This cake is incredibly delicious, moist and topped with a crunchy crumble. The plums can be replaced with other seasonal fruits such as apricots or blueberries. The basis of this cake is a dough made with sourdough starter, known in Italian as "lievito madre", which you can buy from a sourdough bakery if you don't have any.

Sourdough starter has several advantages over regular yeast and brings different qualities to the baking process. For example, it creates a more complex and richer flavour profile due to the longer fermentation process.
Sourdough doughs are lighter, airier and, most importantly, more digestible than regular yeast-based doughs.
Nutritionally, the fermentation process can also increase the levels of certain nutrients, such as vitamin B and minerals. Another benefit is that sourdough dough typically has a lower glycaemic index. It's important to note, however, that using a sourdough starter requires more preparation time. But don't be put off.
Ingredients for the sourdough:
140 g sourdough starter (lievito madre)
320 g all-purpose flour
60 g granulated sugar
160 g lukewarm milk (can also be plant-based)
30 g melted butter or vegetable oil
1 egg
pinch of salt
Additional ingredients:
Plums or other seasonal fruit
20 g cinnamon sugar
250 g plain cottage cheese (curd)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Lemon juice
Crumble Topping:
30g butter, room temperature
3 heaped tablespoons of coarse flour
3 heaped tablespoons icing sugar
Method:
Mix all the ingredients for the dough in a bowl and knead until smooth and compact. Form the dough into a loaf and leave to rise in the bowl at room temperature until doubled in size, about 5-6 hours, or refrigerate overnight for 10-12 hours. Cover the dough with a disposable shower cap or plastic wrap.
Prepare the rest of the ingredients. Halve the plums and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Mix the cottage cheese with the sugar and add a few drops of lemon juice. In another bowl, mix the flour and sugar for the crumble topping, then add the softened butter and work into a crumbly texture with your hands.
Prepare a medium sized baking tray, grease it and dust with flour. When the dough has risen, carefully place it on the tray and shape it into a rectangle. If the dough has been refrigerated overnight, leave it to rest at room temperature for at least an hour beforehand. Layer the cottage cheese, plums and crumble topping on top. Cover with cling film and leave to rise at room temperature for about an hour.
Bake in a preheated oven at 185°C for about 35 minutes until golden brown. When cooled, slice the cake and dust with icing sugar before serving.
Here you can watch the recipe video on my Instagram account.
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