Savory cakes (”le cake salé” in French) are the perfect dish if you want to serve a light, enjoyable lunch. Cake salé, as the name implies, is just a savory adaptation of a sweet cake. Sugar, chocolate and fruits are replaced with cold meats/ or fish (I used smoked salmon), olives and strong cheeses. For a nice contrast in texture, I added walnuts. Instead of baking the cake in a standard loaf pan, I used individual mini molds. So cute!
This cake is also ideal for picnics and potlucks, as it meets all the requirements for safe transport. No need to re-heat! I recently served cake salé with a candied walnut salad and finished the meal with a fruit medley. It was a flavorful meal that no one felt guilty about afterwards!
1. Info for French Savory Cake Recipe (Smoked Salmon Cake)
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 1 hr
- Servings: 4
- Calories: 306 kcal
2. Ingredients for French Savory Cake Recipe (Smoked Salmon Cake)
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup potato flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon walnut oil
- 3 tablespoons walnuts, coarsely chopped
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 4 ounces smoked salmon
- 3 ounces smoked cheddar
- 1 tablespoon green olives, chopped
- 1 sprig lemon thyme, stemmed
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 tablespoon dill, chopped
- 3 tablespoons curly parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
3. Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar for about 7-8 minutes. You’ll get a pale yellow foam and the texture of the egg yolk will be thicker. Add the lemon zest.
- In a small bowl, drizzle the salmon with lemon juice. Set aside.
- In another bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking powder. Sift all the dry ingredients.
- Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture. Mix well. Add the sour cream and oils. Add the olives, fennel seeds, herbs, salmon, cheeses and finish with the walnuts.
- Apply a thin layer of oil to the mini loaf pans, previously lined with a rectangle of parchment paper. Pour in the cake batter; even it out using a spreader.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 5 minutes at 375°F; lower the temperature to 350°F and bake for another 35-40 minutes. A skewer or a toothpick inserted into the cake should come out clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
- Bon appétit!