Maybe that's it - mine was cooked by a Prod.
Do Brits make the best breakfasts in the world?
- Thread starter viktorvaughn
- Start date
Maybe that's it - mine was cooked by a Prod.
STN
sou'wester
IdleRich
IdleRich
I love liver, black pudding, fried bread but I don't know that I've ever had white pudding, what's the difference? They say Spain and Italy are best for black pudding (it came over with the Romans didn't it?) but I've never tried theirs.
The other day I went to Broadway Market and it was too early for the burgers to be ready so I had a kind of breakfast bun with two sausages, loads of bacon and a black pudding on top, that was fantastic.
I seem to drink tea less and less often these days for some reason.
The other day I went to Broadway Market and it was too early for the burgers to be ready so I had a kind of breakfast bun with two sausages, loads of bacon and a black pudding on top, that was fantastic.
I seem to drink tea less and less often these days for some reason.
viktorvaughn
Well-known member
I kind of agree that trying to get every item into a fry-up can result in gilding the lilly.
It's like at Xmas time when you get so many silly little side-dishes that the taste is a bit of a Chinese buffet where you can't really focus on anything in particular.
I had the discussion of what five ingredients I would put in a fried breakfast with some friends and one came up with this detailed mission description.
----------------
Ingredients:
1 Crumpet £0.06
1 Large Free Range Egg £0.18
7 Button Mushrooms £0.43
3 Rashers Smoked Streaky Bacon £0.54
4 Hash Browns £0.42
1 Lemon £0.19
½ Black Pudding £0.30
Chilli Powder
Groundnut Oil
Total cost: £2.12
Method:
The only preparation that needs doing here is to slice your mushrooms and black pudding. And, of course, to cut the hole out of your crumpet, about the size of a normal egg yolk.
Hash browns
First things first, I got those hash browns under the grill as they'd take the longest to cook.
I decided to fry the mushrooms separately first so that I wasn't having to juggle two pans. It's quite easy just to chuck them back in the pan at the end to heat them up. I fried the mushrooms over a high heat to boil off any liquid they emitted, and salted them as they were frying. I also added some chilli powder and a squeeze of lemon here, though in retrospect this was too much. I think I'd done that for some more mushroom-centric recipe previously, but since this exercise was all about me learning to speak out of a nicer orifice, I felt I had to stick to the recipe described on Top 5s.
Once the mushrooms were cooked and set aside, I added some more oil to the pan and added the bacon, the black pudding, and the crumpet (with hole). Also, I turned the heat down. I rubbed the crumpet about the pan so that it soaked up some of the oil. Once the crumpet is looking a little browned on either side, it's time to crack that egg into it. I like to go with the crumpet holey side up, so that the egg will fry into the holes. Come to think of it, I've never tried the other way, so I don't know what it would be like. Having cracked the eggshell on the side of the pan you need to hold the egg directly over the hole as you break it. The yolk should fall nicely into your hole and the white should spill across the crumpet. You'll lose some white on to the pan surface, but there should be a nice film of transparent white across the crumpet's holey face.
So, after about a minute of frying, I felt the egg-in-the-crumpet was ready to be flipped. When I'd flipped the crumpet (which needs to be fairly swift by the way) I was a little worried by the fact that the yolk could be seen clearly on the underside of the egg-in-the-crumpet. It was, in fact, slightly burst. Then, when flipping the crumpet back over a minute or so later, disaster struck! The yolk simply refused to remain in its hole and oozed out defiantly. This was a first for me. I've burst the yolk many times when cracking it into the hole, but the nature of the concoction means that this is mostly irrelevant, the yolk retaining its runnyness via its bread suspension.
Disaster!
Contemplating my failure, I tried to think where the problem may have occurred. Had I been too eager to flip the crumpet, before the white had solidified and attached the yolk? Had I had the pan on too high/low a heat? Was I simply a poor chef?
Resolving not to let this setback defeat me, I finished off the bacon and black pudding and set them aside. I decided that the most likely cause of the yolk's escape was the structure of the hole. It had been too wide, and its walls had been too vertical. So I prepared a new crumpet with a smaller, more conical hole, so that the opening on the bottom was narrower.
When it came to flipping this new crumpet, you could see immediately that the seal on the underside was better. There was a nice white skin firmly spanning the hole. When flipping the crumpet back over, the yolk had been broken, but it didn't matter. It was nestled nicely in the hole, still deliciously yellow and fluid.
I think the reason why the conical shape is more effective is that it helps keep the yolk just a smidgen further from the pan. If the hole is of uniform diameter the yolk can rest directly against the pan surface, but being raised allows some of the white to seep underneath and create the desired seal.
With the crumpet now complete, it was time to assemble the breakfast (which, I might add at this point, was being prepared at 8pm). To my eternal shame, now that I had not one but three components to reheat, I used a 30 second blast in the microwave to do so. I laid the bacon rashers across the crumpet and arranged the other ingredients in a circle around it. This rather ridiculous presentation was actually somewhat off-putting, but by this point I was feeling frivolous.
Verdict:
Well, it was certainly enjoyable. But overall the combination lacked cohesion and balance. I would have liked some beans or tomato to offset the dry greasiness of the dish, which was on the heart attack inducing side of things. And, as mentioned previously, the flavouring on the mushrooms was unnecessary. I have to say though, the bacon and the egg-in-the-crumpet combined fantastically. I certainly think egg-in-the-crumpet with bacon on top is something I'll have in the future. Also, I'd recommend the Co-op bacon I bought, it was lovely and thick, though predictably it seeped injected Potassium (the white stuff) when frying.
Overall? Perhaps 5/10. Individually the ingredients were good, but as a whole the dish was flawed.
It's like at Xmas time when you get so many silly little side-dishes that the taste is a bit of a Chinese buffet where you can't really focus on anything in particular.
I had the discussion of what five ingredients I would put in a fried breakfast with some friends and one came up with this detailed mission description.
----------------
Ingredients:
1 Crumpet £0.06
1 Large Free Range Egg £0.18
7 Button Mushrooms £0.43
3 Rashers Smoked Streaky Bacon £0.54
4 Hash Browns £0.42
1 Lemon £0.19
½ Black Pudding £0.30
Chilli Powder
Groundnut Oil
Total cost: £2.12
Method:
The only preparation that needs doing here is to slice your mushrooms and black pudding. And, of course, to cut the hole out of your crumpet, about the size of a normal egg yolk.
Hash browns
First things first, I got those hash browns under the grill as they'd take the longest to cook.
I decided to fry the mushrooms separately first so that I wasn't having to juggle two pans. It's quite easy just to chuck them back in the pan at the end to heat them up. I fried the mushrooms over a high heat to boil off any liquid they emitted, and salted them as they were frying. I also added some chilli powder and a squeeze of lemon here, though in retrospect this was too much. I think I'd done that for some more mushroom-centric recipe previously, but since this exercise was all about me learning to speak out of a nicer orifice, I felt I had to stick to the recipe described on Top 5s.
Once the mushrooms were cooked and set aside, I added some more oil to the pan and added the bacon, the black pudding, and the crumpet (with hole). Also, I turned the heat down. I rubbed the crumpet about the pan so that it soaked up some of the oil. Once the crumpet is looking a little browned on either side, it's time to crack that egg into it. I like to go with the crumpet holey side up, so that the egg will fry into the holes. Come to think of it, I've never tried the other way, so I don't know what it would be like. Having cracked the eggshell on the side of the pan you need to hold the egg directly over the hole as you break it. The yolk should fall nicely into your hole and the white should spill across the crumpet. You'll lose some white on to the pan surface, but there should be a nice film of transparent white across the crumpet's holey face.
So, after about a minute of frying, I felt the egg-in-the-crumpet was ready to be flipped. When I'd flipped the crumpet (which needs to be fairly swift by the way) I was a little worried by the fact that the yolk could be seen clearly on the underside of the egg-in-the-crumpet. It was, in fact, slightly burst. Then, when flipping the crumpet back over a minute or so later, disaster struck! The yolk simply refused to remain in its hole and oozed out defiantly. This was a first for me. I've burst the yolk many times when cracking it into the hole, but the nature of the concoction means that this is mostly irrelevant, the yolk retaining its runnyness via its bread suspension.
Disaster!
Contemplating my failure, I tried to think where the problem may have occurred. Had I been too eager to flip the crumpet, before the white had solidified and attached the yolk? Had I had the pan on too high/low a heat? Was I simply a poor chef?
Resolving not to let this setback defeat me, I finished off the bacon and black pudding and set them aside. I decided that the most likely cause of the yolk's escape was the structure of the hole. It had been too wide, and its walls had been too vertical. So I prepared a new crumpet with a smaller, more conical hole, so that the opening on the bottom was narrower.
When it came to flipping this new crumpet, you could see immediately that the seal on the underside was better. There was a nice white skin firmly spanning the hole. When flipping the crumpet back over, the yolk had been broken, but it didn't matter. It was nestled nicely in the hole, still deliciously yellow and fluid.
I think the reason why the conical shape is more effective is that it helps keep the yolk just a smidgen further from the pan. If the hole is of uniform diameter the yolk can rest directly against the pan surface, but being raised allows some of the white to seep underneath and create the desired seal.
With the crumpet now complete, it was time to assemble the breakfast (which, I might add at this point, was being prepared at 8pm). To my eternal shame, now that I had not one but three components to reheat, I used a 30 second blast in the microwave to do so. I laid the bacon rashers across the crumpet and arranged the other ingredients in a circle around it. This rather ridiculous presentation was actually somewhat off-putting, but by this point I was feeling frivolous.
Verdict:
Well, it was certainly enjoyable. But overall the combination lacked cohesion and balance. I would have liked some beans or tomato to offset the dry greasiness of the dish, which was on the heart attack inducing side of things. And, as mentioned previously, the flavouring on the mushrooms was unnecessary. I have to say though, the bacon and the egg-in-the-crumpet combined fantastically. I certainly think egg-in-the-crumpet with bacon on top is something I'll have in the future. Also, I'd recommend the Co-op bacon I bought, it was lovely and thick, though predictably it seeped injected Potassium (the white stuff) when frying.
Overall? Perhaps 5/10. Individually the ingredients were good, but as a whole the dish was flawed.
Mr. Tea
Let's Talk About Ceps
What what WHAT???
/Kyle's mom
It *has* to be English sausages in a good fry-up - Sainsbury's Taste The Difference or equivalent quality. And I as for your queer notions about tea - well, I'm just flabbergasted, really...
D
droid
Guest
Sainsbury Sauasages!!??
Have you ever had an Irish fry? Have you tried Lyons tea?
Do you know that Ireland is the second biggest tea drinking nation in the world?
10. Morocco
612 cups per capita
9. Afghanistan
613 cups per capita
8. Iran
651 cups per capita
7. Kuwait
867 cups per capita
6. Turkey
884 cups per capita
5. UK
994 cups per capita
4. Qatar
1,008 cups per capita
3. Libya
1,148 cups per capita
2. Ireland
1,214 cups per capita
1. Iraq
1,219 cups per capita
Crikey. No wonder Mr Tea pissed Padraig off.
Mr. Tea
Let's Talk About Ceps
Sainsbury Sauasages!!??
Don't knock 'em 'til you've tried 'em! They are awesome.
In fairness, I can't recall having tried Lyon's, but I've heard Irish friends of mine say the tea over there is a bit manky. Perhaps, when I have the time and cash, I'll do a tea-and-sausage-tasting tour of the world.
Edit:
Pffft!
D
droid
Guest
Don't knock 'em 'til you've tried 'em! They are awesome.
In fairness, I can't recall having tried Lyon's, but I've heard Irish friends of mine say the tea over there is a bit manky. Perhaps, when I have the time and cash, I'll do a tea-and-sausage-tasting tour of the world.
Edit:
Pffft!
I have tried them and they're not bad - but Superquinn, Galtee - even Olhausens are comparable or better IMO.
The tea here is simple and honest - just like the people!
Perfect fry-up tea. Maybe when you're having tea with the Queen one of your fancy-schmancy blends would be more suitable?
crackerjack
Well-known member
Thats a shitload of work for a 5/10, especially when the basic fry-up - bacon, good quality sausages, eggs, grilled tomatoes and toast - is unimprovable.
Guilty Lionel
Wild Horses
I'd like to come to the defence of the croissant, it seems to have been unduly represented here. Of course the English breakfast is a beautiful thing, but I personally think that more continental style breakfasts have their place. And the croissant, as a breakfast component or as a general snack, is surely one of the greatest contributions the French have given to the world. That delicately flaky pastry with lovely buttery flavour. Delicious.
Admittedly a lot of croissant specimens are pretty poor. I often find that bakeries that are otherwise reliable make bad offerings in the croissant department (if you know Bristol, Herberts Bakery and The Breadstore are examples of this. Redland Village Bakery, on the other hand, does a good croissant). But I actually think a lot of the supermarket in store bakery efforts are alright, especially the Tesco ones.
Admittedly a lot of croissant specimens are pretty poor. I often find that bakeries that are otherwise reliable make bad offerings in the croissant department (if you know Bristol, Herberts Bakery and The Breadstore are examples of this. Redland Village Bakery, on the other hand, does a good croissant). But I actually think a lot of the supermarket in store bakery efforts are alright, especially the Tesco ones.
white pudding is usually pretty nondescript in my experience, though i'm prepared to believe i've just not had a good one yet. as black pudding is made with blood, i also really don't like to consider precisely which bodily fluid is used in it, either.
good bubble is fantastic with breakfast. it has to have all the sunday roast vegetables in it, though, including plenty of fried onions, sprouts, carrots and roughly chopped roast potatoes and parsnips along with the mash, though. it's especially great with fried eggs, toast and slabs of home-cooked ham.
liver, i love but not so much as a breakfast component. if i'm only going to have maybe two or three breakfast items in my fry-up, liver will never be one of them.
yorkshire tea is essential as far as i'm concerned.
potato farls are awesome and make a great subsitute for toast.
toasted soda bread is especially good with eggs, too.
hash browns have absolutely no place whatsoever in a british breakfast (i am including ireland here, just for the sake of ease, not as a reflection of my politics). anyone serving them as part of such a meal deserves to be summarily punched in the groin.
the steak and eggs option is always a favourite when in the US, however if in texas huevos rancheros (eggs poached) is a must.
in the US/canada pork product seem to combine magically with maple syrup. in europe, this is not the case. i think it might have something differences in the earth's magnetic field, ley lines or some such...
good bubble is fantastic with breakfast. it has to have all the sunday roast vegetables in it, though, including plenty of fried onions, sprouts, carrots and roughly chopped roast potatoes and parsnips along with the mash, though. it's especially great with fried eggs, toast and slabs of home-cooked ham.
liver, i love but not so much as a breakfast component. if i'm only going to have maybe two or three breakfast items in my fry-up, liver will never be one of them.
yorkshire tea is essential as far as i'm concerned.
potato farls are awesome and make a great subsitute for toast.
toasted soda bread is especially good with eggs, too.
hash browns have absolutely no place whatsoever in a british breakfast (i am including ireland here, just for the sake of ease, not as a reflection of my politics). anyone serving them as part of such a meal deserves to be summarily punched in the groin.
the steak and eggs option is always a favourite when in the US, however if in texas huevos rancheros (eggs poached) is a must.
in the US/canada pork product seem to combine magically with maple syrup. in europe, this is not the case. i think it might have something differences in the earth's magnetic field, ley lines or some such...
Last edited:
Wikipedia sez: "It is very similar to black pudding, but does not include blood. Consequently, it consists of pork meat and fat, suet, bread, and oatmeal formed into the shape of a large sausage. Earlier versions (pre-1990) often had brain matter (sheep) added as a binding agent."
