How to make North Staffs oatcakes

New version 2024-10-09! Old version here


Prep time 15 mins, proving time one hour, cooking time 45 mins

Each oatcake approx 140 calories
Ingredients
7ozwholemeal flour (strong is fine, brown instead of wholemeal if you must but will be a thinner batter)
7ozoats
3/4 pintwater
3/4 pintmilk
2 tbspsourdough starter (you can leave this out without adjusting anything else, but it tastes way nicer with)
1 teaspoonsalt
1 tablespoonsugar
1 packetfast-acting yeast (the stuff for breadmakers is fine)
Method
Stick the water and milk in a jug and warm it up. I put it in the microwave for 2 minutes 30s. Should be warm, not hot.
put the yeast and sugar in a mug and add an inch or so of the liquid. Stir well then leave to one side for ten minutes. In the meantime...

Put the oats, flour, salt sourdough starter and the rest of the liquid to the bowl and use a hand-blender to make it smoothish. Lumps are fine.

That should be ten minutes, so get the mug of yeast (should be nice and frothy by now) and mix it in with everything else. Put the mixing bowl in a warm place covered with a tea-towel or cling-film for one hour.

-- one hour later --

Get a nice non-stick frying pan and put it on the hob, high heat. Maybe wipe with olive oil or use that spray stuff between oatcakes depending on your pan.
Let it heat up for a good few minutes before adding a ladleful of the batter. Spread it out by tilting the pan, but don't be too fussy about getting it right to the edge. They're supposed to be that shape!
When the top has dried (there are no wet bits) flip the oatcake as you would a pancake and give it about the same time on the other side. The way to tell is it starts to look a bit wrinkly on the top, so flip it again to check.

This mix should make 12 oatcakes as a guide.

Leave the pile of oatcakes on your plate for 20 mins or so to continue cooking through, They'll last for three days on the side, or can be frozen.
Ideas
Put one oatcake in the pan, cover with fried bacon cut into strips and cheese, crack an egg in if you wish, stick another oatcake on top and fry until it oozes.

Put cheese in a line down an oatcake, roll up like a burrito and microwave for 1 min. Contents will be lava. Can get all fancy with spring onions and stuff here.

Just spread with butter and eat. Or forget the butter. Eat.

That's it!