Waffles can be used for more than just as a platter for ice cream and sauce and can be a very important ingredient in both savoury and sweet recipes. Think bread puddings using waffles instead of bread, savoury casseroles or grilled waffle sandwiches.
WAFFLEY SAVOURY CASSEROLE
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 40-50 minutes
Will serve: two as main or four as a light meal
INGREDIENTS
- 4 waffles
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3-4 sausages
- 3 rashers bacon, roughly chopped
- 2 green shallots, finely sliced
- 3 eggs
- 150ml milk
- 1/2 cup grated cheese
- 1 tsp chilli jam or 1 tbsp chilli sauce
METHOD
Cut the waffles into about 1/2cm pieces and place to one side. Remove the sausage meat from the casings.
Heat the vegetable oil in a frypan over a medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the sausage meat to the pan along with the bacon. Saute and stir occasionally for a minute or two until the sausage meat is cooked. Now add the sliced green shallots to the sausage/bacon mixture in the pan and remove the pan from the heat. Drain the sausage/bacon/shallot mixture on paper towel.
Spray the base of an ovenproof dish with non-stick cooking spray. Spread the cut-up waffles in a layer in the base of the dish. Spread the sausage mixture over the top of the waffle pieces.
In a small bowl, beat together the eggs and milk.
Add the grated cheese and chilli jam (or sauce) to the bowl and stir well. Pour this mixture over the top of the waffle/sausage mixture in the baking dish. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and place in the fridge or esky for at least an hour (or overnight).
When you are ready to cook, remove the baking dish from the fridge.
Preheat your oven to 350F/180C. Place the baking dish in the oven and cook for approximately 40 minutes or until the contents are golden brown and set.
WAFFLE PUDDING
Preparation time: 5-10 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes
Will serve: four or two with some as a midnight snack
INGREDIENTS
- 4 waffles cut into 1/2cm pieces
- 3 egg yolks
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup cream (long-life is fine to use)
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
METHOD
Preheat your oven to 375F/190C. Spray a baking dish or casserole with non-stick cooking spray and lay the waffle pieces in the dish in a single layer.
In a bowl, beat together the egg yolks, milk, cream, maple syrup and vanilla. Pour this eggy mixture over the top of the waffle pieces. Cover the dish with a lid or alfoil.
Place the covered dish in the oven and cook for 20 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven and remove the lid or foil. Return the dish to the oven for the remainder of the cooking time. The waffle pudding is cooked when it is golden brown and set.
You could serve this pudding with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of cream.
