White pudding facts for kids
Irish black and white pudding
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| Alternative names | putóg bhán, marag gheal |
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| Type | Pudding |
| Place of origin | Scotland, Ireland |
| Region or state | British Isles |
| Main ingredients | oatmeal or barley; suet; pork meat or liver |
| Variations | Hog's pudding |
White pudding is a tasty dish popular in places like Scotland and Ireland. It's also known as oatmeal pudding or, in Scotland, mealy pudding. You can find it in Northumberland in England, and even in parts of Canada like Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
This pudding is a bit like black pudding, but it doesn't have any blood in it. Modern recipes usually include suet (a type of fat), oatmeal or barley, and breadcrumbs. Sometimes, it also has pork meat or liver. All these ingredients are put into a sausage-like casing, which can be natural or made of cellulose.
Contents
What is White Pudding Made Of?
White pudding is a type of pudding that has been around for a long time. It's often made from simple ingredients.
Main Ingredients
The main things you'll find in white pudding are:
- Oatmeal or barley: These grains give the pudding its texture.
- Suet or fat: This makes the pudding rich and moist.
- Breadcrumbs: These help bind everything together.
- Pork or pork liver: Some versions include meat for extra flavor.
These ingredients are mixed together and then usually put into a casing. This makes it look like a sausage.
How it's Different from Black Pudding
The biggest difference between white pudding and black pudding is that white pudding does not contain blood. Black pudding gets its dark color and unique taste from blood. White pudding is lighter in color and has a milder flavor.
A Look at White Pudding's History
White pudding has a long history, possibly going back to medieval times. People often made it to use up all parts of an animal after a harvest.
Old Recipes and Sweet Flavors
In the past, some white pudding recipes were quite different from today's. They could even be sweet! For example, a recipe from the 15th century mixed pork liver, cream, eggs, breadcrumbs, raisins, and dates. Another old recipe from 1588 used beef suet, breadcrumbs, and egg yolk. It was flavored with nutmeg, sugar, and cinnamon.
Some older recipes didn't even have meat. This was useful for times like Lent, when people avoided eating meat.
Changes Over Time
Over the centuries, white pudding recipes changed. By the 1700s, recipes like the one from Elizabeth Raffald started to use ingredients like rice, lard, ground almonds, and currants. They were still sweetened with sugar and spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. At this time, it became less common to use offal (like liver) or sweet flavors in white pudding.
A simpler oatmeal pudding recipe from the 18th century used beef suet and cream, thickened with oatmeal and egg yolks. It was then baked.
White Pudding Today
Today, white pudding is still very popular, especially in Ireland and Scotland.
Regional Styles
- Scottish white pudding: This version usually has oatmeal, onions, and beef suet. If you fry this same mixture in a pan, it's called skirlie.
- Irish white pudding: This often includes a good amount of pork or pork liver and pork fat. It's known for being a bit richer.
In both places, the pudding is usually put into a synthetic cellulose casing. It's then boiled or steamed. Common spices include white pepper, nutmeg, and sage.
How to Enjoy White Pudding
White pudding is a versatile dish that can be cooked in different ways.
Cooking and Serving
You can cook white pudding whole, or you can cut it into slices. Many people like to fry or grill the slices until they are golden brown.
- In Ireland, white pudding is a key part of the traditional Irish breakfast. It's often served alongside black pudding, bacon, eggs, and toast.
- In Scotland, white pudding is sometimes served with minced beef and potatoes. You can also find it deep fried in many chip shops, just like fish and chips!
Other Kinds of White Pudding
There are a few other types of white pudding found in different regions.
Hog's Pudding
In the southwest of England, especially in Somerset, Cornwall, and Devon, they have something called Hog's pudding. It's very similar to other white puddings but often has more spices.
Fruit Pudding
Another interesting Scottish version is called fruit pudding. This one adds dried fruit, like raisins, to the mix of beef suet and oatmeal.
See also
In Spanish: White pudding para niños
