Sherry in Christmas Pudding

Asked by carohill. Answered on 2nd December 2010

Full question

Dear Nigella Team, I would love to make Nigella's Ultimate Christmas Pudding from her Christmas book. Unfortunately, I can't get hold of any Pedro Jimenez Sherry (I live in a semi rural area of France where I can't find it). Can I use any other sherry or anything else to replace it? I really don't want the flavour compromised. Many thanks ! Carolina

Our answer

Pedro Ximinez (or PX, as it is often known) is a sweet, dark dessert sherry. Nigella likes the Triana Pedro Ximinez Viejo and you may be able to find it on-line in France. In the UK it is available through

http://www.jeroboams.co.uk

If you can't find this sherry the other sherries that could be used are either a Sweet Cream Sherry or an Amoroso sherry. However as PX is a dessert wine it is worth looking at other fortified dessert wines for alternatives. Madiera wine (a sweet type such as boal or malmsey) would be a decent substitute, as would a sweet marsala wine (superiore or superiore riserva are darker types and similar to PX).