SWEET CAKE FOR SPRING

At the end of the days of Lenten fasting comes a time of sweetness. Spring is in the air, flowers are blooming, strawberries are rampant. It’s time to celebrate with a lovely cake such as bizcocho de huevos—egg-rich sponge cake.

Sweet sponge cake with fresh strawberries.

“Bizcocho, hecho con huevos,”--sponge cake, made with eggs--said a dear friend, as she presented me with a gift of heavenly sweet sponge cake. Indeed, her bizcocho was made with freshly-laid eggs from the hens she kept on the back patio. In those days, she carried her eggs to a nearby tienda, a tiny food shop, weighed them, and purchased the same weight of sugar (minus a tablespoon for the shells) and half their weight of flour. A very simple recipe.

The same recipe appears in Sephardic (Spanish Jewish) cookbooks, where it is called pan de España, or “Spanish cake”.

Sponge cake with strawberries and whipped cream.

Sponge cake with chocolate sauce.

Plain bizcocho appears on breakfast buffets in fine hotels. It’s served as merienda, afternoon “tea,” with hot chocolate, coffee or tea. Split and filled with fruit jam or pastry cream, the cake becomes an elegant dessert. It makes a fine base for fresh fruits, topped with whipped cream, if desired.

Fresones--giant strawberries--from Huelva (Andalusia) are as delicious as they look.

Add a bowl of whipped cream.

Today bakeries make bizcocho with fewer eggs and added shortening. Many recipes call for baking powder. But here is the original sponge cake, as I learned to make it and as village women still make it.

Sponge Cake

Bizcocho de Huevos

Eight large eggs weigh just about exactly 500 grams. Half the weight of flour is 250 grams—or 2 cups + 3 tablespoons (I rounded off to 2 ¼ cups). Five hundred grams of sugar is 2 ½ cups—but I used a little less, 2 ¼ cups.

You will need a 9- or 10-inch cake pan at least 4 inches deep. (I used a spring-form mold.) Otherwise, use 2 or 3 layer cake pans or a rectangular sheet pan. Baking time will vary depending on depth of pan.

Warming the eggs slightly in hot water helps them to increase their volume when beating.

Serves 12 to 16.

Huevos de campo (free-range eggs).

8 eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 ¼ cups sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 ¼ cups flour, sifted
Confectioners’ sugar

Place the eggs in a bowl and cover them with hot tap water. Allow to stand 10 minutes and drain.

Preheat oven to 350º. Have ready a greased 10-inch spring-form mold (or two 9 X 14-inch pans), the bottom lined with baking parchment. 

Separate the eggs, placing the whites in a large mixing bowl and the yolks in a medium mixing bowl. (Break the eggs, one by one, separating the white into a small bowl before adding it to the large mixing bowl. If any of the yolks should happen to break into the white, place the whole egg with the yolks. Use a clean small bowl to separate the next egg, so that no yolk mixes with the whites.)

Beat whites stiff.

Beat the egg whites on high speed until they hold stiff peaks. Beat in the lemon juice and salt.

Beat yolks and sugar until thick.

Beat the egg yolks until combined. Gradually beat in the sugar and lemon zest. Beat the yolks until they are thick and pale in color, about 5 minutes.

On low speed, beat the yolks into the whites (or, fold them in by hand).

Sift ½ cup of flour over the batter and fold it in. Sift and fold in the remaining flour in half-cup additions.  Combine well.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 40 minutes without opening the oven. Test the cake by pressing lightly in the center—cake should spring back. Figure 50 to 60 minutes for  the 10-inch pan. (Shallow rectangular pans will need less baking time.)

Cool cake on a rack.

Remove cake from the spring form while still warm. Allow the cake to cool on a rack. Place it on a cake platter and dust with sifted confectioners’ sugar. 

Sift confectioners' sugar over the top of the cake.

Happy, sweet springtime!

BACALAO IS COMING ‘ROUND AGAIN

With Semana Santa (Holy Week) about to begin (tomorrow is Domingo de Ramos—Palm Sunday), I am looking through my files of bacalao recipes. Bacalao—dry salt cod—is the most emblematic food for Holy Week everywhere in Spain. That’s because, in bygone times, they were days of abstinence, when meat was disavowed by the religiously observant.

Where I live, within view of Mediterranean fishing ports, I get superb fresh fish and shellfish, so have no reason to resort to salt cod. But, for tradition’s sake, once a year it is my—no, not penance!—challenge to try out a different way of preparing it. So, bacalao is coming round again.

Salt cod in garlicky pil pil sauce.

This year, I’m tackling a recipe loaded with mystique—the Basque preparation, bacalao al pil pil (salt cod in garlic pil pil sauce).

Bacalao at a pinxto bar in Bilbao.

If you’ve ever gone pinxto-hopping in Bilbao´s Old Quarter, in the neighborhood surrounding the Plaza Nueva, you may have savored this emblematic Basque dish—salt cod with a thick, golden garlic sauce.

Much mystique accompanies pil pil, which consists of nothing more than cod, olive oil and garlic. First you have to convert the stiff, cardboard-like dry cod into white, flaky fish. Then you have to magically thicken the olive oil into an unctuous and delicious sauce, by slowly swirling the warmed oil into the cod. The gelatine in its skin combines with the oil to make a sauce as thick as mayonnaise. The clever Basques even invented an electric device that keeps the cazuela rocking, freeing up hands for other jobs. Supposedly the name, "pil pil," is onomatopoeic--it's the sizzle the cod makes in the hot oil.

A cazuela—earthenware casserole—is perfect for cooking this dish because it holds the heat. You can use a skillet instead, but take care never to let the cod cook too hot.

Dry salt cod must be de-salted in water before cooking.

The basic recipe for bacalao al pil pil is below. But I made some variations.  I used a whole split—half a cod with skin—weighing about 1 pound (that is quite small) to make the pil pil sauce. Separately, I poached 12 ounces of skinless, center-cut lomo, loin, and added it to the sauce at the end. The thick loin made 4 tapa or starter servings. The cooked cod that I used for the sauce was picked off the bones and saved to make bacalao fritters later in the week. Any leftover sauce is delicious with cooked vegetables.

I like bacalao al pil pil in small portions as a tapa or starter. In Bilbao it is served atop bread as a pintxo (a tapa stuck on a pick). Txacolí—a bright, acidic white wine with a light fizz from Vizcaya (Basque Country)—is the perfect accompaniment.

Tapa-size portions of cod pil pil, with piquillo peppers on the side.

Pil pil sauce is as thick as mayonnaise. The gelatine in the cod skin causes the oil to emulsify.

Salt Cod in Garlic Pil Pil Sauce
Bacalao al Pil Pil

Makes 6 tapas or starters.

1 ½ pounds center-cut salt cod with skin
1 ½ cups extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, sliced crosswise
1 or more small dry red chiles, sliced crosswise

Two days before cooking the cod
De-salt the cod. Wash the cod, place it in a nonreactive bowl and cover with water. Cover the bowl and refrigerate. Soak the cod 36 to 48 hours, changing the water three times a day. 

After soaking. At the top are pieces with skin. Below are chunks of the skinless "loin" to be poached.

To cook the cod:

Cut away any bones.

Drain the cod and gently squeeze out excess water. Use fingers to find any bones in the pieces of cod. Use a filleting knife to remove them. Gently scrape off scales, but leave the skin intact.

Discard any thin-fleshed and bony sections. Cut the pieces into equal-sized pieces. Pat them dry on paper towels. 

Heat the oil in a skillet. Add the sliced garlic and chiles and fry until garlic is just golden, 30 seconds. Skim out the garlic and chiles and reserve them. Carefully pour the oil in the pan into a heat-proof measuring cup. 

Cod is pilpeando--making a sizzling sound--in the oil.

Heat ¼ cup of the oil in a 10-inch cazuela (earthenware casserole) or pan. Place the pieces of cod in the oil, skin side down and cook 2 minutes, shaking the cazuela so the skin doesn't stick. Very carefully turn the pieces of cod, skin side up.

Add 2 tablespoons of the warm oil. Place the cazuela over a very low heat or on top of a board or counter top and gently rock the cazuela to swirl the oil and cod in a circular motion. When the oil begins to thicken, add 1 tablespoon more warm oil. Swirl the cazuela until the oil emulsifies, then add another spoonful of oil.

Swirl the oil into the cazuela. It begins to emulsify.

Continue adding oil, a spoonful at a time, rocking and swirling the cazuela, until all the oil is incorporated and sauce is as thick as mayonnaise. Be patient—this will take about 15 minutes.

To separately poach the skinless pieces of cod, bring a pan of water to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the pieces of cod and poach them gently for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the cod with a slotted spoon and keep warm. Do not let the water boil or bubble. Add the poached cod to the finished pil pil sauce. 

Sprinkle the reserved garlic and chile on top of the cod. Serve the cod and sauce immediately or hold at room temperature for up to 30 minutes.

To reheat the cod and sauce, place the cazuela in a cold oven and set the temperature for 300ºF. When oven comes up to temperature, remove the cazuela, swirl in 1 tablespoon water and return to the oven for 5 minutes. Do not overheat or the sauce will separate.

Individual portions of cod and sauce can be reheated in a microwave set at medium for 1 ½ minutes.

Other bacalao recipes are here:

Cod fritters with molasses  http://mykitcheninspain.blogspot.com/2011/04/if-its-good-friday-it-must-be-bacalao.html

Catalan salt cod with beans http://mykitcheninspain.blogspot.com/2010/04/if-its-good-friday-it-must-be-bacalao.html

Olive pickers cod and potato stew. http://mykitcheninspain.blogspot.com.es/2010/11/family-that-picks-together-sticks.html  

Chickpeas and spinach with cod dumplings. http://mykitcheninspain.blogspot.com.es/2012/02/updating-traditional-bacalao-dish-for.html

Leek soup with cod.  http://mykitcheninspain.blogspot.com.es/2012/03/like-leeks.html

Garliky salt cod spread.  http://mykitcheninspain.blogspot.com.es/2010/10/taking-it-on-road.html

WAKE-UP SOUP

In the first several years that I lived in Spain, we always went to Málaga during Semana Santa (Holy Week) to see the religious processions, with their amazing pageantry. Drums and trumpets keeping a mournful rhythm. Flowers, candles, hooded penitents. The thrilling squad of legionnaires marching behind the Christ of the Good Death. Images of the Virgin Mary with jeweled teardrops. The piercing wail of a saeta, a love song to the Virgin.

It seemed there was a bar on every corner, offering tapas special for Holy Week—salt cod, shrimp, fried fish. There was someone to run out with beers for the costaleros—burly men carrying the heavy floats bearing sacred images of Christ crucified.

It was usually 2 or 3 in the morning as we watched the processions wend their way back to their home churches. By then, cold and tired, we needed a pick-me-up.

Chunks of fish and clams in a saffron broth, a fine pick-me-up soup.

Traditionally, the soup was served in bowls like this one. In the old days, coffee was served in bowls too.

This soup, caldillo de pintarroja, a Málaga specialty, is just the ticket--warming, restorative, eye-opening. Once a fishermen’s pre-dawn wake-up brew, it became a favorite tapa in Málaga bars and is much touted as a cure-all after a night of bar-hopping. Unusually in Spanish cooking, the soup packs a real jolt of chile.

Caldillo actually means “broth,” not soup. The broth has chunks of fish—pintarroja—and clams in it.  Ground almonds and bread thicken it slightly.

Pintarroja (Scyliorhinus canicula) is a very small member of the shark family, similar to the much larger cazón or dogfish. Like other specimens, it does not have bones, but rather a spine of cartilage, making the fish easy to eat.

Plate for bones and shells.

This is a real working-man’s soup, so it’s served with “bones” and clam shells. Provide side plates for the desperdicios, the remains. If you prefer a more “couth” version, cook the pieces of pintarroja in the stock, strain them out and, when cool enough to handle, remove the center “bone” (cartilage). Or, use bone-free chunks of fish, such as dogfish or monkfish.



In the traditional version of this soup, not saffron, but colorante is used for the vibrant gold color. I've used saffron here.

It’s many years since I have been to Málaga during Holy Week. Now, I can watch the processions on TV. But, I do miss the wonderful tapas.

Broth with Fish and Clams
Caldillo de Pintarroja

How much chile? The soup should be picante—spicy-hot. But the quantity depends on what chile you’re using and your tolerance for hot foods. Spaniards generally have a very low tolerance! I used two small dried cayenne chiles for a very medium hit. Still, it was a good wake-up soup.

I bought three pintarrojas, each weighing about 1/2 pound. I used two for this recipe. They were already cleaned and skinned. The polka-dotted skin is so rough that it used to be used as sandpaper. Flesh of any of the sharks must be eaten very fresh or else preserved in an adobo marinade.

Serves 6.

1 pound skinned dogfish or monkfish
¾ pound clams
3 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup blanched and skinned almonds
2 slices bread, crusts removed
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1/3 cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped green pepper
½ cup peeled and chopped tomato
Chile peppers, to taste
8 cups fish stock or water
¼ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon saffron, crushed
Salt
Málaga seco wine (optional)
Sprigs of mint or parsley, to serve
Lemon wedges, to serve

Cut fish into pieces.

Cut the pintarroja crosswise into 1-inch pieces. (If using dogfish or monkfish, cut into 1-inch cubes.) Wash the fish well. Put the clams in a bowl of lightly salted water so they disgorge any sand.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a skillet and fry the almonds, bread and garlics, stirring, until they are golden. Remove.

Add remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet and sauté the onion and green pepper until softened, 3 minutes. Add the tomato and chile and continue sautéing until tomatoes release their juice.

Heat the fish stock or water in a soup pot. Add ½ cup of the stock to the crushed saffron. 

Blend almonds, sofrito.

Place the fried almonds, bread and garlics in a blender container. Add the sofrito of onions, peppers, tomatoes and chile. Add the cumin and saffron and its liquid. Blend to make a fairly smooth paste.

Whisk the paste into the stock in the pot. Add salt to taste (about 1 teaspoon, unless the stock is already very salty). Bring to a boil, stirring, and cook 5 minutes. The bread and almonds will thicken the broth slightly.

Add the pieces of fish and the clams. Cook until clam shells open, 5 to 6 minutes. If desired, add a little Málaga seco wine. Serve the soup very hot garnished with mint. Serve accompanied by lemon wedges.

Fish chunk has center cartilage.

The "bone" for discard.

Garnish the soup with fragrant mint and lemon wedges.

Another recipe for pintarroja is here.

Watch the Spanish Foreign Legionnaires in the ceremony carrying the image of the Christ of the Good Death, Málaga Holy Week, 2015  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gk1XIOSgfc .

A CHEEKY CHOICE FOR DINNER

Cheeks are on the menu today. Pork cheeks, a cut of meat that I learned to love only a few years ago. That was on a visit to Sierra de Aracena (Andalusia, southwestern Spain), where I was meeting, up close and personal, ibérico breed pigs and the people who produce superb ham from them. (From this region come the famous Jabugo hams.)

At dinner the night before my visit to the pig habitat, I had a chance to sample fresh ibérico pork, the raw material for ham. Cuts with names like “secret,” “feather” and “prize” were grilled over smoldering oak coals and served medium-rare. Marbled like prime beef, the meat was tender and juicy. But what I enjoyed most were the tender carrilladas, pork cheeks braised in a wine sauce.

Braised pork cheeks in a wine sauce with prunes.

Since then, I buy pork cheeks—both ibérico and regular pork—when I find them at a local supermarket and stash them in the freezer, ready for when I want an easy, slow-cooked meal.

Pork cheeks are collops of muscle meat that need slow cooking to become tender. Spanish cooks suggest using the pressure cooker, but I like to braise them in a wine sauce. After about 90 minutes, they are fork-tender. The savory sauce practically begs for mashed potatoes or chunks of bread. By the way, I’ve learned that kids really like pork cheeks, at least if you don’t get too graphic about where the meat comes from.

Serve mashed potatoes with the pork cheeks to soak up the delicious gravy. Chard is a good side.

Pork Cheeks with Wine Sauce and Prunes
Carrilladas de Cerdo en Salsa

The size of pork cheeks varies considerably (4 to 6 ounces each). Allow two per person, depending on size. Very large ones can be cut in half.  I cooked four (1 pound 2 ounces), to serve two persons. The meat shrinks considerably during braising. Beef or veal cheeks can be prepared in the same manner, but, being larger, they will require longer cooking.

Cut away thin layer of fat.

Unless the butcher has already done it, you will need to remove the membrane of fat that covers one side of the piece of meat. Use the tip of a knife to lift and cut it free.

Serves 2.

4 pork cheeks
Salt and pepper
Flour
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 carrot, diced (1 cup)
1 onion, chopped (1 cup)
1/3 cup chopped green pepper
2 cloves garlic, chopped
½ cup peeled and chopped tomato
5 prunes
½ cup white wine
1 cup water or meat stock
¼ teaspoon powdered ginger
Pinch of ground cloves
1 bay leaf
1 slice lemon
6 small onions (optional)
1 teaspoon Sherry vinegar
Chopped parsley to serve

Sprinkle the pieces of meat with salt and pepper. Dust them lightly with flour. Heat the oil in a pan and brown the pieces of meat on both sides. Remove them from the pan. Add the diced carrot, onion, green pepper and garlic to the pan and sauté until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped tomato and sauté until liquid is cooked off.

Wine, prunes and chopped carrots cook with the meat.

Return the meat to the pan. Add one of the prunes, quartered, the wine, water, ginger, cloves, bay leaf and lemon. Add small onions, if using. Add about ½ teaspoon salt (unless you have used meat stock, in which case salt is probably not needed).

Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cover the pan. Cook the pork cheeks 45 minutes. Turn them and remove the small, whole onions if you have used them. Cook the meat 40 to 45 minutes longer, or until it is fork-tender.

Remove and discard the lemon and bay leaf. Remove the cheeks to a plate and keep them warm with a few bits of diced carrots for garnish. Place the remaining vegetables and liquid in a blender with the vinegar. Blend to make a smooth sauce.

Return the meat, sauce, cooked onions and remaining prunes to the pan. Simmer 10 minutes. Serve sprinkled with a few diced carrots and chopped parsley.

Meat is so tender you probably don't need a knife.

Another recipe for pork cheeks is here.