Savoury Flapjack Squares

Here’s a lovely, wholesome savoury version of the ever popular sweet flapjack. This makes a great lunch time addition or mid-afternoon bite or pop one in a lunch box or have it as a picnic treat.

Makes: 16 squares (or 12 oblongs if you want them bigger)

Time: 60 minutes + cooling

Level: Blissfully easy

Tins: 1 x 20cm square tin, greased and base lined (let two opposite sides rise over the edge to grip when removing the flapjacks)

Ingredients

  • 50g/1.75oz butter or Stork (baking spread)
  • 45g/1.5oz spring onions, diced quite small
  • 1 – 2 small red chillies, chopped (or more if feeling macho, or leave out completely.)
  • 200g/7oz porridge oats
  • 150g/5.5oz potatoes – parboiled and chopped small
  • 50g/1.75oz chopped nuts of your choice
  • 45g/1.5oz seeds of your choice
  • 150g/5.5oz hard cheese – again, your choose ( I like a mixture of Cheddar and Red Leicester)
  • 2 medium eggs, beaten
  • Salt and pepper (Salt may not be needed if the cheese is salty)

Method

1. Peel, slice and parboil the potatoes for about 5 minutes. Drain and leave to cool then dice.

2. Preheat oven to 200C / Fan 180C / 400F / Gas 6. Prepare the tin as above.

3. Put the butter/Stork in a large saucepan or frying pan on a moderate heat then add the spring onions and chillies (if using). Heat until frothy. Remove from the heat and add in the oats, potato, nuts, most of the seeds*, the cheese and beaten eggs plus seasoning. Stir well to fully mix. (*Save some to scatter over in a minute)

4. Tip into the prepared tin, press down evenly and scatter the remaining seeds over the top. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until golden brown.

5. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then lift out and place on a wire rack to cool fully before cutting into pieces. (NB Using a pizza wheel is a good way of slicing them neatly)

Finally, here are some ideas for changes. They’re only suggestions as I’ve not yet tried them. Feel free to give them a try – or any other ideas of your own. I’d love to hear about any changes (or improvements).

  • Try replacing 50g of the oats with oatmeal or oat bran for a smoother flapjack
  • Or, add in some crushed or finely chopped garlic.
  • Some of the potatoes could be changed for shredded carrot
  • If you don’t have any spring onions, normal white or red would be OK I’m sure.