Fig cake with a dried fig chutney and cheddar cheese

A fig-lover’s delight. Try this savoury-sweet cake with tangy chutney and a slice of cheese.

Ingredients

  • 125g/4½oz ground almonds
  • 50g/1¾oz caster sugar, plus 2 tbsp for sprinkling
  • 30g/1oz plain flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • pinch of salt
  • 3 free-range eggs, lightly beaten
  • 4 tbsp butter, melted and cooled, plus extra for greasing
  • ½ tsp almond extract
  • 8 fresh figs, stems removed, cut in half
For the dried fig chutney
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 shallots, finely diced
  • 1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
  • 100g/3½oz sultanas
  • 50g/1¾oz raisins
  • 50g/1¾oz dark brown sugar
  • 200ml/7fl oz cider vinegar
  • 50g/1¾oz crystallised ginger, finely sliced
  • 310g/11oz dried figs, cut in half
  • 1 tsp ground allspice
To serve
  • 400g/14oz cheddar cheese, sliced

Preparation method

  1. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5 and lightly grease a 23cm/9in fluted flan tin or cake tin that’s 4cm/1½in deep.

  2. In one bowl, mix together the ground almonds, sugar, plain flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

  3. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, butter, and almond extract.

  4. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet, and whisk until just mixed.

  5. Pour the batter into the prepared tin.

  6. Arrange the figs cut-side up over the batter, pushing the figs gently into the batter.

  7. Sprinkle the remaining two tablespoons of sugar over the figs, then bake for about 30 minutes, or until the cake is set in the centre.

  8. Let the cake cool for ten minutes then turn it out of the tin onto a wire rack. Allow it to cool to room temperature before serving.

  9. For the dried fig chutney, heat the oil in a saucepan. Once hot, add the shallots and gently fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the rosemary, sultanas, raisins and sugar and fry until the fruit begins to caramelise. Add the rest of the ingredients, bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes.

  10. Serve a slice of the cake on a plate with the chutney and slices of cheddar cheese.

James Martin recipes from Saturday Kitchen

Less than 30 mins preparation time

30 mins to 1 hour cooking time

Serves 6-8

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