boiled leek and onion pudding

I love the Hairy bikers! I found this recipe in their family cookbook mums know best. they are fun they love food and they don't over complicate anything, for that reason I know that if I attempt one of their recipes its going to work. I was going through the bikers books trying to come up with some different ideas for dinners but also budget meals and I found this recipe:

Boiled Leek and onion pudding.

serves 6

25g butter
1 tbsp sunflower oil
1 medium onion finely chopped
2 leeks finely sliced
150g fresh white bredcrumbs
200g self raising flour, plus extra for dusting
115g shredded beef suet
1 heaped tsp fine sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 large free range egg
75ml whole milk

Melt the butter with the oil in a large frying pan, gently fry the onions and leeks for 5 minutes or until well softened, stiring regularly. Remove rom the heat and set aside to cool for a few minutes.

In a bowl mix the bredcrumbs, flour, suet, sea salt and black pepper. stir in the leeks and onions. beat together the egg and milk. add them to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined - the dough should feel light and spongy. turn the dough out onto a floured board, knead very lightly and form into a large ball.

Half fill a large saucepan with water and ring to the boil. Sprinkle flour liberally over a large peice of clean sheeting or a thin drying up cloth. (an old pillowcase can also be cut to size for this job) ( i used a clean muslin cloth) Place the pudding in the middle and gather up the sides. Leave rom for expansion and tie with string.

Carefully lower the pudding into the boiling water. cover and boil for 1 hour. Keep an eye on the water level top it up if necessary.

Turn of the heat and carefully remove the pudding using tongs. Leave it to cool for a few minutes then cut the string and transfer to a serving dish. cut up the pudding and serve.

The Hairy Bikers suggest serving with leftover roast meat and gravy. I served it with roast beef honey glazed carrots and pasnips and beef gravy.

It was like a giant dumpling. I think in future i'll try adding sliced brussel sprouts and lardons or even grating some apple into it.

I halved this recipe to feed myself my husband and my 2 year old and there was some left over. Its definatly something i'd try again maybe with a roasted or boiled gammon.