Veggie sausage popovers

Contains pork – recipe is for non-Muslims only
Lesley Waters’ vegetarian toad in the hole is simple to make and can be frozen until needed

Prep:10 mins
Cook:30 mins
Plus 30 mins chilling

Serves 5
Easy

Nutrition per serving

kcal 314
fat 15g
saturates 3g
carbs 29g
sugars 0g
fibre 3g
protein 16g
salt 1.33g

Ingredients

100g plain flour
2 eggs
300ml milk
2 tbsp olive oil
4 cooked vegetarian sausages, thickly sliced
1 small red pepper, halved, deseeded and chopped

Tip

Beany gravy
Cook 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 bay leaf and 2 crushed garlic cloves for 1 min. Tip in 400g passata, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp sugar, 1 red chilli (pierced with a fork and left whole – for a hint of heat), 2 sprigs thyme leaves, 400g can rinsed borlotti beans and 300ml/½pt vegetable stock. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins until the sauce thickens. Season, remove the chilli and bay. Can be cooled and frozen for up to 1 month.

Method

Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Sift the flour and a pinch of salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and crack in the eggs. Gradually mix the eggs with the flour, then slowly add the milk until you have a smooth, thin batter. Cover and chill for 30 mins.
Drizzle the olive oil into 8 wells of a muffin tin. Heat in the oven for 5 mins or until the oil is smoking hot. Season the batter to taste, then carefully pour onto the hot oil. Sprinkle the sausage and pepper pieces over and return to the oven for 25-30 mins until risen and golden. Can be frozen at this stage for up to 1 month. To cook from frozen, cover tightly with foil and re-heat at 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 for 20-25 mins until piping hot. Serve with beany gravy (recipe below).