Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Blueberry Polenta Cakes

Blueberry Polenta Cakes© by Haalo

I had intended to post about these little Blueberry Polenta Cakes on Monday but it just didn't seem appropriate. Even now, it's been a see-sawing event of write a few lines and then delete them - it all seems so inadequate.

So perhaps I will just talk about these cakes.

They started their life as sultana polenta cakes from a recipe I spotted over coffee in some magazine. What struck me about these cakes was they way they are made - all the ingredients are placed in a saucepan and heated until thickened, just as you would do if you were making a custard.

As I've dropped the sultanas for an increased quantity of blueberries (I use frozen for cooking), I add the blueberries at the end of initial cooking so they don't start to melt and streak the mixture. If you use sultanas add them in at the beginning.

You then take this cooked mixture and bake it - the original recipe used texas muffin pans, I used mini-loaf pans and managed to get 6 from this quantity. Feel free to try with other shapes and tins.


Blueberry Polenta Cakes© by Haalo


Blueberry Polenta Cakes

100 grams fine polenta
120 grams caster sugar
300mls milk
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste (or extract)
30 grams melted butter, cooled
150 grams frozen blueberries


Place the polenta, sugar, milk, vanilla and eggs into a saucepan and whisk until combined. Pour in the melted butter and place on a low heat. Whisk constantly until the mixture starts to thicken - keep the heat low as you don't want to cook it too quickly and end up with scrambled eggs.

Remove from the heat and stir through the blueberries.

Pour the mixture out into a prepared tin - I used a mini loaf pan and bake in a preheated 160°C/320°F oven until golden and cooked through.

Let them cool slightly in the pan before turning out - they will deflate once they have cooled.

Blueberry Polenta Cakes© by Haalo


Dust with icing sugar before serving.

Blueberry Polenta Cakes© by Haalo

These cakes do have quite an usual texture - they are firm like tofu, so they are dense but not heavy which seems to be a contradiction.


Blueberry Polenta Cakes© by Haalo

Inside you are rewarded with a glorious golden glow that's speckled with vanilla bean.



9 comments

  1. I LOVE Polenta and can only imagine the taste....

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  2. I have never baked with polenta, this looks interesting. I like savory polenta, so I will have to try my hand at sweetened polenta. Thanks!

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  3. They look reallyappetizing,MMMMMmmmmm....

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  4. Thanks Nina!

    Thanks Ben - a tasty excuse!

    Thanks Sara - hope you do give it a go!

    Thanks Sophie!

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  5. Hi! just found your fantastic blog and this recipe, absolutely yummy!! couldnt resist and made it right away! now is cooking in the oven, perfect for my breakfast tomorrow! I know it will be fantastic!!!! thanks for sharing! Francesca (Bologna, Italy)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Francy - I hope you enjoy them!

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  6. by disallowing the ability to 'pin' your photos, you miss out on an audience of thousands who want to see great new blogs. pity.

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  7. ps, its free advertising, and this is how so many bloggers are getting book deals, by being 'seen'. no one wants to 'steal' your photos. you are limiting yourself to friends and family members.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous
      Firstly, if you want to chastise me it would be nice if you did me the courtesy and put your name to it.
      I don't know what your issue is with pinterest but there seems to be quite a few people that have managed to pin my photos onto that site. I've yet to find an easy way to add a pinterest button to each individual post but I will look again.
      Re - book deals & being seen - that is not my reason for blogging or my reason for taking photos
      Re - stealing photos - that would almost be funny except for the reality that a large proportion of my photos have been stolen - they have been published and used in advertising campaigns all without any approval.

      Delete

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