Suet for Ultimate Christmas Pudding

Our answer

Nigella's Ultimate Christmas Pudding (from Christmas and on the Nigella website) uses suet and most people will have used the pre-packaged suet that is available in most UK supermarkets. If you do have a local butcher that can supply fresh suet then this will also work well, though you may like to toss it with a tablespoon or two of the flour from the recipe to make sure that the suet does not stick together in clumps too much.

Vegetarians can also use the vegetarian suet that can usually be found in supermarkets next to the regular pre-packaged suet. If suet is not available then you can use grated vegetable shortening. Freeze the shortening before grating it, so that it is firm, then put the grated shortening back in the freezer for a few minutes to firm up again before using it.

Traditionally Christmas puddings are made on the last Sunday before the beginning of Advent, known as Stir-Up Sunday. It is on 24th November 2013.