Vegetarian Meals

Ingredients:

• 25g butter, plus extra for greasing
• 25g flour, plus extra for dusting
• 225ml milk
• 1 small onion, roughly chopped
• 12 black peppercorns
• 2 medium eggs, separated
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 100g Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire cheese (or good-quality Lancashire cheese), grated

Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4. Grease 4 x 150ml ramekins and tip a little flour into one of them. Roll the ramekin around to coat the base and sides with flour, then tap the excess into a second ramekin. Repeat until each is coated with flour, then sit them in a small roasting tray.

In a small saucepan, bring the milk, onion and peppercorns almost to a simmer, then strain into a jug, discarding the solids.

Return the pan to a medium heat and melt the butter. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Gradually stir in the infused milk, letting the flour begin to bubble before each addition, until you have a smooth sauce. Remove from the heat and beat in the egg yolks and thyme, then 75g of the cheese.

Whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks. Mix a small spoonful into the sauce to loosen it, then gently fold in the remainder.

Divide the mixture between the ramekins and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Pour just-boiled water into the roasting tray until it comes a third of the way up the sides of the ramekins. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until risen, just set and golden. Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper and serve immediately with dressed watercress and SunBlush tomatoes, if you like.

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