Spotted Dick

How to make a Spotted Dick.

Ingredients: Serves 6

• 225g self-raising flour
• 60g caster sugar
• 115g suet (or butter)
• 140g raisins or currants
• 150ml milk
• grated rind of 1 lemon
• butter for greasing

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, suet/butter, dried fruit and lemon rind.
2. Add the milk and stir together until a soft dough forms – it should be a soft dropping consistency.
3. Transfer the mixture to a greased pudding basin or bowl and level the top so that it is flat.
4. If you don’t have a suitable bowl you can roll it into a cylinder (on a floured surface).
5. Cover the bowl, or cylinder, in greaseproof paper, followed by foil over the top.
6. If you are covering a cylinder allow enough space for the pudding to raise within the paper.
7. If you are steaming the spotted dick, place a trivet, or an upturned saucer in the bottom of a large saucepan.
8. Place the pudding bowl on top.
9. Pour boiling water in the saucepan so that it comes about half way up the sides of the bowl.
10. Place the lid on the saucepan and cook for around 90 minutes – check back often to make sure the water doesn’t boil dry.
11. The pudding is ready when it gently springs back when pressed.
12. Remove the pudding from the bowl and serve with warm custard or ice cream.