Rasa Pelham Recipes

A healthier plum steamed pudding

A serving of plum steamed pudding with custard on blue plates, accompanied by a whisk and a small plum, on a wooden table.

After living with an Englishman for over a month, I realised that a pudding is an important part of the meal. Joni’s favourites are figgy dowdy, plum duff and spotted dick (yes, that’s right, thats how they call their puddings). All of these puddings are steamed puddings and that’s what I am going to talk about today. Although steamed puddings are meant to be for winter, it is good to make them now to reflect on current weather! I replaced suet (pure animal fat, similar to shortening in america) with coconut oil and caster sugar with molasses sugar so this can be a healthier option. And you don’t need to have all the equipment! Here I demonstrated how to steam your pudding in a regular steamer using cereal bowl. Go on, try it ;-).

A slice of plum steamed pudding served with custard on a blue plate, accompanied by a whole plum on the side.

PLUM STEAMED PUDDING

  • 55g self raising flour
  • 110 mixed dried fruit
  • 2 slices of bread with no crust, soaked in milk and drained
  • 55 molasses sugar
  • 50g coconut oil
  • 1/2tsp mixed spice
  • 115g plums, cored and chopped
  • half of an apple, pealed, cored and shredded
  • 2 tbsp orange marmalade
  • 2 tbsp vanilla rum (can be any you have, preferably dark rum)
  • 1 egg
  • 60ml milk
  • custard to serve

1. mix all the ingredients (except the curd) until all well combined.
2. to steam the pudding place the pudding mixture into the greased bowl (1.) and cover it with baking paper (2.). Place the bowl upside down in the steamer (3.). Steam the pudding for three hours (4.), replenish the water level if necessary. 

Step-by-step process for steaming a plum pudding: 1. Pudding mixture in a bowl, 2. Bowl covered with baking paper, 3. Bowl placed upside down in a steamer, 4. Steamed pudding ready to be served.

3. Place the pudding bowl upside down in the plate and slowly lift it up to release the pudding.

A hand lifting a red bowl off a plate, revealing a steamed pudding underneath.
A round plum steamed pudding presented on a dark plate, showcasing its textured surface and rich color.

4. Enjoy it while still warm with custard.

A steamed plum pudding topped with a creamy sauce, presented on a blue plate, with an empty bowl and fork in the background.
A slice of plum steamed pudding topped with custard on a blue plate, with a fork resting beside it.
A plate with a slice of plum steamed pudding topped with custard, accompanied by a bowl containing more pudding and a cup of tea.

It’s comforting food all over, so indulge 😉
Rasa xoxo