Pudding

Pudding is a type of food that can be either a dessert or a savoury dish. In the United States, the word pudding usually means a sweet, milk-based dessert, similar to egg-based custards, instant custards, or a mousse. These sweet puddings are often made thicker using ingredients like cornstarch or gelatin.

In places like the United Kingdom, Ireland, and some other Commonwealth countries, pudding can mean both sweet and savoury foods. Savoury puddings include dishes such as Yorkshire pudding and black pudding. Sweet puddings in these areas include treats like sticky toffee pudding and tapioca pudding.

The idea of pudding has changed over time. In America, the word pudding used to mainly describe savoury dishes made by steaming or boiling meat and other ingredients. Over time, it came to mean mostly sweet desserts. Today, whether pudding means a sweet treat or a savoury dish depends on where you are in the world.

Etymology

The word pudding likely comes from the French word boudin, which means a type of sausage. Over time, the meaning of "pudding" changed. In the 13th century, it referred to a dish made from animal parts mixed with other ingredients. Later, it came to mean a sweet or savory dish made with milk, eggs, and flour, often cooked by boiling, steaming, or baking.

Savoury and sweet

The word pudding originally described a savoury dish made by steaming or boiling meat and other ingredients in a liquid form, similar to how sausages are made. Famous examples of these savoury puddings include black pudding and haggis. Other savoury puddings are steak and kidney pudding and some kinds of suet pudding.

Today, pudding most often means a sweet dessert. In many parts of the world called the Commonwealth, dessert puddings are rich, starchy, or dairy-based foods like rice pudding or treacle sponge pudding, often served with dried fruits, especially around Christmas. In the United States and parts of Canada, pudding usually refers to a sweet, milk-based dessert similar to custards or mousses, made with ingredients like cornstarch, tapioca, or gelatin. These are different from the Commonwealth terms for similar foods, which may be called custards, blancmange, or jelly depending on their texture. Other popular puddings include bread pudding.

History

One of the earliest mentions of pudding is in Homer's Odyssey, where a special kind of pudding made from blood and a pig's stomach is described. This type of pudding is still known today as black pudding, a kind of blood sausage popular in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Another early recipe for a kind of pudding comes from a 10th-century Arabic cookbook. This dish, called asida, was a thick pudding made from dates and butter. Over time, different cultures added their own twists to puddings, using local ingredients like barley flour or argan oil.

In the United Kingdom, the word "pudding" can mean either a sweet or savoury dish, but most often it refers to a dessert. Puddings became especially popular from the 1600s onward, especially when people started using special cloths to shape and cook them. This made puddings easier to prepare and they became a common treat for many families.

Types

See also: List of puddings

The word "pudding" can describe many different kinds of food. Originally, it meant a dish made by mixing ingredients with something like grain, flour, eggs, or suet, and then baking, steaming, or boiling it. These puddings could be part of a main meal or a sweet dessert. Some savoury puddings include Yorkshire pudding and steak and kidney pudding, while dessert versions include bread pudding and Christmas pudding.

A newer kind of pudding is a creamy dessert made from sugar, milk, and something to thicken it, like cornstarch or gelatin. These are often made by simmering on the stove or baking, and they are usually served cold. Examples include rice pudding, banana pudding, and mousse.

Cultural references

The phrase "The proof of the pudding is in the eating" comes from old times, with famous writer Miguel de Cervantes using it in his book The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote. Another famous story, Pudd'nhead Wilson, by Mark Twain, uses "pudding" to describe someone who isn't very smart.

An beloved Australian children’s book, The Magic Pudding, written by Norman Lindsay, tells the story of a magical pudding named Albert who comes back to life every time he is eaten. The rock band Pink Floyd also used pudding in their song "Another Brick in the Wall", reminding listeners to eat their meat to enjoy dessert.