Nkate cake
Peanut brittle
Nkate cake: the crunchy Ghanaian groundnut brittle sold in squares on every Kumasi street
Despite the name, nkate cake is not a cake at all but a brittle: roasted groundnuts bound in golden caramel, rolled thin and cut into squares, then sold wrapped in paper by hawkers in Kumasi lorry stations and at school gates across Ghana. It is crunchy, sweet and nutty, with a hint of bitterness from the caramel, and it keeps well in a tin. Children love it, but hot sugar is dangerous, so keep them away from the pan. Chef's tip: mark and cut the squares while the slab is still warm and pliable; waiting until it is cold is the usual mistake, and it then shatters into shards.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz roasted groundnutsskinned, unsalted
- 7 oz white sugar
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp vegetable oilfor greasing
- 1 pinch salt (optional)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Brush a baking tray, a rolling pin and a knife with 1 tsp vegetable oil. Warm 10 ½ oz roasted groundnuts in a low oven or dry pan so they are not cold when they hit the caramel.
5 minStep 2: Put 7 oz white sugar and 2 tbsp water in a heavy pan over a medium heat. Do not stir; swirl the pan gently until the sugar melts and turns a deep amber.
8 minStep 3: Take the pan off the heat, tip in the warm groundnuts and 1 pinch salt, if using, and stir quickly until every nut is coated.
1 minStep 4: Pour onto the oiled tray at once and, working fast, roll or press it out to about 1 cm thick with the oiled rolling pin. Do not touch the caramel with your hands.
2 minStep 5: While still warm and slightly soft, cut into 4 cm squares with the oiled knife. Leave to cool and harden completely, then break apart along the cuts.
15 minStep 6: Store in an airtight tin for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 19 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does nkate cake take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of white sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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