The idea of a savoury cake is somewhat peculiar to me, however, the ingredients in the title tempted me to give it a go. I’m really glad I did. It’s very tasty and not at all cake-like. It’s more of a cross between a quiche and a bread. I served it with a couple of salads for a main meal, but this would be perfect picnic food as it’s summery, easy and robust enough to be portable. I made this when my mum came to visit, and she loved it. This recipe comes from Anna Jones’s, The Modern Cook’s Year.

Ingredients

4 leeks (about 500g) cut into 1cm slices

2 tablespoons butter, plus extra for greasing

150g plain spelt flour

120g polenta

1 ½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon flaky sea salt

A good grinding of black pepper

2 tablespoons nigella seeds

The zest and juice of 1 unwaxed lemon

1 red chilli, finely chopped

1/2 bunch of thyme leaves, picked

150g feta, crumbled

4 organic eggs, lightly beaten

100ml milk

200g plain yoghurt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Butter a loose bottom 24cm cake tin and line with baking paper.
2. First, sauté the leeks in a tablespoon of the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat until soft. This should take about 10 minutes.
3. Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and use it to brush the baking paper. Meanwhile, put the flour, polenta, baking powder, salt, pepper and a tablespoon of the nigella seeds into a bowl and whisk to get rid of any lumps. Add the lemon zest, red chilli, thyme and the crumbled feta.
4. Put the juice of the lemon into a small bowl and whisk together with the eggs, milk and yoghurt.
5. Mix the yoghurt mixture into the flour mixture until just combined (being careful not to overmix). Once the leeks have cooled,stir half of them through the batter. Pour the batter into the lined cake tin and scatter the rest of the leeks on top, then sprinkle the reserved nigella seeds.
6. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until the top is golden and a skewer inserted comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then cool on a wire rack to room temperature before slicing.