Scotch Eggs

The English have a knack with 'portable' picnic food, like pasties, pies, sausage rolls and one of my favourites, the delicious scotch egg, always bringing back memories of a sunny day, sitting outside a pub with good company, and an ice cold beer. London's exclusive store Fortnum and Mason, claim that they invented it in 1738, using a gamier meat, like a strong Victorian pate and a pullet's egg rather than hen's eggs, which sounds good but here I have the recipe for the Scotch egg we know and love. Enjoy!!

6 eggs
200g plain sausagemeat
200g pork mince
3 tbsp chopped mixed herbs (chives, sage, parsley and thyme)
A pinch of ground mace
1 tbsp English mustard
Splash of milk
50g flour
100g breadcrumbs
Vegetable oil, to cook

1. Put four of the eggs into a pan, cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for five minutes, then put straight into a large bowl of iced water for at least 10 minutes.

2. Put the meat, herbs, mace and mustard into a bowl, season and mix well with
your hands. Divide into four.

3. Carefully peel the eggs. Beat the two raw eggs together in a bowl with a splash of milk. Put the flour in a second bowl and season, then tip the breadcrumbs into a third bowl. Arrange in an assembly line.

4. Put a square of cling film on the work surface, and flour lightly. Put one of the meatballs in the centre, and flour lightly, then put another square of cling film on top. Roll out the meat until large enough to encase an egg and remove the top sheet of cling film.

5. To assemble the egg, roll one peeled egg in flour, then put in the centre of the meat. Bring up the sides of the film to encase it, and smooth it into an egg shape with your hands. Dip each egg in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs, then egg and then breadcrumbs.

6. Fill a large pan a third full of vegetable oil, and heat to 170C (or when a crumb of bread sizzles and turns golden, but does not burn, when dropped in it). Cook the eggs a couple at a time, for seven minutes, until crisp and golden, then drain on kitchen paper before serving.

Androulla xxx