Lemon, Thyme, Ricotta and Semolina Cake

Ingredients

• 250 g | 8oz unsalted butter at room temperature (plus a little more to grease the cake tin)
• 250 g | 8oz caster sugar
• 250 g | 8oz smooth ricotta
• 150 g | 5.3oz fine semolina
• 150 g | 5.3oz plain (all purpose flour, plus a little more to dust the cake tin)
• 80 ml | 2.7oz lemon juice (or you can use Limoncello)
• 3 eggs
• 1 tbsp lemon thyme leaves (very finely chopped)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• zest of 2 lemons
• 4-5 Ricola original crushed into a fine powder to decorate
• fresh thyme sprigs to decorate
• For the herb syrup
• 100 g | 3.5oz sugar
• 100 ml | 3.5fl oz water
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 sprigs lemon thyme
• 4 sage leaves
• For the glaze
• 200 g | 7oz icing sugar
• 1-2 tbsp lemon juice or milk

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 180C | 350 F. Grease a 20cm (8in) bundt cake tin with a little butter, covering all corners and edges. Dust with a little flour and shake out any excess.

2. 2

   Beat the butter, sugar, thyme and lemon zest in a stand mixer (or use a hand mixer) until pale and fluffy. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides as needed.

3. 3

   Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat to combine.

4. 4

   Stir in the ricotta and lemon juice.

5. 5

   Sift in the flour, semolina, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda. Stir everything together until the batter is smooth.

6. 6

   Transfer the batter into the prepared bundt tin and level. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool on a wire rack before carefully turning out.

7. 7

   Put the sugar, water, lemon juice and herbs in a small saucepan and stir over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Remove the herbs and brush the syrup liberally over the cake.

8. 8

   Mix the icing sugar with enough lemon juice or milk to create a thick but pourable glaze. Drizzle it over the cake. Sprinkle with the crushed Ricola and decorate with a couple of thyme sprigs. The cake keeps really well for a few days.