I just can't resist beautiful fresh figs and at the moment they are at their peak, I have always had a thing for them even as a child, mainly in the form of a fig roll (newton) I might add. High in fiber and with a sticky sweetness whether fresh or dried they make a great addition to many dishes, my favorite memory is of picking a perfectly ripe specimen off a huge tree outside my apartment window whilst staying in Calvi, Corsica. Still warm from the Mediterranean sun and so juicy, a great food memory.
Inspired by a bake I spotted whilst wandering on the internet this recipe, my version is gluten free and uses rapeseed oil rather than olive and has the subtle addition of almond extract also. Don't worry about the rosemary in this sweet bake its barely noticeable and just provides a slight herbyness to the sponge, the cake is moist and very moreish.
What you need
- 175g caster sugar
- 2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary - finely chopped
- 125g ground almonds
- 50g plain gluten free flour
- 2tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp almond essence
- 180g Greek yogurt
- 120 ml Extra Virgin rapeseed oil
- 2 large eggs - free range of course
- 4 fresh figs - halved
- 2tbsp - soft brown sugar
- 2lb loaf tin, lined
What you do
- Pre heat the oven to 180c
- Whisk the eggs and sugar in a stand mixer until light and fluffy and tripled in volume
- In another bowl or jug, whisk together the yogurt, oil and almond essence
- Add to the egg and sugar mixture, the ground almonds, flour, salt, baking powder and rosemary, fold them in gently and try not to loose to much air.
- Quickly whisk in the oil and yogurt mixture until incorporated, then pour into a prepared 2lb loaf tin
- Carefully place the halved figs on the top, place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes
- Sprinkle the brown sugar on to the figs and bake for another 20 - 40 minutes until tested cooked with a skewer, if the cake is browning too much cover with foil
- Remove when bake and cool initially in the tin, cool full on a wire cooling rack.
- Serve as it is or with a little additional yogurt
This last few weeks my blogging mojo has been a little absent and life generally has taken over, hopefully normal service is now resumed.
We are linking up to a few of our favorite linky's
Bake of the Week from Casa Costello, fellow WI member and all round lovely person.
Emily over at A Mummy Too for Recipe of the Week
Karen over at Lavender and Lovage for Cooking with Herbs - them this month Herbs for Autumn ( Bay, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme)
Dom over at Belleau Kitchen for Simply Eggcellent - them this month Anything Goes as long it contains free range eggs.
Adapted from a recipe by blog.plentyofzest.com
