Orange soaked buckwheat sponge cake for Navratri
So, the fasting season is here, we’re all prepped up with our favorites and lovely delicacies. Missing out on your favorite cakes would be really tough decision though.
How about an orange soaked sponge! Yes, its buckwheat and yes it’s healthy!
What is buckwheat?
Buckwheat or kuttu ka ataa is used during the fasting days in most of India. The reason behind this is, Buckwheat is neither a cereal, nor a grass- it is a fruit fruit that is closely related to wild rhubarb- and hence finds its place as a fasting meal. The name “buckwheat” comes from a Dutch word that means beech wheat, simply because the fruit is very similar in appearance to a small beech nut.
Benefits of Buckwheat
However, a less known fact about buckwheat or kuttu ataa or Fagopyrum esculentum (yes that’s the less simple scientific name of this super food) is that it is Gluten Free and highly nutritious.
Buckwheat is packed with many nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals like potassium, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and iron. Being very low on fats and super high on fiber (found in higher ratio in the darker buckwheat flour as it is not hulled before grinding), this superfood is advisable for boosting heart health, weight loss, indigestion, diabetes etc. Unlike many other food ingredients this superfood is not known to have any side effect unless one is allergic to the buckwheat fruit itself which is very rare. Do we still need a reason to use this super ingredient, if yes, its the fasting season!
Ingredients:- For the sponge
- Buckwheat flour 1 ½ cups
- Yogurt 1 cup
- Caster Sugar 1 cup
- Butter ½ cup
- Rock salt 1 pinch
- Milk 5 tbsp
Ingredients:- For syrup
- Orange Juice 1 cup
- Sugar ¼ cup
Ratios are critical here as any change might lead to a common baking mistake
Method for Buckwheat sponge cake
- Preheat the oven for 5 minutes at 180oC and grease the baking tin
- Sift all the dry ingredients together
- In a separate bowl, add sugar and yogurt and whisk well until smooth
- Add butter and keep mixing
- Gradually add milk to this mixture and set aside for 5 minutes
- Slowly add the dry ingredients into yogurt mix using cut and fold technique to avoid lumps
- Once the batter is ready, pour into the greased cake tin
- Bake at 180oC for 15-20 minutes
- Once the sponge passes the toothpick test, take it out and let it cool
- De-mold the sponge
Method for orange syrup
- Cook the orange juice while adding sugar to it
- Keep stirring to avoid any burning
- Once the sugar melts and starts to thicken a bit, take it off the fire
- let it stand and cool down
Cut the sponge horizontally and sprinkle some orange syrup in between the layers and on top of it.
Enjoy this sponge with tea or top it up with cream and fruits! A sure delight for all age groups, perfect for your fast craving during Navratri. Do share with us the compliments you get!
To see more fast-friendly recipes for this navratri: click here!
