Sherry in Ultimate Christmas Pudding

Asked by EbonySimba. Answered on 15th November 2015

Full question

Can't wait to make the delicious sounding Ultimate Christmas Pudding. I have a bottle of Winters Tale Amontillado Sherry and a bottle of Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry and I'm wondering which sherry would be best to use in the recipe as I can't get PX Sherry locally here where I live in Co. Kildare. Your advice much appreciated.

Our answer

Nigella's Ultimate Christmas Pudding (from Christmas and on the Nigella website) is made with Pedro Ximenez (PX) sherry which is a rich, sweet sherry. Nigella likes to use this as it has a rounded flavour and is more economical than the usual rum or brandy.

PX sherry is sweet and Amontillado sherries can range from dry to medium sweet. If it is a dry Amontillado then we would avoid using it, though the brand mentions appears to be a medium-sweet version. Cream sherry tends to be sweeter and the brand mentioned is a blend of different sherries, including some PX. So on balance this would appear to be the better substitute for the PX sherry.

Stir Up Sunday is on Sunday 22nd November 2015.