Chic And Cheerful - Savoury French Olive, Cheese And Onion Cake

Total Time: 2 hrs 45 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, halved and finely diced
• 100 g plain flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 200 ml milk
• 100 g finely grated gruyere
• 100 g green olives, pitted and halved

Recipe

• 1 heat the olive oil in a small frying pan. gently fry the onion for about 10 minutes, or until soft and golden.
• 2 meanwhile, sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. gradually whisk in the eggs, followed by the milk, until you have a smooth batter. mix in the cheese, olives and sautéed onions, along with their oil. cover and leave to rest for 2 hours. this will make a lighter cake.
• 3 preheat the oven to 220c,450f, gas mark 7 and grease 6 mini loaf tins (see above), or one large loaf tin. give the batter a good stir and divide between the tins.
• 4 bake at the centre of the oven for 15 - 20 minutes for the 6 mini loaf tins, or 20-30 minutes for the large loaf - or until firm and golden. leave to cool.
• 5 when cold, turn out of the tins and wrap or store in an airtight tin. these savoury cake/s freeze very well in slices or as 1 whole or 6 mini loaves.
• 6 nb. these can be made in advance and refrigerated. bake them in a tray of mini loaf pans or individual mini loaf tins (the tins should be about 10 x 6 x 3.5cm). alternatively, try muffin tins.