What is good about toad in the hole
Making Toad in the hole is a budget friendly way to feed the whole family with very little effort. The batter rises around the sausages to create a light and airy texture that is perfect for soaking up gravy. You only need one baking dish to cook the main part of the meal which makes washing up much easier. It is a reliable dish that brings a sense of nostalgia to the dinner table every time.
A step-by-step guide to toad in the hole
Heat the oven: Preheat your oven to 220C or 200C fan and pour the oil into a medium baking dish. Place the sausages into the dish and bake them for 10 minutes until they start to brown and the oil is very hot.
Make the batter: While the sausages cook, whisk the flour and eggs together in a large bowl until the mixture is smooth. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking constantly to ensure there are no lumps in the Toad in the hole batter.
Combine and bake: Remove the hot dish from the oven and quickly pour the batter over the sizzling sausages. Return the dish to the oven immediately and bake for 25 to 30 minutes without opening the door.
Serve the dish: Take the meal out of the oven once the batter has risen and turned a deep golden brown. Serve your Toad in the hole immediately while it is hot and crispy for the best texture and flavour.
The best tips for toad in the hole
The secret to a perfect Toad in the hole is ensuring the oil in the baking dish is smoking hot before you add the batter. This heat causes the batter to rise quickly and creates the classic light structure. Try not to open the oven door during the first 20 minutes of cooking as the cold air can cause the pudding to collapse.
Using room temperature eggs and milk can also help the batter rise more effectively than using cold ingredients straight from the fridge. If you want extra flavour, you can add a teaspoon of dried herbs like thyme or rosemary to the flour mixture. Make sure the sausages are of high quality with a high meat content to prevent too much fat from leaking into the batter. This ensures the Toad in the hole stays crispy rather than becoming greasy.
You can find more ideas here:
bakewell tart,
cauliflower cheese or
banoffee pie.