Toucinho Rançoso

Description: Round cake of golden color, about 15 to 20 cm in di-ameter and 3 to 5 cm in height. Made with almonds, eggs, sugar, gila jam, flour and butter.

Region: Alentejo.

Other denominations: Rancid Cake.

Particularity: Round cake, baked in the oven completely sprinkled with flour, to form a crust and not gain color.

History: It was customary in convents for nuns to dedicate part of their time to the preparation of sweets. Since gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins, it is said that the name comes from an answer given by a nun to her confessor, who would have caught her in the act, sinning by gluttony. "What are you eating, sister?" she asked. "Rancid bacon, Father." And that's how this delicious cake became known.

Use: As a dessert or treat.

Know-how: Make a sugar syrup in paste. All the ingredients are mixed, beaten and baked in the oven, in a pan greased with butter and sprinkled with flour, at low temperature. Cover the cake with flour to take on a crust and not gain too much color. After baking, remove it from the oven, brush the flour that has not adhered and sprinkle with sugar.

Source: Produtos tradicionais portugueses, Lisboa, DGDR, 2001