Invisible courgette and feta cake
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Line a 26 cm loaf tin with baking paper.
- In a bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk and olive oil. Add the flour, a pinch of salt and some pepper, and whisk to a smooth, fairly runny batter.
- Wash the courgettes and slice them lengthways very thinly with a mandoline. Add them to the batter with the chopped mint and mix gently to coat them well.
- Arrange the slices in layers in the tin, crumbling the feta between the layers. Finish with a little feta and pour the rest of the batter on top.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until the top is golden and a knife blade comes out dry. Leave to cool for 15 minutes before unmoulding and cutting into slices.
Notes
When you slice it, you see dozens of thin green layers and almost no batter: that is the charm of the invisible courgette and feta cake. Here is our recipe, simple and light, with 20 minutes of preparation and 50 minutes of baking, for a starter or side dish that always impresses.
What is a savoury invisible cake?
A savoury invisible cake uses the idea of the sweet French “gâteau invisible” made with apples, made popular by cooking blogs. The vegetables are cut into very thin slices and bound with very little egg batter. During baking, the batter melts between the layers and “disappears”: only the tightly packed vegetables remain. It is baked in a loaf tin, like a savoury cake.
Invisible zucchini cake recipe, step by step
Our invisible zucchini cake recipe takes three steps. First, make a light batter with eggs, milk, olive oil and a little flour. Then slice the courgettes and coat them in batter. Finally, build the cake layer by layer in the tin, with feta between each level.
Melting courgettes thanks to the mandoline
The secret of clearly visible layers is slices 2 mm thick. A mandoline is the ideal tool, but a vegetable peeler run lengthways also works. The thinner the slices, the more melting the courgettes become. Remember to use the mandoline’s hand guard to protect your fingers.
Courgette, feta and mint invisible cake
The courgette, feta and mint invisible cake is our favourite version. Feta brings saltiness and softness, mint brings freshness. A good pinch of freshly ground black pepper lifts everything. You can replace the mint with basil or dill, to taste.
With pine nuts for crunch
Toast 30 g of pine nuts in a dry frying pan and scatter them between the layers and on top. They add a little crunch that contrasts with the melting courgettes.
A gluten-free invisible courgette cake
A gluten-free invisible courgette cake is very easy: simply replace the wheat flour with the same amount of rice flour or cornflour. Since there is so little batter, the taste and texture barely change.
Invisible courgette cake in the Thermomix
In the Thermomix, make the batter in the bowl: eggs, milk, oil, flour, salt and pepper, 20 seconds on speed 4. Then slice the courgettes with a mandoline, because the machine cannot make slices long enough. Assembly and oven baking stay the same.
A lighter version
For a lighter invisible cake, use semi-skimmed milk, a single spoonful of oil and 100 g of feta instead of 150 g. The cake stays soft, because the courgettes make up most of the volume.
What to do with a glut of courgettes?
In summer, when the vegetable garden is overflowing, this cake is a great answer: three courgettes go into it at once. The rest of the year, shop-bought courgettes work very well. You can also make two cakes and freeze one, once baked and cooled. For another idea, try our courgette gratin without cream, softer and served with a spoon.
What to serve with invisible courgette cake?
As a starter, serve a slice with a cherry tomato salad or mixed leaves dressed with olive oil. For a full meal, it goes very well with grilled meat or fish. Cut into small cubes, it also makes an original courgette starter for drinks and nibbles.
How to store and reheat invisible cake?
The invisible cake keeps for 3 days in the fridge, well wrapped. It is delicious cold, like a savoury loaf. To reheat it, put the slices in the oven for 10 minutes at 160 °C rather than in the microwave, so they stay firm.
More savoury recipes to discover
Do you like vegetable starters? Try our carrot-top and goat’s cheese quiche, or the great classic, our quiche lorraine. For summer, our caprese salad with homemade pesto is another good choice. And to discover spices, see our spice guide.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my invisible cake watery?
Courgettes contain a lot of water. Slice them thinly, do not salt the batter too early and extend the baking time by 5 to 10 minutes if the centre is still moist.
Can I make it with other vegetables?
Yes, carrot, potato or aubergine work very well. Slice them just as thinly and adjust the baking time.
