Not sure if I have seen any Taro in the supermarkets/markets in London, it is quite common in SE Asia, we use it for dessert and savoury dishes, I have tried many yummy cakes made from taro in Japan and I certainly miss them! I managed to find some taro powder from a cake ingredients supplier back home, I used it to make a simple chiffon marble cake which bring out the lovely flavour and purple colour perfectly. This taro cake is really soft and yummy, the fragrant of taro is very similar to vanilla, if you like taro bubble tea, you will like this too : )
I think Taro powder can also be found from some Asian groceries store.
Taro Chiffon Marble Cake
Ingredients
4 egg whites
100g sugar
120g unsalted butter (at room temperature)
80g sugar
4 egg yolks
2 tbsp milk
20g plain flour
50g taro powder (can substitute with cocoa/green tea powder or lemon/orange zest)
100g plain flour
2 tbsp sesame
Utensils
A 23 x 13-cm loaf tin, greased and lined with baking paper
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C. In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites until fluffy, then gradually add in 100g sugar and whisk until stiff. Set Aside
2. In a seperate bowl, cream butter and sugar together until the colour turns pale, Stir in egg yolks and milk, mix well.
3. Divide the butter mixture into 2 portions and put them into 2 bowls.
4. Add 1/4 of egg white mixture to one portion, sieve in 10g plain flour and half of the taro powder, mix until well combined. Repeat with another 1/4 egg white mixture, 10g plain flour and the remaining taro powder, mix well until incorporated. Set aside.
5. For the other bowl of butter mixture, add 1/4 of egg white mixture and sieve in 50g plain flour, mix well. Repeat with the remaining 1/4 egg white mixture and 50g plain flour.
6. Gently pour in half of the taro and then the plain mixture into the prepared tin, alternating the flavours to give a marble effect.
7. Sprinkle the sesame on the top of the mixture, bake for 45mins until the skewer come out clean. Enjoy : )
