Pecan Torte
I had what I’d like to call a “tarte Tatin moment” when making this torte. Let me explain; for those unfamiliar, the inventors of the tarte Tatin, the Tatin sisters, didn’t mean for their legendary apple tart to be upside down. It was a mistake, an accident from which one the most delicious of desserts in the whole world was born. Likewise I didn’t mean for my torte to be butter-less. I duly melted half a stick of butter in the microwave just to find out hours later that the entire bowl of melted butter was still there. It’s only then that I realized that the uber delicious and moist dessert I had been nibbling on all afternoon and couldn’t get enough of was completely butter-less. Imagine my joy! I quickly ran to my recipe and crossed out the butter. It simply didn’t need it. The oil from the pecans was more than enough to produce a delicate torte.
There is something totally amazing about this torte besides the absence of butter: every time I took a bite, I had the impression that I was eating baklava or some other similarly sweet, gooey, nutty Moroccan or Middle Eastern dessert. If I had one of those blindfolded taste tests, I could have sworn I was eating a scrumptious Moroccan honey-glazed pastry. It tasted just like one: rich, mellifluous, addictive. I was thrilled–no, beyond thrilled–to have a taste of home without all the caloric baggage. If I may add, it is also sugar-free and flourless!!
Pecan Torte Recipe
8 servings
2 cups shelled pecans
¼ teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray an 8-inch springform or non-stick tart pan with cooking spray.
In a food processor, grind the pecans to a coarse meal.
In a large bowl, combine the ground pecans with salt. Whisk in the honey, eggs and vanilla extract until well combined.
Pour the batter in the prepared pan . Bake until set and lightly browned, 25 minutes.
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azélias kitchen — 11/19/2010 @ 10:46 pm
Nisrine – I'm liking your new look and what a lovely cake torte you have. Reminds me a little of the almond cake soaked in lemon syrup.
Nisrine Merzouki — 11/19/2010 @ 11:43 pm
Thanks, Azelia.
Sara@OneTribeGourmet — 11/19/2010 @ 11:50 pm
Lovely Pecan Torte Recipe!
Bryan — 11/20/2010 @ 4:06 am
Wow, how simple and it sounds wonderful Nisrine.
Carina — 11/20/2010 @ 6:32 am
Much loved in my household. I am always game for a new version of the existing. Will try yours. I can't get to all the lovely recipes of my blogger friends. Lovely post Nisrine,
Barbara — 11/20/2010 @ 1:48 pm
I bet that honey made it remind you of baklava, Nisrine.
Great recipe!
Kathleen — 11/20/2010 @ 6:11 pm
This sounds utterly delicious!!!
azélias kitchen — 11/20/2010 @ 7:20 pm
Just coming to back to tell you that today I met another blogger in London's Chinatown and the conversation veered to talking about cakes and I mentioned your recipe here as I was only reading about it last night.
I've just sent her the link and I'm sure she'll be as curious as me to try given that the ingredients or the 'lack' of ingredients makes this cake/torte so different you can't help it but to try it!
And I know from producing something you're happy with that there is nothing better when you share a recipe to have some feedback and though we haven't tried it yet I wanted you to know you're pecan dairy-free, gluten-free cake has now been discussed all the way in central London :)
Nisrine Merzouki — 11/21/2010 @ 2:52 am
Oh, dear Azelia, how sweet it is to hear that my recipe made it all the way to central London! I'm so happy you and your friend are so curious about my recipe that you're planning to try it. Thank you so much for the feedback. I hope it turns out well :)
Sweet Artichoke — 11/21/2010 @ 8:06 am
Your pecan torte sounds delicious! and as it is without butter it is definitely "guilt-free", too!
The pictures are gorgeous, too!
Caffettiera — 11/21/2010 @ 2:26 pm
I am planning to try this as well. It sounds really delicious, and I think I may have made something similar using walnuts. Ok, it is not exactly guilt free, but it is nowhere near as bad as other pecan treats…
A Canadian Foodie — 11/21/2010 @ 4:54 pm
Where did you find or come up with such a recipe? I would not have thought about all of the attribute it has so glad you pointed them out: re sugar and flour free… etc… This is definitely a desert I will make as my husband is from the former Yugoslavia and loves his baklava, and clearly, this is infinitely easier. Your description had me at "mellifluous"…
:)
Valerie
pierre — 11/21/2010 @ 8:22 pm
la noix dep écan me rappelle mon séjour aux USA !!
pierre
Joudie's Mood Food — 11/21/2010 @ 10:45 pm
Hey there! Such a lovely blog! Very glad i stumbled here! Lovely recipe!
LimeCake — 11/22/2010 @ 11:25 am
This looks simple and so delicious! Love the goldenness!
Trix — 11/22/2010 @ 1:44 pm
Happy accident, indeed! I also love tart pans, you could say I'm a bit obsessed with them … rectangular ones like this are so cute. I had a similar thing happen recently where I forgot the milk in a cake and didn't realize it until everyone was asking for seconds!
rosanna — 11/22/2010 @ 2:02 pm
I had some problems with a virus and had to eliminate all links, so I lost yours, but now I'm back!!!! I've been missing all your recipes, so I'm going to stay for a while and have a look.
Velva — 11/22/2010 @ 4:34 pm
Oh my! This would be stunning for the Thanksgiving table. Beautiful.
Reeni — 11/22/2010 @ 5:39 pm
You make this sound so tempting! And irresistible! Love that it's butterless and sugarless!
Damaris @Kitchen Corners — 11/22/2010 @ 6:57 pm
Pecan tart?! I'm a huge fan of pecan pie but I bet i would like the tart even more. This looks amazing.
Sophie — 12/04/2010 @ 2:12 pm
MMMMM,..what an easy pecan torte to make but ooh so appetizing looking & festive too!
dana — 12/06/2010 @ 10:17 pm
You don't see mellifluous every day on the feed reader! Looks great!
GOD thinker — 12/09/2010 @ 9:33 pm
I just made this. It is so delicious. I have a very restricted diet and cannot eat processed foods so most desserts with chocolate or white sugar are out. I was so excited to find this recipe and try it. It was easy to make and so yummy! Thanks so much!!