Every once in a while, I come across a baking recipe that I've never tasted, seen or for that matter, even heard of!! Popovers, today's choice for the TWD:Baking with Julia group, falls in that category. I didn't even know whether it was a cookie, a cake or a bread!!
Initial research on the Web revealed that it was the American equivalent of Yorkshire Puddings. That wasn't really helpful ... I've never had Yorkshire Pudding!! A little more digging around and it turns out, it is a "light, hollow roll", that maybe had at breakfast or afternoon tea with a drizzle of honey and butter. It can also be had with roasts and meats for dinner or lunch.
It is made with a simple milk-flour-egg batter that is poured into muffin tins, or if you have it, a special popover pan. Once placed in the oven, within few minutes, the batter expands and puffs out of the moulds. The end result should be a golden-brown roll that has a crisy, puffed-up crown that is hollow in the middle and has a slight custard-like interior!!
There was no way I was going to get a popover pan in India and so, went ahead with a muffin tin. The process is a simple one. Simply whizz together all the ingredients in a bowl, pour the mixture into the moulds and then pop them in to the oven.
As promised, within a few minutes, the batter puffed up and popped out of the moulds. Everything was going according to script. It is when I pulled them out that I got confused. I had the crispy, puffed up tops. I had the hollow interiors. It even seemed that the interiors could be called 'custard-like'. But, most of them had puffed up so much that when I got them out of the moulds, there didn't have any bottoms... they had the sides.. but no bottoms!! Yikes, that can't be right, I thought!! Could someone clarify if that can actually happen or did I do something wrong!??!
But, how did they taste, you ask?? I drizzled a bit of honey on them and had a bite. First impressions, they were a bit too eggy for my liking. And then when I thought about it a bit more, I realised that if I took a bite of it with the honey, with my eyes closed, I would have probably thought it was something close to a french toast!!
Dorie Greenspan writes in the book how Popovers conjure up childhood memories for many Americans. In her words, it is "the messy thrill of eating popovers dripping with butter and honey". Unfortunately, I could not quite see their appeal. I did not love 'em or hate 'em but they left me feeling rather confused. I just didn't see the point of them!! I put it down as a learning experience and am ready to move on!!
Due to copyright considerations, only the person hosting the recipe for the group 'TWD:Baking with Julia' can post the recipe on their blog. The recipe for these Popovers will be available on the blogs of Paula and Amy. Alternately, you can write to me at bakerindisguise@gmail.com and I will mail you the recipe.
I thought they tasted like a mini Monster or German Pancake. I think my grandkids will like these as they are somewhat magical. They puff up into such interesting shapes.
ReplyDeleteIt will be a keeper for me.
Even my mother thought they tasted like pancakes!!! While they did puff up..and i can imagine their appeal for kids..personally i just didn't "get" them!!
DeleteI've never made popovers but beating everything into a bowl sounds super simple and is totally up my alley! Your popovers look amazing! :)
ReplyDeleteOh there is no denying how simple it is to make them.. it's just that since my muffin pan was not too deep.. i didnt get the shape i wanted.. and maybe i could have also flavoured them with herbs and cheese.. that would have made them better!!
DeleteI think yours look just fine - their unexpected shapes are all part of the process. We enjoyed these and my nieces liked how easy they were to put together, too.
ReplyDeleteOh ok.. good to know Teresa!! I guess they popped up... were crisp on the outside and custardy on the inside.. so they turned out ok!! :) they took all of 5 minutes to mix together.. no denying the ease with whch one can make them!!
DeleteI will have to try mine with honey next time, they were great with butter! Yum!!
ReplyDeleteThe honey was as suggested by the book.. and i think helps counter the egginess of these popovers!!
DeleteYou never know which shape they'll get in the end - that's what makes them funny!
ReplyDeleteThe first batch I've made I did not add anything and we liked them, then
I've made more: some sweet and some cheesy (Grana cheese) adding some rosemary and spices...
The addition of "something else" really improves: what was good became delicious.
Hope you'll try again.
I think i'll agree with you on that.. have seen quite a few with cheese and fresh herbs.. i think those would be good to go with a roast in winter!!
DeleteBeautiful photos...sorry they didn't enamor you! They are quite eggy and I think that's a developed taste :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Lizzy!! Yes.. i did find them eggy but when I read Paula (this time's host) post.. she did say that if you let the mix rest for a while before pouring them into the moulds.. the eggy flavour is not that pronounced.. so if i give them a shot again.. i'll keep that in mind!!
DeleteI had the exact same no bottoms results with the taller ones. They look gorgeous, too bad they didn´t interest you much!
ReplyDeleteThanks Paula!! Although the more I read everyone else's posts..i think these needed a little something.. most likely some cheese and herbs..
DeleteMine were shaped all weird as well. Yours look delicious - even though they left you a little confused. :)
ReplyDeleteHaha..Thank you!!.. figured out about the shape when I saw everyone else's results. Although I think a popover pan probably gives it a much taller look and hence, it looks a bit more defined!!
DeleteYour pictures are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you Julia!! :)
DeleteBeautiful photos as usual.. I didn't know what to expect either :) They were tasty with feta and honey, but I don't think I will ever crave for them or want the bake them any time soon.. Would be a nice addition to a breakfast table though..
ReplyDeleteThanks ferda!! I simply put it down as something new that was learnt and ready to move on to the next recipe!!
DeleteThe popovers look delicious with the honey and presented so nicely with the basket - quite photogenic. Maybe you will have another go at this recipe - my kids loved their odd shapes and would like me to bake them again soon.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week!
Thank you Andrea!! well.. never say never... :).. maybe another time as i keep saying with cheese and herbs!!
DeleteI used honey as well! Yours look delicious!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! :)
DeleteThat's so crazy that yours didn't have bottoms. I don't know what happened. I liked them because they reminded me of german pancakes that I grew up eating. I could see how if that's not part of your childhood they wouldn't have the same appeal.
ReplyDeleteYeah.. I was a bit freaked out wondering where the bottoms went!! but everyone's been telling me the odd shapes are all part of the deal!! and i'll agree with you... these hold appeal only for those who have childhood memories attached to them! a lot of us who were new to them.. couldnt really see their appeal!!
DeleteI made mine in custard cups and they also popped out of the cups! They were delicious though!! Yours look perfect…kudos for trying something so foreign to you! Beautiful photos and delicious looking popovers!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much kathy!!:) may not have been thrilled with the results...but am always up to trying something new..
DeleteSometimes mine are bottomless, too. It's all part of the fun of making them. i hope you like them enough to make them again!
ReplyDeleteI realise that now, after reading everyone else's posts, that the odd shapes are all part of the plan... at that time i thought it had all gone horribly wrong!!
DeleteI agree they are not my go to recipe but nice to make something new.
ReplyDeleteAgree..it was a learning experience!!
DeleteI think we are both of the same mind with this recipe! I kept thinking I don't get... What's the point of these?!
ReplyDeleteI like your french toast idea! (But I'd prefer the french toast!)
Your popover turned out great tho!
Oh me too.. definitely prefer french toast any day!! :) i think it has a nostalgic appeal from their childhood days for many americans!!!
Deletei can see that popovers woulld be strange if one is not familiar with them To me they are perfect little holders for butter and jam when split apart - bottoms don't matter!!
ReplyDeleteI know.. have read so many posts by others talking about their memories associated with popovers..and i can imagine their wierd shapes holding a child's attention and then making a place in the memory books forever!!
DeleteMine were also hollow, but that is great - more room for butter and honey, or lots of gravy, or cheese, or.... anything. They are rather strange tho', aren't they? Looks like you did just great with these.
ReplyDeleteI meant bottomless not hollow. Just makes it easier to fill!! ;)
DeleteIf you've never seen them before.. the strange shapes take you by surprise and you are pretty convinced that you've done something wrong... but the more i read everyone's else experiences and see the pics.. i think i did ok!!!:)
Deletethey look great!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteIm glad you finally were able to discover popovers! They are one of my favorite and everyone should try them at least a few times in their lives! I love mie with strawberry butter. Yours look wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks beth.. oh definitely glad I managed to give them a shot!! and from what everyone has been saying.. I think I did pretty alright with my first attempt!!
DeleteI am sure they were just amazing with the honey.
ReplyDeletePopovers are a fun treat & I think your first try at them came out wonderfully!
Thanks Cher.. I figured I did alright for my first attempt!! :)
DeleteFresh baked popovers are heavenly and with the drizzled honey....oh la la! I think they turned out perfectly-great job;-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Patty! :)
DeleteI was just reading about somebody's experience dining in total darkness and relying on any other senses but their eyes to 'taste' different dishes. The golden honey on the popovers is more than fun way to enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteWe absolutely eat with our eyes most of the time.. especially for me, when it comes to anything with chocolate in it... and that's also what we do, most of the time, when we visit each other's blogs!!! :))
DeleteGorgeous popovers! They puffed up so well and I simply can't resist its beautiful golden colour.
ReplyDeleteThanks Angie!! In the beginning I had no clue what to expect.. but I think they turned out alrite..
DeleteMy english partner loves Yorkies, they always seem difficult to make - but it's always better homemade. Your popovers look delicious.
ReplyDeleteIngrid @FoodOpera
Ingrid, this recipe's quite an easy one!! just mixing everything in a bowl and pouring them into the moulds.. and then wait for the unpredictable to happen!!:)
DeleteI am so, so, so happy to come across your blog! I was googling 'why do my popovers have no bottoms' and found your story! Always great to come across another Indian blogger :) My popovers were completely bottomless too! I added a bit more vanilla to the better when I tasted it and it seemed a bit too eggy. Sorted it right out :) Thanks for sharing your popover experience!
ReplyDeletehaha.. its quite the anti climax isn't it when the popovers pop out with no bottoms!! Honestly, this has been my only experience with popovers... haven't really been convinced to give them another shot! Thank you for dropping by :).. lovely meeting you.. heading over to your blog!
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