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Tarta de Almendras

An ironic creation, in that it is usually said to originate in Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia, in northwestern Spain—where almonds do not grow. Nevertheless, it’s a wonderful, not-too-sweet dessert, most definitely for grown-ups. I like this in a spring-form pan, but it can be made in two layers if you prefer.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 4 servings

Ingredients

Butter for the pan
Flour for the pan
2 cups blanched almonds
6 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Zest of 1 lemon, grated or minced
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8- or 9-inch spring-form pan very well with butter, then dust with flour, shaking off the excess.

    Step 2

    Grind the almonds to a powder in a food processor or spice mill. Beat the eggs and granulated sugar together, preferably in a stand mixer, until thick and light in color (if you are doing this by hand, it will take a good 10 minutes or more). Stir in the cinnamon, lemon zest, and almonds. Pour into the prepared pan.

    Step 3

    Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack, then remove the sides of the pan. Dust the top with confectioners’ sugar and serve.

The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved. MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.
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