Vegan Carrot Cake, in greek style, tastes more like our Carrot halwa as the carrots are boiled and mashed before being added to the batter.
The site that I referred to talks about steps that can be done ahead and I happened to read about the author today. I was surprised to read her notes that said that the greek cooks never measure anything, and it's mostly a little of this and a little of that. That surely sounded so much like our Indian Cuisines.
I was wondering why the greek cuisine felt so familiar. I was really glad I took the time to read through this cuisine and discovered many of its dishes, different, yet that seemed the same. It was like enjoying our favorite dish in a new form.
I tried my best to try different courses in this theme. The chickpea fritter was spicy and filling, while the savory onion pancake was much like our maida dosa, yet different because of the ingredients. I hope you enjoyed reading as much I as enjoyed cooking these.
Greek Style Carrot Cake
Step by Step Pictures for making Greek Carrot Cake
Greek Carrot Cake
For Boiling the carrots
Take the orange juice in a saucepan and add chopped carrots, along with water, cinnamon stick, and cloves
Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a low simmer. Cook, uncovered, for 10 to 15 mins till softly cooked. Drain the carrots, reserve the cooking liquid. Pulse the carrots to a soft. You can do this step ahead of time as well.
In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Add 1/2 cup cooking liquid, sugar, and brown sugar. Whisk until combined. Add spices, whisk. Nex add oil, whisk. Add carrots and stir to combine completely.
Now add chopped nuts and raisins.
Scoop out batter into bundt pan and press down into mold so the top is even.
Grease a 6" round pan, I used a small bundt pan, and Bake at 185 C for 40 to 45 minutes.
Allow cooling before slicing.
Dust with powdered sugar if you like.
Recipe
Greek Carrot Cake
Ingredients
For Boiling the carrots
- 3 cups Carrots chopped
- 1 cup Orange Juice
- 1 cup Water
- 1 small Cinnamon
- 8 Cloves
For the Batter
- 3.5 cups All purpose flour
- 2 tsp Baking powder
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1/3 cup Brown Sugar use molasses if you have
- 1/2 cup Water use the reserved cooking liquid
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Coriander Seeds ground
- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg Powder
- 1 tsp Orange zest use Lemon if you have
- 1/2 cup Cooking Oil
- 1/2 cup Walnuts
- 1/2 cup Raisins
Instructions
For Boiling the carrots
- Take the orange juice in a saucepan and add chopped carrots, along with water, cinnamon stick and cloves
- Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low simmer. Cook, uncovered, for 10 to 15 mins till softly cooked. Drain the carrots, reserve the cooking liquid. Pulse the carrots to a soft. This step can be done ahead of time as well.
For making the Cake
- In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- Add 1/2 cup cooking liquid, sugar and brown sugar. Whisk until combined. Add spices, whisk. Add oil, whisk. Add carrots and stir to combine completely.
- Now add chopped nuts and raisins.
- Scoop out batter into bundt pan and press down into mold so top is even.
- Grease a 6" round pan, I used a small bundt pan and Bake at 185 C for 40 to 45 minutes.
- Allow to cool before slicing.
- Dust with powdered sugar if you like.
gayathriraani says
The addition of orange juice in the batter must have resulted in a very flavourful cake. The cake looks so soft and so inviting..
vaishalisabnani says
I have made a carrot cake with orange but I am wondering about the coriander seeds , how does that taste in a cake ?
Priya Srinivasan says
That is one loaded carrot cake valli! Coriander seeds in a sweet bake is very interesting, need to try this out! Me too glad that Lin choose this Greek theme, the taste and the simplicity is just amazing !
Rafeeda - The Big Sweet Tooth says
Coriander seeds in carrot cake? Really? This recipe is surely interesting... especially since I love carrot cakes...
Srivalli says
Yes this is surely a very different cake..first bite made it feel like our carrot halwa..then the other flavours take up..:)
Sandhiya says
That's a different way of making carrot cake. I wonder how it will taste with all those different flavors.Great Share.
Mayuri Patel says
What a flavourful cake. I add orange juice to the carrot but have never cooked the carrots. Looks so yummy.
Priya Suresh says
Quite a different cake with different flavors, another lovely find Valli. Well done.
Pavani says
What a moist and flavorful cake. Love the idea of cooking carrot with orange juice -- adds a lot of carrot flavor to the cake.
Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner says
Carrot always has its own charm in cakes.. Lovely vegan version!!
Sapna says
Never tries coriander seeds in cake. Sounds interesting .