Monday, November 22, 2010

English muffins! (Yes, English muffins!!) @ home

I was amazed the first time I learnt that you can actually make English muffins, complete with split, right in your own home.  And if you’ve got a bit of semolina on-hand, yours can look just as good (if not, better) than the Tip Top ones.


I nabbed this recipe from Easy as (Vegan) Pie and adapted it ever-so-slightly.

7g packet dry yeast
1 Tbsp sugar
1 cup lukewarm water
2¼ cups flour
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp olive oil or butter, softened
A handful of semolina

Combine yeast, sugar and water.  Leave to stand for 5 minutes to let the yeast develop (watch for the foam – this is good).  Combine flour and salt in a large bowl, make a well in the centre and pour in the yeasty-goodness and olive oil/butter.

Gradually incorporate all the flour into the liquid, eventually making a soft dough, then tip out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth (around 8 minutes).  Cut a cross in the top of the dough and place it in a clean, oiled bowl.  Cover and leave to prove until doubled in size (45 minutes to 1 hour).

Preheat oven to 180˚C.  Knock the air out of the dough and knead again for a minute or so.  Roll it out to a flat circle, about ½ inch thick.  Cut into rounds to the size you want, then pat both sides with semolina.  Heat a drizzle of olive oil or butter in a heavy-based frypan and fry the rounds on each side until golden.  Once browned, put onto a baking tray and bake in the oven for 6-10 minutes.

These will keep for a few days in the fridge and for many days in the freezer.  When ready to use, split down the middle, toast and serve with loads of butter, vegemite, jam, poached/scrambled eggs, etc.



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