The Scotch Egg: Sphere of Goodness...or Heart-Attack-on-a-Plate?
It all makes sense. I mean, if you're going to have eggs and sausage, why not put them together? Thus, the Scotch Egg. According to Wikipedia, this delicacy was invented in London in 1738 by department store Fortnum & Mason. And, don't be fooled, this isn't a breakfast dish, but a picnic food to be eaten cold, alongside salads and pickles. You'll also find them at pubs in the US, and, apparently on a stick at the Minnesota State Fair! And, by the way, it's not too late to sample them--the fair's just a few days away, so buy your plane tickets now!
This photo, from chotda on flickr, actually looks pretty good, but Scotch Eggs I've had in the past have often been a true heart-attack-on-a-plate. One restaurant must have misread the recipe and put the entire pound of sausage around just one egg. Yikes. Here's chotda's nicely-proportioned version (made with Panko, for lightness!):
If the mere idea of sausage-encased eggs has got your taste buds tap dancing, you might want chotda's recipe:
Scotch Eggs
Ingredients:
6 hard-boiled eggs, well chilled
1 pound good-quality sausage meat
1/2 cup flour
1-2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup Panko
Vegetable oil for frying
Directions:
1. Peel eggs. Divide sausage into six portions.
2. Roll each egg in flour. Press and shape a portion of the sausage around each egg.
3. Dip sausage-wrapped eggs into beaten egg and roll in panko.
4. Heat oil to 350 degrees F. Cook each egg for 4-5 minutes (longer if shallow frying--constantly turn the eggs around for best results) or until sausage is cooked and browned.
--KitchenMaus
John Jefferson on August 22, 2008 at 08:18 AM
When I made Scotch Egg at home I baked them instead of frying. I don't like frying a lot of foods. They came out very good.
cribcat on August 23, 2008 at 12:43 PM
How do you make Scotch Egg at home instead of frying? It's not quite clear.
I LOVE GRAVY on August 23, 2008 at 02:05 PM
needs more gravy
nurnip on August 23, 2008 at 02:27 PM
Should the gravy be fried or baked in the oven?
boo hiss!!! on August 25, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Boo hiss!!
a vegetarian on August 26, 2008 at 12:28 PM
omg, that looks/sounds foul
I can't believe it!! on August 26, 2008 at 02:03 PM
Who would eat something like this? It just looks wrong in so many ways! But, here's to America! MORE GREASE, MORE GREASE!!
Trey Smith on August 26, 2008 at 07:49 PM
My wife makes these with turkey sausage, and she bakes them. They really are very delicious.
Oh to the vegetarian, open your moth, look in the mirror before you bad mouth everyone.
Guera on August 27, 2008 at 10:46 AM
That looks spectacular. Yummy!
Sam on August 27, 2008 at 10:25 PM
@vegetarian: you spelled "fowl" wrong...
This looks excellent.
Chris on August 28, 2008 at 04:46 AM
"Who would eat something like this? It just looks wrong in so many ways! But, here's to America! MORE GREASE, MORE GREASE!!"
It's an English dish, not American. So that argument goes right out the window.
There's nothing overly greasy about it. A boiled egg is good for you. A bit of sausagemeat round the egg, covered in breadcrumbs and baked. Please don't fry them >_< that ruins the taste.
Natty on August 31, 2008 at 01:01 PM
Mmm, these look delicious. I can't imagine the baked version would be any worse for you than a McBreakfast. Probably better for you, actually.
on September 01, 2008 at 09:48 AM
#1. This is British..not American.
#2. You were planning on eating the eggs and sausage anyway, might as well eat them together.
#3. It's actually LESS grease because the egg isn't fried.
So there.
on September 01, 2008 at 03:08 PM
How long would you bake them, and at what temp.?
pink parisian on September 02, 2008 at 01:29 AM
I love scotch eggs so thanks for the easy recipe. However, finding sausage meat here would be a bit of a trial. I might try to substitute something else
TJ on September 02, 2008 at 04:37 AM
These are great!!! Check out my recipe for them at http://www.swanfarms.com/FoodBlog/?p=251
Chantix on September 02, 2008 at 08:45 AM
Awesome recipe, these look amazing. Great post, thanks!!
Jaden, Steamy Kitchen on September 02, 2008 at 09:19 PM
I would have liked to see the photo of the entire pound of sausage wrapped around one egg!
Josh on September 03, 2008 at 03:07 PM
A lot of you are missing the point - it's not about how good or bad something is for you, it's about how fucking awesome it is! This thing is a fantastic idea.
Deborah, a genuine AMERICAN! on September 04, 2008 at 09:01 AM
I am an American, and do not even EAT fried foods! I stopped cooking and eating fried foods over 10 years ago! Neither am I a vegetarian. I love meat, but have to be careful of what I do eat, for health concerns. This recipe looks very good, though it would have to be baked, and special sausage used for me to safely eat and enjoy it...
Tea on September 09, 2008 at 08:54 PM
how is the microwave cooking instruction?
i really like the idea of this dish.
Thank you
Steafan on September 18, 2008 at 08:36 AM
Why are Scotch Eggs called "Scotch" if they are not Scottish?
clark173 on September 18, 2008 at 01:20 PM
I used to make these for ski trips there awsomely good, you can use different kinds of sausage you can fry or bake, add a little cheese with the sausage,great protein snack hot or cold.
Escoofield on September 20, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Wow this is so smart and absolutely useful!
It is truly amazing and very good! Thanks for this it really helped me!
Escoofield -
http://alotofit.com
A_Moose on September 20, 2008 at 07:50 PM
Steafan: Same reason french fries are called french fries.