Revani — Turkish Semolina Syrup Cake

A light, moist semolina cake soaked in lemon syrup, with a hint of orange.

TIME BREAKDOWN
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 40 min
Total: 1 hour
Vegetarian
✅
Nuts
❌
Serves
12 people
Difficulty
Easy

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs, separated
  • 150g caster sugar
  • 100ml sunflower oil
  • 150ml plain yogurt
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • 150g plain flour
  • 100g fine semolina
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • For the syrup: 300g caster sugar
  • For the syrup: 400ml water
  • For the syrup: juice of 1/2 lemon

Method

  1. Make the syrup first. Simmer the sugar and water for 10 minutes, add the lemon juice and cool completely.

  2. Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Grease and line a 23cm square cake tin.

  3. Whisk the egg yolks and sugar until pale and thick, then beat in the oil, yogurt and orange zest.

  4. Mix the flour, semolina and baking powder and fold into the yolk mixture.

  5. Whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks and fold into the batter in two batches.

  6. Pour into the tin and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until golden and a skewer comes out clean.

  7. Cut into diamonds while hot and pour over the cooled syrup. Leave to soak for at least 1 hour before serving.