Semolina Cake or Eggless Rava Cake

Today I went to our gym in the apartment and tried cycling. The cycling machine usually displays how many calories you have burned so far, how much time do you need to continue cycling to burn your target calories , your cycling speed and so on, provided.... Yes, there is a glitch.. Provided you can get the display on. Now to get that on, you should cycle first and then press the start button. So, I started cycling and then pressed the start machine on the button.. Nope, no display... Quickly read the instructions on the machine. You need to cycle at 50rpm before you can get the machine on.... So continued cycling... pressed start button...  no use.. still no display... continued cycling.. tried to do it with more speed... legs getting tired now.. started thinking idiotic things... oh my god, whats the time.... no idea.. continued cycling.. pressed the start button on the machine.. nope.. still no display... Legs aching very badly... nope .. I am not giving up... pressed the start button again... no use... no display...That was it... decided to give up :(... I know that this machine works because my hubby had displayed it to me last week... But it was disappointing to know that I couldnt even cycle at the required speed to switch the display on the machine!!!! And to top it all, when I reached home from the gym, it was not even 10 min since I started off!!!


Well, Now you can ask why did I feel like cycling today??? Yes, I was feeling guilty... Guilty of preparing two cakes in 4hours !!! Yes, I prepared Rava cake and a simple white Cake today... Now after preparing definitely you cant think that I didnt possibly taste them ? I tasted them by stuffing cake slices one after the other so much that I am thinking of skipping dinner... I stopped only when I thought that I should leave some for my poor hubby... 

So you can make this Rava cake by steaming or by baking. Today I tried making the cake by steaming and it turned out great. See the below pics. 

I tried Baking the cake the first time and it turned out awesome and is more crunchier. Check out the below pics for my baked version. 

 Here goes the recipe and let me assure you both steamed and baked cake tastes really awesome and is  a must try...Now, this recipe for Rava or Semolina cake uses yogurt and doesnt use egg at all... So all the more reason for trying it out :)

Rava Cake:

Prep Time : 10 min
Waiting Time: 30 min - 1hr
Cook Time: 30 - 40 min
Total Time: 70 - 120 min

Ingredients:

1 cup Rava - I used roasted Rava .. 
1 cup Yogurt or curd
1/2 - 3/4 cup sugar - as per your taste. I used 3/4 cup the first time and found it too sweet. 
2- 3 Tablespoon softened butter or ghee
1/4 Tablespoon Baking soda

Flavoring:

A pinch of Elaichi or Cardamom powder
Saffron ( Optional)
Nutmeg Powder ( Optional) 
Roasted nuts ( Cashews/Almonds/Walnuts) (Optional)

Prepping:

Step 1: 

Beat Rava, Yogurt, Sugar, Butter in a blender or mixie at a low speed till they are mixed well. After mixing, a batter will be formed as shown in the below pic. 

Step 2: 

Keep aside the batter for 30 min - 1hr so that the Rava soften a little bit.

Step 3: Only If you are baking: 

Preheat the Oven at 350 F. 

Step 4: Only If you are baking: 

Grease a cake pan with butter. I used a 8 inch round pan and the measurements for the ingredients are given accordingly. I usually put a parchment paper on top of the pan and grease it with butter as well. Using the parchment paper is optional.

Method of Preparing:

Step 1: 

Add cardamom powder and baking soda into the batter and mix well.

Step 2: For steaming

Pour the batter into a pan and steam in a steamer for around 20 - 30min. Insert a tooth pick into the cake and if it comes out clean, then the cake is done. Otherwise steam for a couple more minutes. Once the cake is done, let it cool for sometime and then invert into a plate and serve :) 

Step 3: Only if you are baking:

Pour the batter into the cake tin and place the cake tin into the oven. (Forgot to take pictures. Will update next time I bake it). Bake for around 30 - 40 min till the top is golden brown. Insert a tooth pick on the cake and if it comes out clean then you can know that the cake is cooked. ( Better not to use the knife to check this one as it may leave a big dent). Switch off the oven. 

Step 4: Only if you are baking:

Let the cake cool in the cake tin for around 30min. Once the cake is cooled, take out the cake tin. Run a knife around the edges of the cake. Now place a plate on top of the cake tin and then invert it. Gently shake the cake tin and let the cake fall onto the plate. Now invert the cake again and you are done!!!

Delicious cake is ready and you can serve this during Tea time or as a special dessert during occasions or simply prepare it, when ever you feel like and enjoy :)   

Sending the recipe to the event "Dish name starts with S" at Akilaskitchen. 


Sending the recipe to the event "Spotlight - Show your best creation" hosted by Chandrani and started by Indrani.