Raw cocoa contains antioxidants that helps to fight inflammation so you don't have to feel guilty about having a bit. A yummy treat all ages can enjoy.
Beet root chocolate cake
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Plain flour, for dusting
- 300 g good-quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
- 250 g raw beetroot
- 4 large free-range eggs
- 150 g golden caster sugar
- 120 g ground almonds
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon good-quality cocoa powder
- natural yoghurt, to serve
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4.
- Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 20cm springform cake tin with olive oil.
- Use scissors to cut out a circle of greaseproof paper, roughly the same size as the bottom of the tin, and use it to line the base.
- Dust the sides of the tin lightly with flour, then tap the tin to get rid of any excess.
- Break 200g of the chocolate up into small pieces and add to a heatproof bowl.
- Place the bowl on top of a small pan of simmering water over a medium heat, making sure the bottom of the bowl isn't touching the water, and allow to melt, stirring occasionally.
- Once melted, use oven gloves to carefully remove from the heat and put to one side – beware of the steam when you lift up the bowl.
- Use a Y-shaped peeler to peel the beetroot (you might want to wear gloves to do this), then quarter them on a chopping board.
- Push the beetroot through the coarse grater attachment on the food processor, then tip into a large mixing bowl.
- Separate the eggs, placing the whites into a large clean mixing bowl and adding the yolks to the beetroot, then wash your hands.
- Stir the sugar, almonds, baking powder, cocoa powder and melted chocolate into the beetroot and mix together well.
- Use an electric hand whisk to whisk the egg whites until you have stiff peaks.
- Use a spatula to fold a quarter of the egg whites into the beetroot mixture to loosen, then once combined, fold in the rest but try not to over mix.
- Add the mixture to the prepared cake tin and spread out evenly using a spatula.
- Bake in the hot oven for around 50 minutes, or until risen and cooked through.
- To check if it's done, stick a cocktail stick or skewer into the middle of the sponge, remove it after 5 seconds and if it comes out clean the cake's cooked; if it's slightly sticky it needs a bit longer.
- Allow the cake to cool slightly, then carefully turn it out on to a wire rack to cool completely.
- When you're ready to serve, melt the remaining chocolate (in the same way as above), then serve each slice with some yoghurt and a little drizzle of the melted chocolate.
Tip:
Flavour wise beetroot is sweet, which is why even though its a vegetable it works really well in cakes. You can grate it by hand using a box grater, if you prefer, depending on how much time you have.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories 221 - 11%
- Fat 13.9g - 20%
- Saturates 5.7g - 29%
- Protein 5.8g - 13%
- Carbs 17.1g - 7%
- Sugar 15.8g - 18%
- Salt 0.2g - 3%
- Fibre - 3.8g
