Toad in the Hole

Toad in the hole is a classic British comfort food: sausages baked in a crisp, high-risen batter – spectacular and filling.

1. Tip the flour into a bowl, crack in the eggs, add a pinch of salt, then, pouring in the milk gradually, mix it into a lump-free batter the consistency of pancake batter. Rest it for at least 30 minutes.

2. Preheat the oven to 220 °C. Pour the oil into a baking tray or ovenproof dish, put the sausages in, and push it into the hot oven for a few minutes, so the fat renders and the tray gets really hot.

3. Carefully (taking out the hot tray) pour the rested batter around the sausages – it starts to rise at once from the sizzling oil.

4. Push it back into the oven, and bake it for 25-30 minutes, until the batter rises high and turns golden brown – meanwhile do not open the oven door on any account, or it collapses.

5. Serve it fresh, with gravy; steamed vegetables go very well alongside too.

Tip: A really hot tray and an oven door kept shut throughout are the two secrets of the high, airy batter.