Malt Loaf Recipe James Martin Recipes

PRUE LEITH'S MALT LOAF

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 170°C/150°C fan/325°F/Gas 3.
• Make the malt loaf. Place the tea bag in a jug and add the just-boiled water. Leave to brew for 5 minutes, then discard the bag.
• Tip the raisins and prunes into a microwave-safe bowl, then pour the tea over. Cover with cling film and pierce a few holes in the top. Microwave on full power for 4 minutes. Carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and remove the cling film. (Alternatively, soak the fruit overnight in a covered bowl.) Stir in the bicarbonate of soda, then leave the fruit to stand for 10 minutes.
• Pour the malt extract into a small pan with the treacle and sugar and cook, stirring continuously, over a low heat for 2-3 minutes, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and cool for 5 minutes.
• Sift the flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the warm malt mixture and the tea-soaked fruit and any soaking liquid. Fold everything gently together, then add the beaten eggs and mix well. Pour the mixture into the lined tin and bake it for 1-1¼ hours, until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove the loaf from the oven, brush the top with malt extract, then leave the malt loaf to cool completely in the tin.
• If you can bear to wait before tucking in, once the malt loaf is cool, wrap it tightly in baking paper and leave it to really develop its flavour and texture for 1-2 days. Then, turn it out and set it the right way upon a serving plate. Serve in slices (spread with butter, if you wish).

STICKY MALT LOAVES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Line the base and ends of two greased 450g/1lb non-stick loaf tins with strips of baking parchment.
• Pour the hot tea into a mixing bowl with the malt, sugar and dried fruit. Stir well, then add the eggs.
• Tip in the flour, then quickly stir in the baking powder and bicarbonate of soda and pour into the prepared tins. Bake for 50 mins until firm and well risen. While still warm, brush with a little more malt to glaze and leave to cool.
• Remove from the tins. If you can bear not to eat it straight away, it gets more sticky after wrapping and keeping for 2-5 days. Serve sliced and buttered, if you like.

HOMEMADE MALT LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 170C (340F). Grease and line a 900g (2lb) loaf pan. Add the dried fruit and contents of a tea bag into a mixing bowl. Pour in freshly boiled water, malt extract and sugar. Stir well and leave to stand for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the eggs and then sift in the flour and baking powder.
• Mix the batter until no streaks of flour remain and pour into a greased and lined loaf pan.
• Bake for an hour, or until the malt loaf has risen and feels firm to the touch. A toothpick inserted in the centre should come out clean.
• Brush the warm loaf with malt extract and leave to cool in the tin.
• Wrap the malt loaf in two layers of greaseproof paper and store at room temperature for 3-5 days so it can mature.

TOASTED MALT LOAF WITH PRESSED HAM TERRINE & SPICED APPLE COMPOTE

Steps:

• To make the terrine, put the ham hocks in a large saucepan with the onion, bay leaves, cinnamon stick and peppercorns. Cover with water and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and cook gently for 2 hrs. Once the meat is cooked, take the pan off the heat and leave to one side to cool.
• When cold, remove the ham hocks from the pan, then strain 300ml of the cooking liquid through a fine sieve and pour it into a saucepan. Put the gelatine in a bowl of cold water to soften for around 5 mins, then drain. Heat the cooking liquid until simmering but not boiling, then remove from the heat and add the softened gelatine leaves. Stir well and leave to cool.
• Take the ham from the bones and chop into small pieces. Line four x 200ml ramekins with cling film and add a third of the cooked ham to each to form the base layer. Pour over a little of the gelatine liquid, then sprinkle in a layer of parsley. Next, add another third of the ham and some more gelatine liquid. The next layer should be the tarragon, followed by the remaining ham and the rest of the gelatine liquid. Once all the layers are complete, cover the surface of each terrine with cling film, then a layer of foil. Put in the fridge with some weights on top - I put another ramekin on top of each terrine with an onion in it to weigh it down. Leave to set and compress in the fridge for about 2 hrs.
• For the apple compote, peel, core and dice the apples. Put them in a saucepan with the butter, 4 tbsp water and the spices. Cook gently until softened. Remove the cinnamon stick, star anise and cloves, and stir in the sugar. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Set aside.
• Make the vinaigrette dressing by whisking the tarragon with the vinegar and slowly adding the olive oil. Season to taste.
• Put the 25g butter in a non-stick frying pan and heat until foaming. Drop in the cubes of malt loaf and fry for around 2 mins, turning regularly, to lightly brown on all sides.
• To serve, turn out a terrine onto each plate and carefully remove the cling film. Add spoonfuls of the apple compote and the cubes of toasted malt loaf. Drizzle a little of the tarragon dressing over the plate and terrine to complete the dish.