Midnight Pan Cooked Breakfast

Drescription

Me and this dish go back a long way. To the pre-shaving days of being an underaged drinker down at the Wagon and Horses in Saffron Walden with a fake ID and all my village mates; Only once in a while, of course. But seriously, without trying to sound like a lagered up geezer, I think everyone’s experienced the need for food around midnight, whether the binge was small or large, otherwise why would kebob shops be so popular in England?

Ingredients

• 1 or 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 small handful capers
• 1 small handful pickled gherkins (the ones in sweet vinegar)
• 6 anchovy fillets
• 2 large handfuls flat-leaf parsley
• 1 bunch fresh basil leaves
• 1 handful fresh mint leaves
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup best quality olive oil
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. First of all get the biggest pan available, preferably non-stick, and preheat it on the highest heat while you gather your ingredients. Obviously you wouldn't be organized at this point so it's a matter of using what you've got, but ideally I like to have mushrooms, bacon, tomatoes, sausages and eggs. By the time you have got these together, the pan will be hot so slice your sausages in half lengthways and pat them out flat so they cook quickly. Place into the pan at one side. On the other side, put tablespoon or so of oil and place a pile of mushrooms over it which can be sliced or whole. Shake the pan about a bit to coat the mushrooms and season with some salt and pepper. Push to one side and then lay some slices of bacon and halved tomatoes in the pan. Cook for a couple of minutes until the bacon is crisp and golden. Shake the pan a little and turn the bacon over. Now is the time to put a round of toast in the toaster.
2. At this stage you should respect the rustic and authentic look and shuffle everything about so that it's all mixed together and add 2 or 3 eggs at different ends of the pan. The whites of the eggs will dribble in and around the sausage, bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms. You could turn the heat down a little at this point. Cook for another 1 or 2 minutes until the yolks are slightly soft or to your liking. In a non-stick pan I've always found the removal of this dish to the plate extremely easy as it resembles a frisbee and will slide onto your plate with no trouble at all. Doesn't that sound appetizing? But honestly, it really is a gem.
3. Anyway, I always used to have 3 or 4 friends back to my house for munchies or to stay the night and this dish was devised so we didn't have too much trouble making it or much washing up to do. In actual fact, I only had to wipe the non-stick pan clean. It also makes its way from the pan to the plate quite quickly, as patience isn't a virtue at that time of night with my mates!.
4. Finely chop all the ingredients that can be chopped. Put this mixture into a bowl and add the mustard and vinegar. Slowly stir in the olive oil until you achieve the consistency you are looking for and balance the flavors with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and if necessary more red wine vinegar. Yield: 8 servings;
5. Recipe courtesy Jamie Oliver .
6. Salsa Verde is best made by hand by chopping very finely. It keeps well for a day but then starts to deteriorate. It's great with grilled, roasted or boiled meat, fish and vegetables. .