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Gers ogaily
Gers ogaily (قرص عقيلي): Kuwaiti saffron and cardamom sponge cake
Gers ogaily is the plain, golden sponge cake that sits on every coffee tray in Kuwait and the UAE: served to visitors, at Eid gatherings and after Friday lunch with small cups of cardamom coffee. It is light and springy but not fluffy like a Western sponge, more like a fragrant, slightly firm tea cake, yellow with saffron and with sesame seeds toasted on top. A slice needs nothing else beside it but coffee or tea. The mistake to avoid is whisking the eggs and sugar too briefly; the whole rise depends on that foam, as there is little baking powder. Chef's tip: soak the saffron in warm rosewater before you begin, so its colour spreads evenly through the batter.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 10
Ingredients
- ½ tsp saffron threads
- 2 tbsp rosewaterwarm
- 4 eggslarge, at room temperature
- 6 ½ oz caster sugar
- 6 ½ oz plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp ground cardamom
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Soak ½ tsp saffron threads in the warm 2 tbsp rosewater for 15 minutes. Heat the oven to 350°F (fan 300°F) and line a 23 cm round cake tin with baking paper.
15 minStep 2: Whisk 4 eggs and 6 ½ oz caster sugar with an electric whisk on high for 6–8 minutes, until pale, thick and tripled in volume; a ribbon trailing from the whisk should sit on the surface for a few seconds.
8 minStep 3: Whisk in the saffron rosewater, ¼ cup vegetable oil or melted butter and ¼ cup whole milk briefly on low, just until mixed.
Step 4: Sift 6 ½ oz plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder and 1 ½ tsp ground cardamom over the foam in two lots and fold in gently with a large spoon until no dry flour remains. Don't beat, or you'll lose the air.
Step 5: Pour into the tin, level gently and sprinkle evenly with 2 tbsp sesame seeds.
Step 6: Bake for 30–35 minutes, until risen, golden brown on top, springy when pressed and a skewer in the centre comes out clean.
35 minStep 7: Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack. Serve in wedges, warm or at room temperature. It keeps for 3 days in a tin.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 33 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does gers ogaily take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 35 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.
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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