Scotch Eggs

With the summer holidays here, many of us will be packing up a picnic and heading for the beach or countryside. For a special touch, try making these absolutely delicious scotch eggs.

The scotch egg - created by Fortnum and Mason of Piccadilly in 1738 - is ideal picnic or salad  fare - or with chips and mushy peas if you're staying at home! Homemade scotch eggs are far superior to those rubbery items offered up by the supermarkets and they aren't difficult to make.

Here's a Delia Smith recipe.

Scotch Eggs

Ingredients

4 eggs
1 small egg, beaten
8 ounces top quality sausage meat
2 spring onions, finely chopped
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
3 teaspoons snipped chives
1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
1 pinch mace (optional)
seasoned flour, for dusting and coating
toasted breadcrumb
oil, for frying
salt & freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Hard-boil the eggs by covering them in cold water, bringing it to the boil, simmering gently for 9 minutes and cooling them under cold running water.

Next, mix the sausage meat with the spring onions and herbs and season well. Then shell the cooled eggs and coat each one with some seasoned flour.

Divide the sausage meat into four portions and pat each piece out on a floured surface to a shape of roughly 5 x 3 inches (13 x 7.5 cm). Now place an egg in the centre of each piece and carefully gather up the sausage meat to cover the egg completely. Seal the joins well, and smooth and pat into shape all over.

Next, coat them one by one, first in beaten egg and then thoroughly and evenly in the breadcrumbs.
Now heat 1 1/2 inches (4 cm) of oil in a deep frying pan up to a temperature of 350-375 degrees F (180-190 degrees C). (If you don't have a thermometer, you can easily test the temperature by frying a small cube of bread - if it turns golden brown within a minute, the oil is hot enough). Put the eggs into the oil and fry for 6-8 minutes, turning frequently until they have turned a nice brown colour. Drain on crumpled silicone paper (parchment), or paper towels.
Serve warm or cold.

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