Fake Sweet Plumcake

The “fake sweet” plumcake, also known as savory plumcake, is a great idea for an appetizer, a side dish, or as a snack. Here’s how to prepare it:

Ingredients

• 200 g flour
• 3 eggs
• 100 ml extra virgin olive oil
• 100 ml milk
• 1 packet baking powder for savory cakes
• 150 g cheese (e.g., Emmental, scamorza, cheddar) cubed or grated
• 100 g cooked or raw ham cubed
• Salt and pepper to taste
• A pinch of nutmeg (optional)
• Aromatic herbs to taste (e.g., thyme, rosemary, oregano)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. In a bowl, beat the eggs with a pinch of salt and pepper until you obtain a homogeneous mixture.
3. Add the oil and milk, continuing to stir.
4. Gradually incorporate the sifted flour and baking powder, mixing to avoid lumps.
5. Add the cheese and ham cubes, adjusting salt and pepper if necessary and, if you like, a pinch of nutmeg and the chopped aromatic herbs.
6. Pour the mixture into a plumcake pan previously greased or lined with parchment paper.
7. Bake for about 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the plumcake comes out clean.
8. Let cool before slicing and serving.

For an Italian touch, you could use grated Parmesan as the cheese, which will add a delicious and bold flavor, and replace the ham with pancetta or mortadella cubes for a taste closer to Italian tradition.

Trivia

The term “plumcake” originally refers to a dessert from British tradition that included dried fruit (such as prunes or “plums”) among the ingredients. The savory version is a modern variant that lends itself to numerous interpretations depending on the ingredients you have on hand.