With a trio of lemon, rosemary, and olive oil, you might marvel if you’ve stumbled upon a recipe for salad dressing instead of a cake.
But that is one of my favorites; it’s deceptively simple, full of texture and flavor, and cries out to be eaten with a scoop of mascarpone and a cup of espresso.
Using olive oil rather than butter, the cake is quite moist with a mild hint of fruity bitterness to cut through the candy. If you’ve in no way had a slice of rosemary cake before, then all I can say is that you won’t be dissatisfied.
Lemon, rosemary, and olive oil cake
Not all rosemary is created equal, so ensure you use a few with flavor instead of the flavorless twigs I’ve had the misfortune of purchasing through the years. Have a nibble on a leaf – you need to immediately recognize that herby flavor.
Serves 10-12
Prep 20 min
Cook 35 min
200g olive oil, plus greater for greasing
three massive eggs
125g caster sugar
Zest of 2 lemons, finely chopped to get 3 tbsp
150g plain flour
90g ground almonds
¼ tsp salt
For the syrup
6 x 10cm sprigs rosemary
100g lemon juice
100g caster sugar
60g water
Line the bottom of a 20cm round cake tin with greaseproof paper, and brush the bottom and facets with oil.
Put all the cake elements in a bowl and blend until you have a thick batter. Pour into the prepared tin and bake at 200C (180C fan)/390F/fuel 6 for 30-35 mins, until the pinnacle is golden brown and risen, and a skewer inserted into the center comes out smooth.
While the cake is baking, put together the syrup. Tip all of the substances into a small saucepan and come to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer gently every five minutes, then flip off the warmth and leave the rosemary to infuse.
While the cake and syrup are heated, make holes all over the pinnacle of the cake with a skewer and pour over the syrup. Leave to chill inside the tin (the cake will take in the syrup because it sits) before turning out and serving.
