IsraeliMalai (Romanian-Jewish cornmeal cake)
Moist Shavuot cornmeal cake made with sour cream and soft cheese
Romanian Jews brought malai to Israel, and it is a much-loved bake for Shavuot, the early-summer festival when dairy foods fill the table. Coarse cornmeal is mixed with sour cream, soft cheese, eggs and a little sugar, then baked into a golden cake that is moist and slightly crumbly, somewhere between cornbread and cheesecake. Eat it warm with a spoonful of sour cream or jam. Traditional soft white cheeses are sometimes set with animal rennet; choose a cheese labelled vegetarian if that matters to you. The common mistake is using fine polenta that hasn't soaked, which leaves the cake gritty. Chef's tip: let the batter stand for 15 minutes before baking so the cornmeal softens.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Serves
- 10
- Per serving
- 290 kcal
Ingredients
- 2 ⅛ oz plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 ⅛ oz caster sugar
- 3 eggs
- 9 oz sour cream
- ¾ cup milk
- 2 ⅛ oz buttermelted, plus extra for the tin
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan). Butter a 23 cm square tin.
5 minStep 2: Mix the 7 oz fine cornmeal (polenta), 2 ⅛ oz plain flour, 2 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt and 3 ⅛ oz caster sugar in a bowl.
5 minStep 3: Whisk the 3 eggs, 9 oz sour cream, 9 oz soft white cheese (cottage cheese or farmer's cheese, vegetarian), ¾ cup milk and 2 ⅛ oz butter until fairly smooth, then stir into the dry mix.
5 minStep 4: Leave the batter to stand for 15 minutes so the cornmeal can soften, then pour into the tin.
15 minStep 5: Bake for 40–45 minutes until golden, risen and firm in the middle; a skewer pushed in should come out clean.
45 minStep 6: Cool for 10 minutes, then cut into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.
10 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 34 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does malai (Romanian-Jewish cornmeal cake) take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 10 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of baking powder?
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar per 1 tsp.
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