Bolo de chila

This light Portuguese sponge cake is prepared with fig-leaf squash, which is locally known as chila or gila. The cake combines already prepared squash jam or raw mashed squash with eggs, cocoa, and ground almonds, and the whole dish can be flavored with cinnamon or orange juice.

This moist and flavorful cake is traditionally associated with the region of Algarve and is often decorated with a light dusting of powdered sugar or fios de ovos - traditional confectionary consisting of thin egg threads.