What is Suet?

Suet is the firm white fat that surrounds the kidneys of beef and mutton. It has excellent cooking properties: it is stiff and melts slowly, and is used in many traditional British dishes to make pastry, suet puddings and mincemeat. It is the preferred fat for pastries as it gives them a good ‘short’ texture. Suet can be bought commercially in packages, usually granulated and coated with flour. Most butchers will supply fresh suet, which can be grated either by hand or in a food processor. You may need to order suet from your butcher ahead of time. Store it in the freezer to make it easier to grate.