CHRISTMAS PUDDING

DRIED FRUIT, PECANS, GINGER, ROSEMARY, BOURBON & GOLDEN SYRUP

This is based on my dear nan’s beautiful pudding recipe, which gives you a much lighter result than a traditional Christmas pud. It has more dynamic flavours and is super-easy to make – this is exactly the way I like it best. Enjoy!

SERVES 8 4 HOURS 30 MINUTES

unsalted butter, for greasing 150g Medjool dates 150g dried apricots 150g pecan nuts 75g crystallised ginger 1 small sprig of fresh rosemary 150g dried cranberries 150g raisins 150g suet 150g plain flour 75g fresh breadcrumbs 200ml semi-skimmed milk 1 large free-range egg 1 clementine golden syrup barrel-aged Bourbon

♥ Grease a 1.5-litre pudding bowl with butter. Destone your dates, then, by hand or in a food processor, finely chop the flesh with the apricots, pecans, ginger and rosemary leaves. Place it all in a mixing bowl with the cranberries, raisins, suet, flour, breadcrumbs and milk. Crack in the egg, finely grate in the clementine zest, squeeze in the juice and mix it all together really well. ♥ Tip the mixture into the greased bowl and cover with a single layer of greaseproof paper and a double layer of tinfoil. Tie a piece of string around the bowl to secure them in place and make it watertight, then sit it in a large, deep saucepan and pour in enough water to come halfway up the sides of the bowl. Bring the water to the boil, cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and reduce to a simmer for 4 hours. Check the water regularly and keep topping it up with boiling water, if needed. ♥ When the time’s up, lift out the bowl, remove the foil and paper, then carefully turn the pudding on to a plate ready to serve, or leave to cool and reheat just before you need it. You can either drizzle it with golden syrup and a swig of Bourbon – gorgeous – or be a bit more flamboyant and gently heat a good few swigs of Bourbon just to warm it, then strike a match to the pan (stand back!), let it flame and carefully pour it over your pudding. Present it to your guests and sing some Christmassy songs, then when the flame subsides, drizzle with golden syrup. Serve with cream, custard or even ice cream.

LOVE YOUR LEFTOVERS Cold leftovers are delicious with a slice of cheese or in a Christmas sundae (see the book).

NUTRITION PER SERVING 627 kcal; 33.8g fat (11.4g saturated); 7.8g protein; 74g carbs; 49.6g sugars; 0.3g salt; 5g fibre. ➤