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Mediterranean Plumcake

17/11/2023

The Mediterranean plumcake is an interpretation of the traditional tea cake brought closer to Italian flavors through the addition of typical Mediterranean ingredients. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 200 g of all-purpose flour
  • 100 g of whole wheat flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 100 g of sugar
  • 100 ml of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 packet of baking powder for sweets
  • Grated zest of one lemon (untreated)
  • A pinch of salt
  • 80 g of pitted olives (preferably black)
  • 100 g of sun-dried tomatoes in oil
  • 100 g of crumbled feta cheese
  • 2 tablespoons of dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • Pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
  2. In a bowl, sift together the two flours with the baking powder.
  3. In another bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar until the mixture is fluffy and frothy.
  4. Add the extra virgin olive oil to the egg mixture, along with the grated lemon zest and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
  5. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing with a spatula to avoid lumps.
  6. Cut the olives and sun-dried tomatoes into small pieces and add them to the mixture along with the feta, oregano, thyme, and a grind of pepper. Mix gently to evenly distribute the ingredients.
  7. Pour the mixture into a plumcake mold lined with parchment paper or previously greased and floured.
  8. Bake in the oven for about 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the plumcake comes out clean.
  9. Remove the plumcake from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack before serving.

Curiosity

The Mediterranean plumcake is ideal to be served as an appetizer or as a hearty snack. If you wish to give it an even more Italian touch, you can also add some Genovese pesto to the dough, which will provide a delicious note of basil and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Remember that this plumcake is versatile: you can adapt the ingredients based on your personal tastes or what you have available. For example, you might consider adding desalted capers or nuts for a crunchy touch.