Gary Rhodes - Homemade Crumpets

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons dried yeast
• 2 1/2 cups warm water

Recipe

• 1 sift together the flour and salt.
• 2 mix the yeast with a few tablespoons of the warm water.
• 3 whisk three-quarters of the remaining warm water into the flour and then add the yeasty liquid.
• 4 cover and leave in a warm place until the mixture has risen.
• 5 once risen, check the consistency.
• 6 if the batter is very thick, loosen with the remaining water.
• 7 the batter should now be left to stand for 8-10 minutes.
• 8 warm a non-stick frying pan on a low heat.
• 9 butter some crumpet rings or small tartlet rings.
• 10 place the rings into the frying pan and pour in some of the batter until half-full (1/4 to 1/2 inches deep).
• 11 cook on a low heat until small holes appear and the top has started to dry.
• 12 the bottom of the crumpet will now be golden and it can be turned over and cooked for another minute.
• 13 the crumpets are now ready for lots of melting butter!
• 14 note: the crumpets can be cooked without turning - simply cook until the tops are completely dry.
• 15 the finely grated zest of 1 lemon can also be added to the batter to give a lemon bite.