Toad in the Hole | Community Recipes | Nigella's Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why does my toad in the hole not cook in the middle? ›

However it is most likely that the batter isn't quite cooking properly due to the dish. Stoneware tends to heat up very slowly and doesn't give the instant hit of heat that the batter needs to help it to rise properly.

Getting your Yorkshires to rise:

Toad in the Hole needs a hot dish with plenty of oil. Using a metal baking tin and adding the batter quickly is recommended. Also, the dish needs to be large enough so that the batter can creep around the edges (at least 30cm x 25cm ideally).

The most commonly accepted explanation for its name is that the sausages resemble toads peeking from a crevice made of crisp batter.

Toad in the hole is a traditional English dish consisting of sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter, usually served with onion gravy and vegetables. Historically, the dish has also been prepared using other meats, such as rump steak and lamb's kidney.

Use a metal (or enamel-coated metal) baking tin if possible – a large, reasonably deep dish is best. Using a metal tin means the tin it will get hotter and the heat distribution will be more even. Mine is a rectangular enamel roaster, approx 31cmx25cm and 5cm deep.

Large roasting-style tins are best for large, slab-like portions of pudding and making family-sized toad-in-the-hole. Yorkshire pudding tins are made from many different materials, from heavy-duty steel to aluminium and silicone, but the main factors should be how quickly and evenly it heats.

Serve at the table with the Toad in the hole, mashed potatoes, greens and baked beans or maybe a green salad if you're feeling a little guilty!

Leavening Agents: The primary leavening agents in cakes are baking powder and/or baking soda. Cakes that rely on these agents tend to rise relatively quickly, often within the first 10 to 20 minutes of baking.

Once you've put it out, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours. If you allow any leftovers to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill. You can keep leftovers of Toad in the Hole in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so.

If your toad in the hole has more of a cakey consistency than the light and airy batter you're after, then it could be to do with the dish you're using. You might think a stoneware dish will work just as well but really a metal tin is needed to conduct enough heat for the batter to rise as required.

What is the difference between American and British Toad in the Hole? ›

Usually in America, toad in the hole refers to an egg cooked in the hole cut out of a piece of bread. But in England, it's sausages cooked in what is essentially Yorkshire pudding.

Egg in a Basket features an egg fried in the hole of a buttery slice of bread. The dish goes by several other names as well; Americans sometimes call it Toad in the Hole, but that title more properly refers to the traditional English dish of Yorkshire pudding with sausage and onion gravy.

Basically it's equal parts eggs flour milk. Originally Answered: Should Yorkshire pudding batter be runny? Yes, the batter should be runny, about the consistency of heavy cream.

The skin-gland secretions of cane toads (called bufotoxin) are highly toxic and can sicken or even kill animals that bite or feed on them, including native animals and domestic pets. The skin secretions may irritate the skin or burn the eyes of people who handle them.

Do you use plain or self-raising flour for the batter? Self-raising flour helps add air, which results in a light, crispy batter. If you only have plain flour at home, add a little baking powder to the batter.

If your toad in the hole is soggy, it might be due to there being too many sausages in the tin. Try to make sure they're spaced far apart from each other to allow the batter to get crisp. Also, to make sure the Yorkshire pudding rises, don't be tempted to open the oven as it's cooking.

Whilst the toad in the hole is baking DO NOT open the oven door – this will result in your batter deflating. Cook the toad in the hole for about 30 minutes – check through the oven door (look through the glass if you have a glass door) and check it is browned.

Clear out dark, covered areas that toads like to use for hiding spots. Toads like dark and damp areas, away from the sun. Look around your yard for anything they could hide under, such as old pots, propped-up boards, and any other debris you may have around. Eliminate these areas to give toads fewer places to hide.

Toads can go a long time without food, and they eat less in winter. If the problem persists, change to a different food. Add a few live flies to the habitat. Their buzzing flight will get your toad's attention.