Greentea Ogura Cake

Not too long ago, in many food blogs, there was a rave about this Ogura Cake aka 'Xiang Si  Cake' which in Chinese literally means 'lovesick' or  'pining for a loved one'.  'Ogura' is a common Japanese name.  This particular cake hails from a bakery chain called Family Bakery in Batu Pahat, Johore, a southern state in Malaysia.  I've no idea why this particular name is given to the cake, perhaps the bakery wanted to create a unique name so that customers will be curious about it and try this cake out of curiosity.... marketing strategy?  The texture of this cake is more or less like the chiffon cake, soft, light and cottony.

Recipe for Greentea Ogura Cake

Ingredients

• 70ml  water 
• 5 gm Greentea powder
• 40 ml vegetable oil
• 1/4  tsp salt
• 55 gm plain flour
• 4 egg yolks + 1 whole egg
• 150 gm egg whites
• 1/4 tsp creamof tartar
• 70 gm sugar
• 1  Tbsp black sesame seeds, lightly toasted
Method

1. Mix water with the Greentea powder, set aside.
2. Whisk egg yolks, whole egg, oil and Greentea paste until well combined.
3. Sift in the flour with the salt a little at a time and mix until smooth and lump free.
4. Beat egg whites until foamy before adding in the cream of tartar.
5. Gradually add in sugar and continue to beat until  soft peaks form.
6. Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the Greentea mixture until well combined.
7. Add the mixture into the remaining egg whites and fold gently until well combined.  Use a ball whisk to run through the batter after mixing to ensure even mixing.  
8. Mix in the black sesame seeds thoroughly.
9. Pour batter into a parchment lined 7 inch square pan, even out the top using a spatula and give the pan a few firm taps to remove any trapped air bubbles.
10. Bake @ 160 deg.C for 10 mins,  and @ 150deg.C for 50 to 60 mins.
11. Remove from oven and invert the cake onto a cooling rack to cool.
12. Run a spatula round the sides of the pan, unmould the cake and remove the parchment paper.
13. Trim off the edges and cut with a serrated knife to serve.

 Note :  I didn't steam bake this cake, thus resulting in some cracks on the surface of the cake.