Steak and Onion Suet Pudding 🥧🍴
This hearty and comforting British classic features tender beef and onions encased in a rich, soft suet pastry. Perfect for chilly evenings, this pudding is a labour of love that’s worth every bite.
Ingredients
For the Filling:
🥩 Stewing beef: 500g, diced
🧅 Onion: 1 large, finely chopped
🥄 Plain flour: 2 tbsp (for coating)
🧈 Butter: 25g
🥣 Beef stock: 400ml
🌿 Fresh thyme: 1 tsp, chopped
🧂 Salt and black pepper: To taste
For the Suet Pastry:
🥄 Self-raising flour: 250g
🧈 Suet: 125g (vegetarian or beef suet)
💧 Cold water: ~150ml
🌽 Cornflour: For dusting
🥄 Butter: For greasing the basin
Method
1. Prepare the Filling
🧂 Toss the beef in plain flour, shaking off excess.
🧅 Heat butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the beef and brown on all sides. Remove and set aside.
🍲 Add onions to the pan and cook until softened. Return the beef to the pan, pour in the beef stock, and add thyme. Simmer gently for 1 hour, or until the meat is tender. Cool slightly.
2. Make the Suet Pastry
🥄 In a mixing bowl, combine the self-raising flour, suet, and a pinch of salt. Gradually add cold water, mixing until it forms a soft but firm dough.
💧 Reserve a quarter of the dough for the lid. Roll out the rest on a floured surface into a circle large enough to line a greased pudding basin.
3. Assemble the Pudding
🥧 Line a 1-litre pudding basin with the rolled-out pastry, pressing it into the edges. Leave excess pastry overhanging.
🥩 Spoon the cooled beef and onion filling into the pastry-lined basin. Roll out the reserved dough to form a lid. Moisten the edges and seal the pudding, trimming off any excess pastry.
4. Steam the Pudding
🌊 Cover the basin with a layer of greaseproof paper and foil, securing it tightly with string.
🍲 Place the basin in a large pot with water halfway up the sides. Cover with a lid and steam gently for 2.5–3 hours, checking the water level occasionally and topping up as needed.
5. Serve
🥧 Carefully remove the pudding from the pot and allow it to cool for 5 minutes. Turn it out onto a plate and serve with gravy, mashed potatoes, and peas.
Serving Information
⏱ Prep Time: 30 minutes
⏱ Cooking Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
🍴 Servings: 4
🔥 Calories: ~600 per serving
A true British comfort food—soft pastry, savoury filling, and a bit of effort for a dish that’s steeped in tradition! Serve piping hot and enjoy! 🌟