Oat Cake is a variety of cracker or pancake that is made from whole oats or oatmeal and flour, with the latter being optional.
History of Oat Cake
Oat Cake is a dish commonly prepared in Scotland and the North Staffordshire region of England. The dish was considered to be high in protein and carbohydrates and was an essential part of every meal. Scottish soldiers used to prepare oats by simply moistening a bit of oatmeal and then frying it over a griddle to make oatcakes. This simple and hardy dish was a rich source of carbohydrates ensuring that the soldiers could march further than the opposing army. In the North Staffordshire region of England, these oatcakes were known as Potteries oatcake. These were commonly sold at the Pottery Workshops of the region. The locals prepared the dish at home and sold them to the workers as a simple afternoon meal. From the 19th century onwards, however, the grain began to be commonly used in cakes and biscuits and in thickening porridge and gravies. Commercial versions of the oatcake are prepared and are available at nearly every British supermarket nowadays.
Oat Cake Recipe: Ingredients Used and Preparation Overview
Traditionally, Oat Cake is prepared by simply moistening the oats with water and frying this oatmeal on a griddle. However, over time, the dish was adapted to make it tastier. As a result, lard or butter began to be added to the oats when they were being fried on the griddle. The fried oats are traditioally powdered, mixed with sugar, baking soda, flour, and baked or pan fried. The consistency and shape of the oatcake varies with a few people preferring the cake to be quite stiff like a cookie. Others add buttermilk to the basic cake to make it moist and dense like a soft cake. Shapes of the Oat Cake varies from round and rectangular to square and cube and sometimes, even cupcake varieties of oatcakes are made which are brushed over with butter.
Serving and Eating Oatcakes
Soft Oat Cake is served with butter brushed on top, with syrup, honey, jam, bananas or fresh fruits and cheese served as a breakfast or as a snack. Commercially prepared oat cakes that are stiffer are served as snacks with goat’s cheese, half boiled eggs, tomatoes, onions, meat and sausages.
Popular Oat Cake Recipe Variations
1. Staffordshire oatcakes are prepared with flour, oatmeal and yeast and they resemble pancakes.
2. Cheshire oatcakes are almost the same but filled with savory fillings.
3. Derbyshire oatcakes are thicker and larger in size.
4. Scottish oatcakes are larger and stiffer and cut into quarters or triangles.
5. Commercial buttermilk companies like Naims and Paterson’s prepare several versions of oat cakes that are very popular all over the world.
Oat Cake: Trivia
Queen Elizabeth II prefers Scottish oatcakes and English Orange marmalade for breakfast. Popular Scottish biscuit maker Walker’s carries a brand of oatcakes that is certified with a Royal Warrant. British Prime Minister David Cameron has also stated that Scottish Oatcakes are his favorite.