOR
@Linda BookLady: Thanks for all the blessing :)
Very interesting... I've never heard of this kind of cake before. Also was happy to hear that pistachios are so healthy for us.
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@victoriahaneveer: Thanks so much for your nice comment :)
I love pistachio crusted fish. And pistachio pastries. This looks fantastic.
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@DeboraR: Thanks for stopping by! I am sure you'll love pistachios when you try them :)
Looks good. I've never tried pistachio anything before.
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@RoadMonkey: Thanks for stopping by :)
Unusual, I have never see this recipe before. It sounds very tasty.
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@Frugal Bride: Thanks for stopping by :)
Yum!
- AUTHOR
@Thetoothfaerie: Thanks for stopping by :)
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@stuhaynes lm: Thanks for the nice comment! More recipes are coming from Cyprus :)
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@jadapotata: Thanks! I am sure you'll love it!!
Mouth watering. Thanks for liking my lens.
Really good lens this, I really like it. It would be good to see more recipes from Cypress. Main meal ideas would be really good!
Great lens! Can't wait to try it!
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@bgassociate: Thank you so much for your nice comment :)
Looks yummy! Recipe looks doable too. Will practice this for holiday season treat!
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@bigmedicine: Thanks so much!
Looks so very yummy!
- AUTHOR
@IncomeFromHomeT: Thank you so much for your nice comment :)
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@Lyra Kua: Thank you! Glad you liked it :)
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@anonymous: Thanks so much for your kind words!
- AUTHOR
@Coffee-Break: Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for giving us nutritional reasons to indulge our sweet tooth! This Pistachio Cake looks yummy!
I love pistachios! the cake looks yummy.
Wow this looks great and good first lens too.
Yummy, I can't wait to try this pistachio cake recipe.
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@anonymous: And thanks for the nice comment :)
- AUTHOR
@PetrescuMia: Thank you for the nice comment! Let us know how it goes if you try it!!
- AUTHOR
@EasyHealthyEating: Hahaha. Are you going to spoil your diet for this :) Thanks for stopping by!!
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@vineliner57: Thank you so much :)
- AUTHOR
@Rosetta Slone: Thanks for stopping by! I am sure it will be delicious with another nut!
Looks and sounds delightful. Thanks for the recipe!
This looks great! I might try it for my family.
Look yummy! Will put it down as our cheating meal (we follow Paleo diet) :)
Looks yummy!
This looks absolutely delicious! Unfortunately, I can't buy pistachios where I live but I'd love to try the recipe with another nut. Beautiful lens.
- AUTHOR
@thewafflingprem1: Thank you so much for the comment!!
Congrats on the 100th like! This looks delicious
- AUTHOR
@AdityaAgarwal: Thanks so much :)
seems yumieee
- AUTHOR
@anonymous: Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving this nice comment!
- AUTHOR
@Gayle Dowell: Thank you so much for stopping by! Glad you liked it!
- AUTHOR
@delia-delia: Thank you so much for this nice comment :-)
Looks really delicious, I think I will try to see .. Thank you for sharing. :)
What a unique recipe. Thanks for explaining about mastic powder. I had never heard of it before.
Ohhhhh this is delicious sounding! some of my favorite ingredients pistachio, rum and sugar (I good eat just that! ;-) great instructional recipe...Thank You for sharing!
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@takkhisa: Thanks for stopping by!!
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@julieannbrady: Thanks for your nice comment! I am sure you will love it as a cake as well :)
Good step by step instruction.
You know, pistachio is my favorite nut! I love it in ice cream too. Hadn't yet tried a cake, but I'm interested. Sounds delicious!
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@audrey07: Thanks so much for your nice comment!
- AUTHOR
@theallin1writer: Thanks for all the blessing!!
Easy to follow instructions there. Must taste yummy as well.
Ooh this looks yummy! Looking forward to more of your lenses. *blessed by a SquidAngel
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@Mamabyrd: Thanks so much for your nice comment!
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@getmoreinfo: Thanks for stopping by!
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@Gypzeerose: Thanks for your comment! I am sure you'll love it when you try it :)
sounds like a tasty recipe I love pistachios.
I love pistachios so this is something I would love to try.
Very unusual recipe, at least for a Westerner. I have pinned your cake to my sweets board on Pinterest, so I can be sure to return to it when I want to bake something special.
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@mojoCNYartist: Thanks for stopping by!
I love pistachios, and they are very good for you.
- AUTHOR
@fibrogirl: Thanks for your nice comment :)
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