How To Make Nesselrode Pudding – Recipe | Felicity Cloake's Masterclass

This festive, stiff chestnut puree dessert is often credited to nan awesome 19th-century cook Antonin Carême, moreover though nan man himself conceded that this luxurious creation was that of Monsieur Mony, cook to nan Russian diplomat Count Nesselrode (albeit, he observed somewhat peevishly, inspired by 1 of his ain chestnut puddings). It was primitively served pinch hot, boozy custard – though I deliberation it’s conscionable capable arsenic it is – and it makes a fabulous Christmas centrepiece,

Prep 15 min
Soak Overnight
Cook 20 min
Freeze 2 hr+
Serves 6

125g currants, aliases raisins aliases sultanas
50g good-quality candied peel, finely chopped
75ml maraschino, aliases different saccharine intoxicant of your prime (see measurement 2)
1 vanilla pod, split, aliases 1 tsp vanilla extract
600ml whipping cream
4 ovum yolks
50g caster sugar
45g flaked almonds
125g full peeled cooked chestnuts, aliases unsweetened chestnut puree

1 A statement connected nan dried fruit

Put nan consequence and peel successful a bowl. Mony’s look is reported to person contained currants and raisins (though different vine fruit, aliases so immoderate chopped dried consequence you prefer, will work), arsenic good arsenic candied citron, nan peel of a mild, thick-skinned citrus, which is disposable online, arsenic are different candied peels that are acold nicer than those chewy, greasy nubs sold successful supermarkets.

2 And a statement connected nan booze

Add nan alcohol: maraschino, an Italian sour cherry liqueur, is nan original choice, but Claire Macdonald uses an orangish triple sec, Victorian crystal queen Agnes B Marshall brandy and noyaux, an almond-flavoured liqueur made from apricot kernels, and Regula Ysewijn mixes maraschino pinch acheronian rum. Madeira, sherry, port, etc, would surely beryllium good, too. Soak nan consequence for a fewer hours, aliases overnight.

3 Infuse nan cream

An hr aliases truthful earlier you begin, slit nan vanilla pod down its magnitude and usage a crisp weapon to scrape retired nan seeds. Put these and nan quiet pod into a mini cookware pinch nan cream, bring mildly conscionable to a simmer, past move disconnected nan power and time off to infuse. (If utilizing extract, operation successful and usage immediately.)

4 Whisk nan sweetener and ovum yolks

Put nan ovum yolks successful a heatproof vessel adjacent nan hob (freeze nan whites for cocktails aliases meringues – a pavlova makes a beautiful New Year’s Eve dessert). Gently reheat nan pick backmost up to a simmer. Meanwhile, whisk nan sweetener into nan ovum yolks (if you person a notably saccharine tooth, you whitethorn wish to summation nan magnitude of sweetener to 75g).

5 Add nan basking cream

Lift nan vanilla pod retired of nan cream, past whisk nan basking pick into nan ovum yolk bowl. Pour backmost into nan pan, group it complete a gentle power and cook, stirring constantly, until nan operation is conscionable heavy capable that a chopped statement tin beryllium drawn successful it connected nan backmost of nan spoon. Put nan cookware successful a descend of acold h2o to cool.

6 Blitz nan chestnuts

Meanwhile, toast nan almonds successful a barren cookware until golden. If utilizing full chestnuts, whizz them successful a nutrient processor, aliases lb to a powder successful a mortar.

Drain nan fruit, adhd nan intoxicant to nan blitzed chestnuts and whizz again until creamy (if request be, adhd a small of nan custard to thief loosen). If utilizing chestnut puree, conscionable operation successful nan alcohol.

7 Make nan ice-cream

Put nan creamy chestnut puree successful a ample bowl, past gradually whisk successful nan cooled custard until good combined. Churn successful an ice-cream shaper until reasonably thick. Alternatively, move into a sturdy, freezer-proof box, screen and frost for an hour, past usage electrical beaters aliases a spoon to beat. Repeat astir each 30 minutes until heavy and semi-set.

8 Fold successful nan consequence and nuts

Once nan ice-cream is heavy and semi-frozen, fold nan drained consequence and almonds done it until good distributed. Line a two-pint (1.1-litre) pudding basin aliases loaf tin pinch clingfilm and spoon nan ice-cream into it (or usage a well-greased ornamental mould).

Pack coagulated and fold nan clingfilm complete nan apical to cover.

9 Freeze, past serve

Freeze for a mates of hours until coagulated (you tin make this up to 2 weeks up and still bask it astatine its best).

To serve, move retired nan pudding connected to a serving sheet (dip nan basin aliases mould successful basking h2o to help, particularly if you haven’t utilized cling-film) and apical pinch a candle aliases a sprig of thing decorative.