Savory Saffron Christmas Tree with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes, a unique yet very simple rustic dish to make. Mix with a fork and add all the ingredients together in a large bowl. I used the classic 750 g paper molds which can also be found at the supermarket. Of course, alternatively, you can use electric mixers or any molds you prefer, provided they are large enough to contain the entire dough. It’s a very practical savory cake to make and, in reality, you can vary the ingredients as you like, even making it entirely vegetarian. Below, I leave you other ideas to draw inspiration from, while at the bottom of the recipe I answer the most common questions about this recipe.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 750 g mold
- Cooking methods: Electric Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Christmas
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 medium eggs
- 1/2 cup sunflower oil
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 packet instant yeast for savory recipes
- 1 packet saffron
- 3 1/2 oz emmentaler (or equivalent cheese)
- 3 1/2 oz diced cooked ham
- 2.8 oz pitted olives
- 3 tbsp Grana Padano cheese, grated
- 6 cherry tomatoes
- to taste mixed seeds
- 1 tsp fine salt
Tools
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Fork
- 1 Mold
- 1 Knife
Steps
To make the Savory Saffron Christmas Tree with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes, first, in a large bowl, combine the flour with the eggs, sunflower oil, and room temperature water.
Add the salt, powdered saffron, and the cheese cut into cubes. Add the diced cooked ham and the pitted olives cut into slices. Mix quickly.
At this point, add the instant yeast for savory recipes and incorporate all the ingredients together. The flour should be well absorbed. Transfer the dough into the paper mold and level it off with a fork until it covers all the corners.
Decorate the surface with the previously washed and sliced cherry tomatoes and the mixed seeds. Bake in the middle part of the ventilated oven at 356°F.
Cook for 40-45 minutes, doing the toothpick test. If once inserted, it comes out dry, the savory cake is ready to be taken out of the oven. Let it cool a bit before cutting it. It will be a perfect centerpiece to share for the holidays and also great as a gift idea.
The rustic dish will keep at room temperature for two or three days, possibly covered with a clean cloth.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What can I use to make a vegetarian rustic dish?
You can use quickly sautéed zucchini, or sautéed mushrooms or peppers. The important thing is that all ingredients are not too oily or moist.
