If you want to add something healthy and nutritious to your breakfast, I've put together this recipe for a traditional Welsh dish, Lavercakes, which are a must-try when you come to Wales.
Lavercakes are made from Laverbread which comes from a type of seaweed in Wales. Laverbread usually comes as a puree, but by blending it with oats and making Lavercakes, you'll find it much more palatable. Welsh Lavercakes are also known as Laverbread Cakes.
What is Welsh Laverbread
Welsh Laverbread comes from the seaweed Laver, it is collected from the coast of Wales and is boiled down to a puree and made into Laverbread. Laverbread is the name for raw seaweed in its paste form which can be fried and eaten on its own or spread on hot toast, as well as being used in many other recipes.
It has an extremely unique flavour and texture meaning it is often described as the Welsh Marmite, you will either love it or hate it. It is dark green in colour and a very salty flavour with a slimy, paste-type texture.
Laverbread is more commonly used in Lavercakes which are traditionally eaten at breakfast, served with bacon, cockles, or a full Welsh breakfast. Lavercakes are made from raw Laverbread, rolled oats, seasoned, and formed into puck-sized patties before being fried in a hot pan. This fully vegetarian Welsh dish has been around for centuries and has been a breakfast staple for many years.
When cooked in this way, it has a friendlier flavour and looks a lot more appetising that the raw Laverbread. Lavercakes are a crispy patty that seems to go down a lot easier than its parent product, while still offering the same nutritional value. It may not sound like the most delicious dish, but it really is a traditional Welsh dish you should try at least once in your life.
Simple Welsh Lavercakes Recipe
Ingredients
- 120g Laverbread
- 75g rolled oats
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
Pour the Laverbread into a mixing bowl and mix in your lemon juice.
Add your rolled oats a little at a time, stirring until mixed well.
Sprinkle the flour on your work surface so that the mix does not stick and place the contents of the mixing bowl on top.
Using clean hands, roll your mixture into two flat patties a little smaller than a digestive biscuit and around 2cm thick.
Add your oil to a pan and heat well. Add add your Lavercake patties.
Fry each side on a medium heat for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.
Place your cooked Lavercakes on some kitchen roll to soak up any excess oil.
Serve on their own, with crispy rations of bacon or as part of a full breakfast.
Chef's tips
You will need: a mixing bowl, a wooden spoon, and a non-stick pan
You can also roll your mixture into balls or sausage shapes as an alternative to patties.
Try serving with fresh cockles for a little tradition!
Make sure you have enough oats in your mixture, if they are slightly mushy, just add more oats to make a firmer mix.
Related Questions
Can You Freeze Laverbread?
Yes, you can freeze Laverbread. Simply wrap your unused Laverbread in greaseproof paper, pop it in an airtight container, and freeze it. Alternatively, you can pour your cooked Laverbread into ice cube trays and freeze them this way.
Published: 28 February 2023