Ouzo Keik Cake Recipes

OUZO-SCENTED ALMOND, YOGURT, AND OLIVE OIL CAKE

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Brush two 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch metal loaf pans with olive oil. Line pan bottoms with parchment paper; brush parchment with olive oil. Spread 1 1/2 cups almonds on rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven 10 minutes. Cool. Transfer to processor and coarsely grind (some small almond pieces should remain); set aside. Finely chop 1/2 cup untoasted almonds in processor. Boil ouzo in small saucepan until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 2 minutes. Cool.
• Sprinkle 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped untoasted almonds over bottom of each pan. Whisk flour, ground star anise, baking powder, sea salt, and ground toasted almonds in large bowl.
• Using electric mixer, beat egg yolks and 1 1/2 cups sugar in medium bowl until well blended (mixture will look grainy at first). Add 1 cup light olive oil; beat 1 minute. Add ouzo and yogurt and beat until well blended, about 30 seconds. Gradually add flour mixture to yolk mixture, beating just until incorporated (batter will be thick).
• Using dry clean beaters, beat egg whites in large bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold 1/3 of whites into batter to lighten. Fold in remaining whites in 2 additions. Divide batter between prepared pans (about 3 1/2 cups for each). Sprinkle each with remaining finely chopped untoasted almonds, dividing equally. Sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon sugar.
• Bake cakes until golden brown and tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 1 hour 5 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on rack 15 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack and cool completely. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap in foil and store at room temperature.

YAZDI CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl; set aside. Grease the cups of a cupcake/muffin pan. You will need 24 cups.
• Combine the eggs and sugar in a large heatproof bowl and set on top of a pan of simmering water. Beat constantly with a whisk or electric mixer until thick and pale, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and continue to beat until cooled, about 10 minutes. Mix in the butter, yogurt, cardamom and rose water. Stir in the flour mixture by hand and fold in the slivered almonds. Spoon into the prepared cupcake molds, filling 3/4 full. Sprinkle some chopped pistachios over the tops.
• Bake in the preheated oven until firm to the touch and golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.

OUZO KEIK (CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan.
• Sprinkle walnuts evenly over the bottom of the pan.
• Combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water, oil, and Ouzo.
• Pour batter into pan, over the walnuts.
• Bake for 1 hour.
• Place on a rack and cool for 30 minutes.
• Invert onto a serving plate.
• Prick several times with a skewer and pour honey syrup over the top.
• To make honey syrup:.
• Combine honey, water, cinnamon sticks, and cloves in a pot.
• Bring to a boil and reduce heat.
• Cool for 30 minutes without stirring, or until mixture is syrupy (230 degrees on a candy thermometer.).
• Remove cinnamon sticks and cloves.
• Stir in honey.
• Stir in Ouzo.

GREEK OUZO PORK KABOBS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk the first 10 ingredients until blended. Pour 1/2 cup marinade into a shallow dish; stir in ouzo. Add pork; turn to coat. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade., Drain pork, discarding marinade in dish. On 12 metal or soaked wooden skewers, alternately thread pork and vegetables. Grill kabobs, uncovered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat until until pork is tender and vegetables are crisp-tender 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally and basting frequently with reserved marinade during the last 5 minutes. If desired, top with additional fresh thyme and rosemary and serve with tzatziki.

FILLED YOGURT CAKE WITH LEMON OUZO SYRUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease and flour a 10 inch springform pan.
• Combine all ingredients for the filling and set aside.
• For the cake, combine your butter and sugar in a bowl with your mixer until thick and creamy.
• Beat in the egg yolks one at a time.
• Next mix in your yogurt and zest.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt, then sift the flour mixture into the yogurt mixture and beat well.
• In another bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
• Whisk half of your whites into the batter, and then fold in the other half.
• Pour half of the cake batter into the prepared springform pan making sure the batter is completely flat and even.
• Next sprinkle the filling evenly over the batter.
• Then pour the remaining batter over the filling.
• Bake your cake in your preheated oven for approximately 45 minutes until it starts to pull away from the pan.
• When it is done, take the cake out and the pan on a wire rack to cool.
• To prepare the sauce, place all ingredients in a saucepan.
• Turn burner to high heat and bring mixture to a boil.
• Once it comes to a boil, reduce your heat and simmer until it has become thicker, approximately 10 minutes.
• Allow mixture to cool.
• When the pan is enough to handle, invert the cake pan over a plate larger than the pan (use whatever plate you wish to display the cake on), and open your springform pan to unmold the cake.
• If it doesn't come right out, you can use a knife or something to go along the edges to release the cake.
• With a spoon, drizzle about a third of your syrup evenly over the cake and allow it to soak in for approximately 10 minutes or so.
• Repeat by spooning the next third of the syrup over evenly, and sit another 10 minutes.
• Finally, spoon the last third over the cake evenly, cover and allow the cake to sit for at least 1 hour before serving.