The cylindrical shape of the roly poly recalls the days when puddings were cooked in cloth instead of bowls. The pudding is a sheet of dough that has been slathered with jam or marmalade, rolled up and then baked on a rack in a pan filled with hot water.
“The appeal of this classic pudding from the endless summer of childhood is not just its rich, dense flavour; it’s also that ‘roly poly’ is a funny expression,” says James May.
“This is an easy version, which is cooked in the oven rather than steamed on top.”
Purists might stick with fruit filling alone; those who don’t mind a modern tweak can scatter chocolate over the jam.
Jam Roly Poly from Oh Cook! by James May
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- softened butter, for greasing
- 200g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting
- 100g shredded beef (or vegetable) suet
- 1 tablespoon caster sugar
- pinch of salt
- 150ml semi-skimmed milk or water
- 6–7 tablespoons raspberry or strawberry jam
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C/400 degrees F. Butter a large sheet of baking parchment and set aside.
2. Stir the flour, suet, sugar and salt in a large bowl until fully combined. Slowly stir in the milk or water to form a soft, spongy dough.
3. Tip the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for a few minutes. Roll the dough out into a 22 x 32cm rectangle.
4. Spread the jam onto the dough, leaving a 1.5cm border around the edge. Slightly dampen the border with water. Gently roll the dough up from the short end and transfer to the baking parchment, seam-side down. Wrap the roly poly in the baking parchment, making a long pleat in the paper to allow the pudding to expand as it cooks. Twist the ends of the parchment like a Christmas cracker and tie tightly with kitchen string, to seal the pudding inside. Repeat the wrapping process with a large piece of kitchen foil.
5. Place the pudding on the roasting rack set inside the roasting tin. Pour boiling water halfway up the roasting tin, just to the base of the pudding, and cook in the oven for 30–35 minutes.
6. Remove the pudding from the oven, unwrap the kitchen foil, then snip the string and unwrap the parchment.
7. The pudding should be well risen and lightly browned in places. Don’t worry if the jam has made its way through to the outside of the pudding and ends up on your face.
8. Place on a warmed serving plate and cut into thick slices. Serve with lots of custard.
Oh Cook! 60 Easy Recipes That Any Idiot Can Make by James May is published by Pavilion. Photography by Martin Poole. Available now.
What’s your favourite comfort food pudding?
– With PA
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Related articles:
https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/food-recipes/chocolate-pistachio-and-cherry-torte
https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/food-recipes/ten-classic-desserts
https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/recipes/cakes-and-baking/mocha-selfsaucing-puddings
