Spotted dick

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Preparation info
  • Serves

    4–6

    • Difficulty

      Complex

Appears in
British Food

By Mark Hix

Published 2005

  • About

This is one of the most popular comfort puddings from school days. It can be served with custard, or even more simply with golden syrup and a knob of butter. Spotted dick is one of the honoured members of the roly poly family and should be steamed. You can even buy cylindrical moulds for the purpose.

Ingredients

  • 360 g (12½ oz) plain flour
  • pinch of salt

Method

  1. Sift the flour, salt and baking powder together into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the suet, sugar, currants, lemon zest and mixed spice, then add just enough milk to make a soft dough.
  2. Shape the dough into a log shape and wrap loosely in a sheet of buttered heavy-duty cling film. Wrap this loosely in muslin and secure with string. Drop into a large pan of boili