Name: Savory dove
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 50 g grated pecorino cheese; 300 g 0 flour; 40 ml olive oil; 2 eggs; 300 ml milk; 30 g shelled and peeled salted pistachios; 1/2 teaspoon sugar; pinches salt; 170 g diced mortadella (1 cm); 80 g diced gorgonzola (1 cm); 1 sachet instant yeast for savory preparations; q.s. pepper (optional)

Savory Colomba is a delicious reinterpretation of the traditional Easter Colomba: a soft and fragrant leavened cake, but with a rustic and flavorful twist. Perfect for those who love to bring something original to the table, this savory version is a winner with its soft dough, enriched with stringy cheeses, cured meats, and Mediterranean herbs.

If you love leavened and festive treats, try my pan brioche doves, soft and sweet as a cloud. For those who love traditional flavors, try the Apulian scarcelle, rich in symbolism and flavor, and the queen of Easter desserts: Neapolitan pastiera, with its unmistakable aroma of wheat, ricotta, and orange blossom.

Ideal as an appetizer or main dish for Easter lunch, a spring picnic, or a buffet with friends, savory Colomba is a versatile and spectacular recipe that combines flavor and tradition in a single, irresistible slice.

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Homemade savoury Colomba, golden and soft, with a slice cut separately showing the soft interior with cubes of cheese and cured meats

DifficultyEasy
CostCheap
Preparation time15 Minutes
Cooking time40 Minutes
Serving4People
Cooking methodOven
CuisineItalian
SeasonalityEaster MondayEaster

Ingredients

50 g grated pecorino cheese

300 g 0 flour

40 ml olive oil

2 eggs

300 ml milk

30 g shelled and peeled salted pistachios

¹/₂ teaspoon sugar

pinches salt

170 g diced mortadella (1 cm)

80 g diced gorgonzola (1 cm)

1 sachet instant yeast for savory preparations

q.s. pepper (optional)

Tools

Planetary Mixer

Steps

In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the eggs, milk, and oil.

Add the flour, baking powder, sugar, grated cheese, half the pistachios, salt, and pepper.

Add the diced gorgonzola and mortadella.

Mix until smooth and soft.

Pour the batter into a buttered and floured 500g dove-shaped mold.

Decorate the surface with the remaining pistachios.

Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 40–45 minutes, until golden brown.

Let cool before serving.

Tip

You can customize this savory Colomba cake by adding olives, grilled vegetables, or herbs to taste. It will keep soft for 2–3 days, perfect for enjoying the next day too.