Hearty Appetizer Cake
Description
The appetizer is quick and easy to prepare. This snack cake turns out very tender and piquant at the same time. If you don't like walnuts, replace them with pistachios — it will still be tasty. You can use any cheese to your taste; even blue cheese will work. It's best to use seedless grapes of sweet-and-sour varieties. Serve with herbs and sauce.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Prepare all the necessary ingredients for making a hearty savory snack cake.
- 2
Step 2
Pour the gelatin into a bowl and cover with cold boiled water. Leave to bloom for 40–60 minutes, or according to the instructions for your type of gelatin.
- 3
Step 3
Pour the white wine into the gelatin, place it in a water bath, and dissolve the gelatin until you have a smooth, transparent mixture with no lumps. Let it cool.
- 4
Step 4
Hard cheese—I use homemade—cut into small cubes. Put the sour cream in a bowl, add the diced cheese, and mix.
- 5
Step 5
Add hot pepper to taste. This can be ground pepper or simply chop a fresh pod very finely.
- 6
Step 6
Rinse the dried apricots and cover them with hot water for 5 minutes. Remove from the water, pat dry, and cut into small cubes. Add them to a bowl with sour cream and cheese, season with salt to taste, and mix.
- 7
Step 7
While stirring quickly, pour in the cooled gelatin and mix until smooth.
- 8
Step 8
Moisten the culinary ring with plain water and line the sides with plastic wrap. Transfer all the mixture into the ring and smooth the top.
- 9
Step 9
Lightly toast the nuts in a dry skillet, let them cool, and chop them. Sprinkle the top of the cake with walnuts. Place the snack cake in the refrigerator for several hours until fully set.
- 10
Step 10
Remove the cake from the refrigerator, remove the ring mold and plastic wrap. Decorate the top with dried apricots and grapes. Serve immediately with a good off-dry wine.
- 11
Step 11
Ready. Serve with fresh herbs.