Cornwall may have its pasties, but Staffordshire’s oldest original street food has earned its own reputation as a regional treat – and now you can make it at home using a 100-year-old recipe.
Already in high demand, the new Staffordshire Oatcake dry mix kit has proved a hit with foodie fans across the UK, but has also been posted out to France, Australia and Ibiza.
In much the same way that no other town or city in Britain has derived a nickname from its major industry, Stoke-on-Trent – or “The Potteries”, as it is affectionately known – is also one of the few places which possesses a genuinely ‘regional’ dish.
Nothing at all like its Scottish or Derbyshire cousins, the Staffordshire Oatcake is described as the ‘Oat cuisine’ of The Potteries, while others call it the ‘Tunstall tortilla’, the ‘Potteries poppadom’, or even the ‘Clay suzette’.
Now a North Staffordshire dad-of-three has used the century-old Staffordshire Oatcake recipe to create a dry mix kit for people to make at home – simply by adding water.
Mark Adams was inspired to start the Staffordshire Oatcake Company by friends who had moved away and were constantly asking him to send supplies of the ‘Stokie’ staple.
Tracking down an original oatcake recipe, described as traditional and full of heritage, he created the mix kit, which fits easily through the letterbox, making it perfect for delivery by post anywhere, including overseas.
Proudly made in Stoke-on-Trent from oatmeal, flour and yeast, the mix creates a batter, which is then fried, similar to when making a pancake. Because the kit is a dry mix, the shelf life is almost a year, so it can also be stored safely for future treats, too.
Considered a local delicacy in the Potteries, the savoury-style pancake, served typically at breakfast or brunch, can be found at many independent oatcake shops across the area, all closely guarding their own particular special recipe.
Traditionally enjoyed oozing with melted cheese, other favourite fillings include bacon, sausage, eggs, mushrooms, and beans – and they also offer a sweet treat too, filled with golden syrup, jam or banana and chocolate.
Cooked oatcakes will retain their heat when wrapped in foil and can be eaten on the go. Alternatively, they can be pre-rolled with cheese and warmed through camp-side, at work or wherever you have access to a grill, stove top or microwave.
For those new to the Staffordshire Oatcake, or looking for a different way to enjoy the regional delicacy, the company’s website also has online videos and recipes, including Oatcake Pizza and Oatcakes with Mascarpone and Mixed Berries.
The traditional oatcake mix costs £4.95, and soon oatcake fans will be able to buy a gluten free version, and a pikelet mix.
For more details about the store, visit https://thestaffordshireoatcakecompany.co.uk
For more information on Stoke-on-Trent as a destination see www.visitstoke.co.uk