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Hangtown fry
Oyster and bacon omelette
Gold Rush omelette of fried oysters and bacon
AmericanThe Hangtown fry is said to have been ordered by a miner who struck gold near Placerville, then nicknamed Hangtown, in 1849, asking for the dearest dish in the house: oysters shipped up from San Francisco Bay, bacon (pork) and eggs, which were rare and costly in the gold fields. Today it is brunch at old San Francisco grills. Crisp crumbed oysters and bacon are set in a soft omelette. Chef's tip: fry the oysters before they meet the egg so their coating stays crisp.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 4 rashers streaky bacon (pork)
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 1 eggbeaten
- ⅔ oz butter
- 5 eggs
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 pinch salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp chivessnipped
- 1 tsp hot sauceopt
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Shuck the 8 freshly shucked oysters, or buy them freshly shucked, and throw away any that smell sour or look dry or shrunken. Drain and pat dry.
10 minStep 2: Fry the 4 rashers streaky bacon (pork) in a 25 cm non-stick frying pan over a medium heat for 6–8 minutes until crisp. Lift out onto paper, leaving the fat in the pan.
8 minStep 3: Dust the oysters in the 2 tbsp plain flour, dip in the 1 egg and roll in the 1 ⅜ oz dry breadcrumbs or crushed crackers. Fry in the bacon fat with the ⅔ oz butter over a medium-high heat for 1 minute a side, until golden and the oysters are firm and plump.
3 minStep 4: Beat the 5 eggs with the 2 tbsp milk, 1 pinch salt and ¼ tsp black pepper. Arrange the oysters and broken bacon in the pan, turn the heat to medium-low and pour the eggs around them.
2 minStep 5: Cook for 4–5 minutes, lifting the edges so the raw egg runs under, until the omelette is set with no runny egg. A common mistake is a high heat, which makes the egg rubbery before the top sets.
5 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 560 kcal
- Protein
- 34 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 38 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does hangtown fry take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of egg?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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