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Queen of puddings
A new PM calls for custard, cake and jam topped with soft, chewy meringue. A perfect recipe to try for Labour Weekend and just like Jacinda-rella a little bit sweet.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 6 people

Equipment

  • You need a 1.4L oval ovenproof dish that will fit inside a roasting tin.

Ingredients
 
 

For the base

  • 600 ml full-fat milk
  • 25 g butter plus extra for greasing the dish
  • 1 lemon zest finely grated
  • 50 g caster sugar
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 75 g fresh white breadcrumbs

For the meringue

  • 175 g caster sugar
  • 3 egg whites

For the fruit jam

  • 200 g fresh mixed summer fruits or 500g frozen berries
  • 200 g caster sugar or to taste

To serve

  • fresh pouring cream

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 170°C and grease a 1.4 litre shallow ovenproof dish (one that will fit into a roasting tin) with butter.
  • For the base, very gently warm the milk in a small saucepan. Add the butter, lemon zest and the 50g of sugar, stir until dissolved.
  • Lightly whisk the egg yolks in a bowl. Slowly pour the warm milk into the bowl while whisking.
  • Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the base of the buttered dish and pour over the custard. Leave to stand for about 15 minutes, so the breadcrumbs absorb the liquid.
  • Carefully transfer the dish to a roasting tin and fill the tin halfway with hot water. Bake the custard in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes until the custard has set. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool a little.
  • Meanwhile, put the mixed summer fruits into a pan and warm over a gentle heat. Once they’ve softened and released their juice, add the sugar and cook for a further three minutes.
  • Heat gently until you have a jam-like consistency. If you are using frozen berries they will release more liquid so you might need to cook for longer to thicken to the right jam consistency.
  • Whisk the egg whites using an electric hand whisk on full speed until stiff peaks form when the whisk is removed. Add the remaining 175g sugar a teaspoon at a time, still whisking on maximum speed until the mixture is stiff and shiny. Transfer the meringue mixture to a piping bag.
  • Spread 4-5 tablespoons of the fruit jam over the set custard, then pipe the meringue on top.
  • Lower the oven temperature to 150°C and return the pudding to the oven (not in the roasting tin with water) for about 25-30 minutes until the meringue is pale golden all over and crisp. Serve at once with pouring cream.

Notes

With thanks to the Mary Berry, the BBC and The Great British Bake Off