Steaming Suet Puddings: Slow Cooker Magic

Yes, you can steam a suet pudding in a slow cooker. This method is convenient as it frees up the hob and oven for other dishes. It is also a good option if you want to leave the house while your pudding cooks.

How to steam a suet pudding in a slow cooker

Steaming a suet pudding in a slow cooker is an easy and convenient way to cook this traditional dish. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Prepare the Slow Cooker

First, fill and boil the kettle. Put a little hot water in the bottom of the slow cooker and pre-heat it on High while you assemble the pudding.

Step 2: Prepare the Pudding Basin

Butter the pudding basin and lid. If you are using a traditional ceramic pudding basin, you will need to prepare it for steaming by covering it with greaseproof paper and then foil. Cut a circle in the greaseproof paper that is about 5cm larger than the rim of the basin. Grease the paper with butter and make a pleat at the centre. Place the paper, greased side down, over the basin, followed by the foil, which will help to keep the pudding moist during cooking.

Step 3: Make the Suet Pastry

In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients: self-raising flour, shredded suet, and a pinch of salt and pepper. You can use beef or vegetable suet, depending on your preference. Gradually add cold water and mix with a knife until you have a soft dough. You may need to use your hands to bring the dough together.

Step 4: Assemble the Pudding

Roll out the pastry into a circle that is large enough to line the pudding basin. Place it in the basin, pressing it into the bottom and letting the excess hang over the edge. For a savoury pudding, fill the basin with your chosen filling—such as steak and kidney, or leek and bacon. If you are making a sweet pudding, you can fill it with dried fruit or a mixture of your choice. Pour in enough beef stock or water to cover the filling.

Step 5: Cover and Steam the Pudding

Roll out the remaining pastry to make a lid for the pudding. Place it over the basin and crimp the edges to seal. Cover the pudding with a piece of baking paper and then foil, making a small fold in the middle to allow for expansion. Secure it with string or tuck the foil in tightly. Place the pudding basin in the slow cooker and carefully pour in boiling water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the basin.

Step 6: Cook the Pudding

Close the lid of the slow cooker and cook the pudding on High for around 2-6 hours, depending on the recipe and your slow cooker. It is important to keep the water topped up so that the cooker doesn't run dry. To check if the pudding is cooked, insert a skewer through the foil and paper. If it comes out clean, the pudding is ready; if not, continue cooking for another 10-20 minutes at a time.

Step 7: Serve the Pudding

Once the pudding is cooked, remove it from the slow cooker and leave it to sit for a few minutes before serving. Carefully invert the pudding onto a plate and serve it while it's still hot. For a savoury pudding, serve it with peas, mash, and gravy. For a sweet pudding, serve it with brown sugar, golden syrup, or custard.

Enjoy your delicious, slow-cooked suet pudding!

What ingredients are needed for a suet pudding?

Suet pudding is a traditional British dish that can be served as a savoury or sweet dish. The basic ingredients for a suet pudding are:

• Wheat flour: This forms the base of the pudding and gives it structure.
• Suet: Suet is the raw, hard fat of beef or mutton found around the kidneys. It is mixed with the flour and gives the pudding a light and fluffy texture.
• Dried fruits: Raisins are commonly used, but you can also use sultanas, currants, or a mixture of dried fruits.
• Sweetener: Sugar is typically used, but you can also use dark corn syrup, golden syrup, or honey.
• Milk: This is used to bind the ingredients together and create a soft dough.
• Spices: Cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg add flavour and warmth to the pudding.
• Leavening agents: Baking soda and/or baking powder is added to help the pudding rise and give it a lighter texture.
• Salt: A small amount of salt enhances the other flavours in the pudding.

There are many variations and adaptations of the traditional suet pudding recipe, including savoury options such as rabbit, chicken, game, and steak and kidney pudding.

How long does it take to steam a suet pudding?

Steaming a suet pudding in a slow cooker is a convenient way to cook this dish without needing to use the hob or oven. It's also a great option if you want to leave the house while your pudding cooks.

The cooking time for a suet pudding in a slow cooker will depend on the recipe and the size of the pudding. Most recipes suggest steaming the pudding for around 2 hours on high in the slow cooker. However, some recipes recommend a longer cooking time of up to 6 hours on high or even up to 10 hours on low.

It's important to ensure that the water level in the slow cooker remains at least halfway up the side of the pudding basin throughout the cooking process. You may need to top up the water a few times during cooking.

If you're using a pre-cooked filling in your suet pudding, such as leftovers from a Sunday roast, the steaming time will be reduced as the filling only needs to be heated through. In this case, a steak and kidney pudding using a pre-cooked filling in a 1.5-2 litre pudding basin will take around 1.5 to 2 hours to steam.

When steaming a suet pudding, it's recommended to leave a 2-3 cm gap between the mixture and the rim of the pudding basin to avoid overfilling. To test if the pudding is cooked, insert a skewer by piercing the foil and paper. If the skewer comes out clean, the pudding is ready; if not, continue cooking for another 10-20 minutes at a time.

It's worth noting that you can't really overcook a steamed suet pudding, and it won't dry out even if cooked longer than suggested. However, other ingredients may spoil if overcooked, so it's best not to steam for more than an additional 30 minutes to an hour after the recommended cooking time.

What temperature should a slow cooker be for steaming a suet pudding?

Steaming a suet pudding in a slow cooker is a convenient way to prepare this dish without the need for constant monitoring, as it can be left alone while you leave the house. To steam a suet pudding in a slow cooker, fill the slow cooker with enough hot water to come halfway up the pudding basin. Then, steam for around 2-3 hours on high, depending on the recipe. It is important to keep the water topped up so that the cooker doesn't run dry.

Some recipes suggest preheating the slow cooker on high with a little hot water at the bottom while you assemble the pudding. One recipe for a suet pudding specifies a cooking time of 2 hours on high, noting that no harm will come to the pudding if it is left in for a bit longer. Another recipe for a leek and bacon suet pudding cooked on high for 6 hours came out a bit dry, so the cook recommended reducing the cooking time to 4 hours on high or 6 hours on low.

Thus, the temperature for steaming a suet pudding in a slow cooker should be set to high, and the cooking time should be around 2-3 hours, depending on the recipe.

What can be served with a suet pudding?

Suet puddings can be served with a variety of sweet or savoury sauces, depending on the type of pudding.

For sweet suet puddings, a hard sauce is a popular choice. This is typically made with sugar, butter, water, and an extract such as vanilla, lemon, or rum. The sauce is heated until it is near boiling and then thickened with cornstarch. Other sweet sauce options include custard, chocolate custard, cream, evaporated milk, and ice cream.

For savoury suet puddings, a gravy or meat-based sauce might be a good option. Additionally, some suet puddings, such as steak and kidney pudding, are often made with a filling that has been pre-cooked, which can reduce the cooking time.

• Spotted Dick: This pudding is often served with a sweet sauce, such as custard or hard sauce.
• Christmas Pudding: Traditional Christmas pudding is often served with a brandy butter sauce or a hard sauce. It can also be served with cream or ice cream.
• Treacle Pudding: This pudding can be served with a sweet sauce, such as custard or lemon sauce.
• Clootie Dumpling: This pudding is typically served with a sweet sauce, such as custard or cream.
• Jam Roly-Poly: As the name suggests, this pudding is often served with jam, and can also be served with custard.
• Savoury Suet Puddings: These can include rabbit, chicken, game, and steak and kidney puddings. They can be served with gravy, vegetables, or a side salad.

In general, suet puddings can be customised to your taste preferences and can be served with a variety of sweet or savoury sauces and sides.

Frequently asked questions