While the future looked pretty grim in Natalie Portman thriller V For Vendetta, her terrorist-cooked breakfast looked absolutely delicious.
If you've been wanting to recreate Portman's eggs in a basket, without the help of a masked anti-hero, then we're here to help. We spoke to Dave Watts, head chef at The Cotswold House Hotel and recently named Chef to Watch 2013 by The Good Food Guide, who has offered you his very able assistance.
Makes as many as you want to eat but this is based on breakfast for two.
Preparation time: 2-3 minutes
Cooking time: 3- 4 minutes
Equipment
Frying pan
Bread knife
Chopping board
Pastry cutters or a suitable size glass to cut a hole around
Fish slice
Ingredients
1 x Spelt sour dough loaf
2 x large free range eggs
Drizzle of vegetable oil
30g unsalted butter
Pinch salt
Grind of fresh black pepper
4 x slices of smoked streaky bacon
Method
Preheat your frying pan on a low heat and add just enough oil to lightly cover the bottom of the pan.
Cut off the end of the loaf and then cut another two slices as thick as your thumb. Take a cutter that’s approximately 70mm across and cut a hole out of the middle of the bread.
Place the slices of bread into the pan and increase the heat, leave for around ten seconds just to seal the underside of the bread and then crack your eggs into the holes. Cook for a further 1-2 minutes on the first side (depending upon how soft you like your eggs) add the butter to the pan and then turn each slice with the fish slice.
Cook for a further minute, remove from the pan and drain on kitchen towel.
Season with salt and pepper, serve.
I like to toast the two circles of bread that are cut out and serve buttered with crispy fried smoked streaky bacon on top to accompany the eggs in baskets.
Not too healthy but a great tasty, quirky breakfast alternative.
Dave Watts is head chef at the Cotswold House Hotel. Rooms start from just £120 per person, with main courses at The Cotswold Grill ranging from £9.50 to £23.00. The Dining Room (fine dining restaurant) reopened in May. For further information, hotel and restaurant reservations, visit www.cotswoldhouse.com or call 01386 840330.
(Images: YouTube)
