Groaty pudding facts for kids

Groaty pudding (also known as groaty dick) is a special and traditional dish from the Black Country in England. It's a type of savory pudding, which means it's a main meal rather than a sweet dessert. This hearty dish is made from groats (which are like cracked grains, often oats or wheat), beef, leeks, onion, and a rich beef stock. All these ingredients are baked together slowly for many hours.

In the Black Country, it's a long-standing tradition to eat groaty pudding on Guy Fawkes Night, which is celebrated on November 5th each year.

What is Groaty Pudding?

Groaty pudding is a very old and comforting meal. It's a bit like a thick stew or casserole that's baked until it's soft and full of flavor. The main ingredient, groats, gives it a unique texture. Groats are grains that have had their outer husk removed but are not processed further, so they are still whole and chewy.

Main Ingredients

The key ingredients that make groaty pudding so special are:

• Groats: These are usually oat groats, which are whole oats. They are soaked before cooking to make them soft.
• Beef: Often, cheaper cuts of beef are used, which become very tender after long, slow cooking.
• Vegetables: Leeks and onions add a lot of flavor to the dish.
• Beef Stock: This liquid base helps cook the ingredients and infuses the pudding with a deep, meaty taste.

How Groaty Pudding is Made

Making groaty pudding is a slow process, but it's quite simple.

• First, the groats are soaked in water for a long time, sometimes overnight, to soften them up.
• Then, the beef, leeks, and onions are chopped and mixed with the soaked groats.
• This mixture is placed into a baking dish, and beef stock is poured over it.
• The pudding is then baked in an oven at a moderate temperature, around 150 °C (302 °F) (about 300°F).
• The baking time is very long, often up to 16 hours! This slow cooking allows all the flavors to blend together perfectly and makes the beef incredibly tender.

History and Traditions

Groaty pudding has been a part of the Black Country's food traditions for a very long time. It was a popular and affordable meal for working families in the region.

Early Mentions

The dish was even mentioned by Samuel Jackson Pratt in 1805. He was a writer who noted it as a common and important food in the local area. This shows that groaty pudding has been enjoyed for over 200 years!

Guy Fawkes Night Tradition

Eating groaty pudding on Guy Fawkes Night is a strong tradition in the Black Country. Guy Fawkes Night is a celebration with bonfires and fireworks, remembering the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. A warm, hearty meal like groaty pudding is perfect for a chilly November evening.