Yields 15-20 servings
Ingredients:
1 kg sweet potato
2-3/4 cups All-Purpose flour
4 large eggs
120 mls plain yoghurt
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tbsp molasses
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Method:
Soak sweet potato in warm water with a handful of salt and one quarter of a cup of vinegar; for 15 minutes, to get rid of the dirt and grimes on the skin. Scrub each one under running tap water with a kitchen brush. Rinse well and drain. Place potato; in one layer, over the base of an oven proof baking tray. Bake in a preheated oven at 200 degrees Celsius, uncovered; for approximately one hour. Remove from oven. Allow to cool. Peel and discard skin. Mash potato by means of a fork; while still slightly hot and leave aside. The mash should weigh one kilogram. Sift flour, salt, baking powder and soda, ginger and cinnamon; combined, in a medium bowl. Lightly grease and dust with flour a 25 centimetre diameter of a round pan; (preferably use a springform pan with a detachable bottom). In a large bowl; beat butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy. Add eggs one by one and continue beating until colour is pale and mixture forms the ribbon shape. Add yoghurt, vanilla and molasses. Beat just to combine. Add the oil and blend with mixture. Gently fold in sweet potato mash until incorporated. Add flour mixture and beat gently to blend well. Pour batter into prepared baking pan. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees, for approximately one hour. Remove pan from oven. Allow to cool off then remove from pan by means of a flexible plastic knife or a sharp-tipped spatula, then remove. Slice and serve.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 13 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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