FIG AND MARMALADE STEAMED PUDDING

Serves 6 Prep 30 min Steam 2 hrs + resting Cook 5 min

1 cup (250ml) dates

1 tsp (5ml) baking powder

¾ cup + 2 tsp (190ml) boiling water

100g softened butter

1 tsp (5ml) vanilla essence

1 cup (250ml) soft brown sugar

4 eggs

1¼ cup (310ml) self-raising flour,

sifted

½ cup (125ml) ground almonds

½ cup (125ml) marmalade

For the marmalade sauce

2 tbsp (30ml) marmalade

2 tbsp (30ml) brandy

2 tbsp (30ml) water

zest of 1 orange

1 Soak the dates in boiling water with the baking powder for 10-15 minutes. Pulse the mixture in a food processor till smooth, and set aside.

Cream the butter, vanilla and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well after each addition. Add the date mixture, selfraising flour, ground almonds and

marmalade and mix well.Pour the mixture into a lightly greased 2 x 500ml or 1 x 1L heatproof bowl, or a pudding steamer. Cover with a piece of baking paper and a layer of foil. Tie the paper and foil with string.

Place the bowl in a large pot on top of a wire rack or a saucer which has been turned over. Fill the saucepan with enough boiling water to cover ¾ of the bowl and place the lid on the pot. Simmer over a low heat for 2 hours, adding more boiling water if necessary.

Remove the pudding from the water and let it rest for at least 15 minutesbefore turning out onto a serving platter.

For the marmalade sauce, heat the marmalade, brandy and water over low heat for 5 minutes. Serve the pudding with marmalade sauce and orange zest.

#fig #marmalade #pudding