What *IS* Spotted Dick?

[terpkristin]

No, I'm not talking about a VD, I'm talking about the traditional (I think) English dessert. What goes into it. What kind of a dessert is it?

I've heard so many references to it lately in reading and watching crappy tv, but it's something that obviously hasn't made it across the pond...

/tk

[General Mike]

It's kind of like bread pudding, if you're familiar with that.

Those English sure are weird.

[AZSpeechCoach]

At our local British pub, my buddies took to calling it "Chlymidic Choad," which pissed off the waitresses.

[AlexB]

It's suet pudding with raisins in it - every now and again it's OK, but much better with treacle/golden syrup than the custard that this recipe recommends...

Enjoy a slice of English healthy eating!

Spotted Dick
2 oz plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
pinch of salt
2 oz shredded suet
1 oz white or brown sugar
4 oz currants
2 oz fresh breadcrumbs
1 egg, beaten
4-5 tbsp milk


Butter a 1.5 pint pudding basin. Sift the flour, baking powder, spice and salt into a mixing bowl and mix in the suet, sugar, fruit and bread- crumbs. Stir in the egg and sufficient milk to produce a soft consistency that drops off the spoon in 5 seconds.
Turn the mixture into the pudding basin, which should be two-thirds full. Cover with greased foil or a snap-on lid (the plastic container from a 2 lb Christmas pudding is worth saving for this purpose.) Steam for 2 to 2.5 hours. When cooked, remove the cover and allow the pudding to shrink slightly, then cover the basin with a hot serving plate, hold it firmly and invert. Lift off the basin to leave the pudding on the plate.

Serve hot with custard.

[Airhog]

hxxp://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mspotteddick.html

[Airhog]

This is one of the recipes which we have been given permission to reproduce by another of the UK recipe sites, Recipes4us. It is a big site with a wealth of information and recipes. If you would like to have a look at their website click here.

I asked to be able to feature more of their recipes as I consider that they have an excellent selection which are clearly laid out and interesting - making them one of the leading UK recipe sites.

Ingredients

100g / 4oz Self Raising Flour
A pinch of Salt
75g / 3oz Shredded Suet
75g / 3oz Fresh Breadcrumbs
50g / 2oz Caster Sugar
175g / 6oz Currants
Grated rind of 1 Lemon
Approx. 5 tbsp Milk
Method
Place all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. Make a well in the centre of the mixture then gradually add the milk to form a soft dough.
Knead lightly until smooth.

Turn onto a floured surface and roll out to an oblong about 22 x 28cm or 9 x 11

Bring a large pan of water to the boil.

Make a pleat in a large sheet of greaseproof paper or a clean tea towel, to allow for expansion, wrap the pudding loosely, tying each end with string (like an Xmas cracker).
Steam or boil for 2 hours.
Serve hot with custard

Serves 4

[terpkristin]

Thanks for the recipes!
Jari, is that by any odd chance the one YOU use? Or your mom or whoever might cook it?

What is suet?

/tk

[AlexB]

Terpkristin - nah - was the first recipe that came up on google! I've not eaten the stuff for at least ten years, and the only times I ever did was when my mum served it: don;t even know if she cooked it or bought it...

Originally Posted by From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Suet is raw beef or mutton fat, especially the hard fat found around the loins and kidneys. It is a solid at room temperature, and melts at about 21°C (70°F). It is a saturated fat.

The primary use of suet is to make tallow in a process called rendering, which involves melting and extended simmering, followed by straining, cooling and usually a repetition of the entire process.

Unlike suet, tallow can be stored for extended periods without refrigeration. It is used to make soap, for cooking, as a bird food, and was once used for making candles.

The type sold in supermarkets is dehydrated suet.

Vegetarian suet is readily available in UK supermarkets. It is made from fat such as palm oil combined with rice flour. It resembles shredded beef suet, and is used as a substitute in recipes.

I knew it wasn;t healthy, but after reading this I'm glad I've not eaten the stuff in a decade now!

[General Mike]

that's nasty.