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- "The sweet, sticky cake known as uj'alayi is a traditional Mandalorian dessert, the secret recipe for which was handed down through the generations."
- ―Strono Tuggs, The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook
Uj'alayi, also known as uj cake, was a traditional Mandalorian dessert consumable by Artiodacs. The sticky-sweet brown cake was filled with a variety of cream-colored nuts and dried fruit, and it was infused with a sweet spiced syrup that kept the dense cake moist. A favorite treat among Mandalorians, the recipe for uj cake was handed down from generation to generation. Uj'alayi was served at a number of special occasions, including celebratory victory feasts and clan get-togethers. Mandalorian soldiers reputedly carried pieces of uj'alayi into battle with them, stowed in their armor despite the cake's stickiness.[1]
The Artiodac chef Strono Tuggs came into possession of a recipe for authentic uj'alayi. He would later decline to share the circumstances of that acquisition when he published the recipe titled "Mandalorian uj cake" in his cookbook The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook[1] in 34 ABY.[2]
Behind the scenes
Uj'alayi was introduced to the current Star Wars canon as a recipe in the 2019 cookbook Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook, which was written by Marc Sumerak and Chelsea Monroe-Cassel with photography by Ted Thomas.[1] Mandalorian Uj'alayi originated in the Star Wars Legends continuity and first appeared in the 2004 novel Republic Commando: Hard Contact, written by author Karen Traviss.[3]
The out-of-universe recipe titled "Mandalorian uj cake" has required ingredients along with an adaptable list of nuts and dried fruit depending on availability to the cook. The recommended nuts are walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds; the suggested fruits are mixed candied peel, golden raisins, dried figs, dried currants, and dried cherries. The dried fruits and nuts are combined with all-purpose flour, candied ginger, ground cinnamon, ground mace, and a pinch each of pepper, curry powder, and salt. The syrup is a mixture of honey, pomegranate or date molasses, and butter. After baking, the finished cake is topped with powdered sugar.[1]
Sources
- Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook (First mentioned)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook
- ↑ Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook establishes that the in-universe book was published at the same time as when the First Order was searching for the Resistance base on Batuu, which Star Wars: Timelines dates to 34 ABY.
- ↑ Republic Commando: Hard Contact