Spotted Dick is a British steamed pudding containing raisins and served with custard. It is served as a dessert after a meal in Great Britain, and is particularly popular in the Winter. Spotted dick is a steamed cake, so it is very moist with a dense texture.
The dough of spotted dick is made with suet (animal fat) usually from beef or lamb. This gives the pudding a richness without a meaty flavour.
Origin & Cultural Significance
The origins of spotted dick can be traced back to the 19th century when steamed puddings were a staple of British cuisine.
The term ‘dick’ is believed to be a colloquialism referring to pudding or dough. The ‘spots’ come from the addition of currants or raisins to the dough, which creates the dessert’s distinctive speckled appearance.
Spotted dick was a popular choice during times of war rationing due to its simple, easily sourced ingredients.
A similar dish named Clootie Dumpling is made in Scotland, made with dried fruits, spices and suet.
British Spotted Dick Recipe
Spotted Dick is a British steamed pudding containing raisins and served with custard.
Ingredients
- Self-rising flour - 1 1/2 cups
- Shredded suet - 1/2 cup
- Granulated sugar - 1/3 cup
- Currants or raisins - 1/3 cup
- Milk - 2/3 cup
- Salt - pinch
- Lemon (zest) - 1
- Butter - for greasing
- Custard powder - 2 tbsp
- Granulated sugar - 2 tbsp
- Whole milk - 2 cups
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the self-rising flour, shredded suet, granulated sugar, a pinch of salt, currants or raisins, and lemon zest.
- Gradually add the milk, mixing until you have a soft, sticky dough.
- Grease a pudding basin with butter and spoon the dough into it.
- Cover the basin with a double layer of parchment paper or foil, securing it with string.
- Steam the pudding for about 2 hours. Ensure the water level in the steamer is topped up as needed.
- While the pudding steams, prepare the custard by mixing custard powder and granulated sugar in a saucepan, then gradually adding the whole milk. Heat gently, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens.
- Once steamed, remove the pudding from the basin, slice, and serve with warm custard.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 512Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 467mgCarbohydrates: 69gFiber: 3gSugar: 42gProtein: 8g
Nutrition is provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimation.