Ham Cheese and Olive Bread
The kick-off to patio season has to be celebrated with a great appetizer, right? Which is why today’s recipe is perfectly suited. This Ham, Olive and Cheese Bread is very popular in France, and a French aperitif favorite. Known in French as a “cake salé” (savory cake), you’ll often find this type of rustic bread/loaf served at friendly get-togethers or for pre-meal snacks and drinks in France. They come in all variations and are traditionally cut in thin slices or cubes for guests to pick at, while mingling before dinner.…
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 45 min
- Yield
- 8 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 1/4 cup (155g) flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp fresh ground black pepper
- ½ tsp Herbs de Provence (or dried thyme, dried rosemary, dried savory)
- 3 large eggs
- ¼ cup (60ml) milk (2% or whole)
- 2 tbsp (30g) Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 cup (100g) grated cheese (ie. Emmental or Gruyere)
- 100g Olives, pitted (black, green or a mix)
- 70g Ham, diced and skin removed
Instructions
- 1
Pre-heat your oven to 350F (180C) with a rack in the middle. Butter and flour a loaf pan (8x4-inches) very well.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, black pepper and herbs de provence. Add the eggs and mix, using a wooden spoon or spatula.
- 3
Mix in the milk and the EVOO. Fold in the grated cheese, followed by the olives and ham cubes.
- 4
Transfer the batter into the prepared loaf pan. The batter is quite thick, so use a spatula to smooth out the top.
- 5
Bake for 45 minutes, until the top is golden and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- 6
Transfer to a cooling rack and wait 15 minutes before removing the loaf from the pan.
- 7
Enjoy warm or at room temperature.