Scotch Eggs...Meal in 1

Scotch eggs are hearty. And greasy. That's the best way to describe a scotch egg. Traditionally made with ground beef or lamb packed around a hard boiled egg, all wrapped in bread and deep fried, scotch eggs are easily a 1-dish meal. Mashed potato is equally good around the egg, instead of the meat. It is really satisfying to bite into a crisp shell, then savor the soft potato/meat and egg filling. I'm salivating just thinking of scotch eggs. Here's the recipe...

Ingredients

2 hard boiled eggs

2 medium potatoes

1 small onion - finely chopped

1/2 green pepper - finely chopped

1 stalk celery - finely chopped

Salt - to taste

Pepper - to taste

Paprika/Chili powder - to taste

4 slices white bread

Cold water

1 tbsp butter/margarine

Oil

Preparation

(serves 2)

1. Hard boil 2 eggs and let cool (not in fridge). Shell eggs

2. Put potatoes in mirco on baked potato setting

3. Mash potatoes (once cooled), add onion, green pepper, celery, salt, paprika/chili powder, pepper and margarine/butter

4. Fold mashed ingredients around eggs in a 1/2 inch thick layer. Set aside

5. Dip bread in cold water quickly. Flatten and squeeze excess water out - you don't want the bread to be soggy, just pliable and sticky enough to wrap around the egg + potato ball. Wrap 2 slices around each egg + potato ball, till no potato shows. Smooth bread over egg so no free edges pull away from the egg - free edges will break apart during the frying, and the end result will be lots of little bits of fried potato & bread.

6. Heat oil for deep frying

7. Deep fry eggs till all sides are golden-brown

8. Eat with ketchup!!!

Warning: Avoid if you have high cholesterol! ;)

PS - Scotch eggs are best eaten hot out of the oil, but make a serviceable breakfast/brunch the day after as well. Just remember to cut the scotch egg in half before zapping in the micro.

PPS - Ketchup is a must. Light side dishes, such as a soup, are recommended for a rounded-out meal.

PPPS - Keep water/soda/beverage of choice handy to chase the grease ;)