History Cookbook: Semolina Pudding

Healthiness : (125 votes)

Difficulty:  
Comments: Although the recipe is simple, it does involve stirring the mixture on the stove as it slowly comes to the boil and thickens.
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes on top of stove, 30 minutes in oven, or 20 minutes on top of stove only.
Number of servings: 4
Serving suggestions: Lots of people like it with jam - but on its own it is good too.
This is a vegetarian recipe


Nearly everyone loves semolina pudding. It was a great favourite during and after WW2 and was often to be found in school dinners in the 60's and 70's, sometimes chocolate flavoured!
It is especially good sprinkled with nutmeg and baked in the oven, so there is a lovely slightly crispy skin on top. But even if it is made as a quick pudding, just cooked on top of the stove and served with jam, or cooked with sultanas, it is still tasty!!
Semolina is a type of coarse ground wheat. The pudding was found in recipe books, under the 'genre' of milk puddings (along with rice, tapioca, sago and macaroni).

• 600ml, 1 pint milk
• 45gm, 2-3 oz semolina
• 25gm, 1oz caster sugar
• 15g,  or a knob of butter
•  a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg (to taste)

• Measuring jug
• Weighing scales
• Butter knife
• Ovenproof dish
• Pan
• Grater

Always wash your hands before preparing food.

1. Well grease an ovenproof dish
2. Put milk into pan and heat until lukewarm
3. Sprinkle in the semolina
4. Cook slowly, stirring all the time until it comes to the boil and thickens
5. Add sugar and butter
6. Remove from the heat and pour into the ovenproof dish
7. Grate (or sprinkle ready ground) nutmeg over the top
8. Put into a moderate oven (160C or Gas 3) for 30 minutes

Alternatives:
If you want chocolate semolina, you can dissolve 25-40 gm (1-2oz) of good chocolate into the milk as you warm it.

If you like sultanas in your pudding, stir about 50 gm (2oz) in with the butter and sugar before pouring into the ovenproof dish.

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Name: Alan

18th October 2016

Fair enough recipe but you are making life harder than it need be. Follow the recipe until all the ingredients are in place and the mix is just simmering. Now add a table spoon -no more- of boiling water. The mix will thin dramatically and can now be safely stirred every 4 or so minutes. After 30 the semolina will thicken again and be cooked. This may seem a small point, but you will be amazed at how much can be done in those saved minutes.

Name: N	18th October 2016
Nice one, I've put too much nutmeg and it was a bit too strong so beware. Coconut oil instead of butter worked really well. Will try with cocoa next time. Thanks

Name: Joseph Penna	21st September 2016
I had semolina pudding during the War (wr ll). Was made with dried milk and stude apple I would gather crab apples from fields. All food was on ration Hard Times

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