Spotted Dick

Serves 4

This classic English dessert with a very silly name, has a fond place in many an Englishman’s heart, most of the time it is nostalgia about pretty bad school lunches, but don’t blame the spotted dick for that, with a good recipe and some love and attention, spotted dick is one of the most comforting and welcoming desserts you could possibly make.

Spotted dick is a steamed pudding full of raisins and currents; the spotted refers to the dried fruit. This yummy dessert is very satisfying on a cold winter’s day and is a perfect family treat for after dinner, or if you are by yourself and need some cheering up, spotted dick with lots of custard will do the trick.

Ingredients

• 75g self raising flour
• 75g suet
• 50g fresh white breadcrumbs
• 70g raisins
• 70g currents
• 60g sugar
• Pinch of salt
• ½ tsp mixed spice
• 150ml milk
• 1 lemon, zest only

Method

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together including the lemon zest; add milk to make a soft dough.
2. Pour the mixture into a pudding basin and cover with a double layer of grease proof paper. Tie with a string, leaving enough room for the spotted dick to expand.
3. Place the basin in a steamer and cook for  1 ½ hours.
4. Turn out onto a dish and serve with custard.