Cake Salée au jambon et aux olives

I tried this cake back during my first month working here. At a track and field day the high school teachers had the most amazing picnic and I was invited along to taste everything. Looking back on it now makes me salivate just a bit. Everything was homemade and there were so many specialties from regions all over France. Among the quiches, canelés and tartes des pyrénées, I discovered this little guy: cake salée au jambon et aux olives.

As the title states, it’s a savoury loaf filled with ham, olives and also gruyere cheese. It has a dense and moist texture because it’s packed with all this plus four eggs. Mmmmm it is so good. Right when I tried I knew I had to get my hands on a recipe (and an oven). When I finally had both this was at the top of my long cooking & baking bucket list.

It is so incredibly easy to make, as you will see when you read down to the recipe. French food doesn’t always have to be confusingly complicated.

It is perfect for a picnic, all sliced up and brought along to the beach. Wow, when was the last time I went to the beach? The summer seems like ages ago!

Do yourself a favour and bake this loaf.

Cake Salée au jambon et aux olives

Ingredients :

·         150 gr flour

·         200 gr ham

·         150 gr green and pitted olives

·         75 gr shredded gruyère cheese

·         4 eggs

·         100 mL milk

·         3 tsp baking powder

·         1 tbsp olive oil

Preheat the oven to 180C

Cut the olives into thin rounds and the ham into small pieces.

Mix the eggs into the flour, followed by the milk and olive oil. After it is well mixed add the ham, olives and cheese, and stir them into the batter. Lastly add the baking powder and stir to evenly combine.

Pour the batter into a greased 9 inch loaf pan. Bake in the oven at 180C for 40-45 minutes.

Remove pan from the oven, let stand for a few minutes then remove the loaf to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and serve!