Thursday 26 June 2008

Flowers Please!

Hurray for Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall! You know I have never had a recipe of his turn out anything short of fantastic. Maybe it's down to my impeccable recipe choice, but probably it's because he is the best cook in the world!

This Thursday I have been inspired to conjure up some elderflower fritters which I thankfully shared with Chris and Alyssa (they're delicous but very filling). They are quite easy to make really. Once you have, like me become obsessed with noticing and memorising every local elderflower bush, you then need to make a batter:
125g Plain Flour
25g Caster Sugar
Pinch of Salt
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp Rum or Kirsch
150ml water
2 egg whites
8 Large, fresh and fragrant sprays of elderflowers
5cm groundnut or sunflower oil for frying
mix the flour with the salt, sugar, olive oil, rum/kirsch. Whisk in water stopping when it looks like very thick paint and thick enough to hold 2 egg whites. Cover and leave in a cool place for at least 30 mins.
Give your flowers a quick bug check but be careful not to lose too much pollen as this is the tasty bit. In a large, high sided pan or deep fat fryer. Heat until small cube of bread goes brown within a minute when thrown in. Lower heat to a simmer.
Meanwhile whisk 2 egg whites until they form soft peaks and gently fold them in to the batter. Dip your flowers in to the batter and lower them gently in to the pan. Turn them once or twice until puffed up and golden brown. Keep in low oven to keep warm.
Serve with sprinkled sugar and lemon-honestly they are sooo yum!

1 comment:

Jen Collins said...

hmm, i feel i should perhaps sample one of these treats one day?
hopefully i will see you when you come back from london town. it was so warm! have fun!