Scotch Eggs

Scotch Eggs

I discovered Scotch eggs when I first visited my
friends in Kirkcaldy. They were so good, I knew I would start making them at home, and R was generous enough to share his grandmother’s recipe with me. With his kind permission, I am sharing it with all of you. Scotch eggs have become a staple at breakfast get-togethers and are often requested, especially by my daughter V.

Ingredients

6 Medium hard-boiled eggs, peeled
1 pound (454 g) Breakfast sausage
¼ teaspoon Ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon Ground sage
½ cup (60 g) All-purpose flour
1 cup (100 g) Breadcrumbs
½ teaspoon Black pepper
2 Eggs, beaten

Method

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) if baking. Peel the hard-boiled eggs and pat dry with paper towels if any moisture remains. In a mixing bowl, combine the breakfast sausage, nutmeg, and sage. Mix well and divide into 6 equal portions. In a separate bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and black pepper. Beat the two eggs in another bowl and set aside. Lightly roll each hard-boiled egg in flour to coat. Flatten one portion of sausage into a thin patty and wrap it completely around one floured egg, sealing well. Repeat with the remaining eggs. Dip each sausage-covered egg into the beaten egg mixture, then roll in the seasoned breadcrumbs until evenly coated.

To Bake
Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and
bake for 25-30 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden brown and the
sausage reaches 160°F (71°C). For a deeper golden crust, you can very lightly
brush or spray with oil (optional).

To Fry
Heat oil to 350°F (175°C). Fry Scotch eggs
for 5-7 minutes, turning as needed until golden brown and cooked through. If
necessary, finish in a 400°F (200°C) oven until the sausage reaches 160°F
(71°C).

Let rest for a few minutes before serving.

Note
Medium eggs work best for this recipe
because they give a better sausage-to-egg ratio. Small eggs are excellent if
you can find them. Larger eggs can be used, but the sausage coating will be
thinner; you may want to increase the sausage to 1½ pounds (680 g) for better
coverage.