Apple Cider Indian Pudding Recipes

APPLE HALWA

Steps:

• Rinse 1 kg apples (7 to 8 medium-sized apples) very well in water using a colander. Drain all the water. Then peel each apple.
• Quarter them and slice off the part containing seeds and pith.
• Then chop the apples in small cubes. You will need 7 cups chopped apples.
• Heat a heavy kadai or pan and keep the heat to medium-low. Add 2 tablespoons ghee in the kadai and let it melt.
• Add the chopped apples.
• Mix it with the ghee and begin to saute the apples on a low to medium-low flame for some 5 to 6 minutes. Some apples will soften and some won't.
• Then add 2 tablespoons water. Mix again.
• Cover the kadai or pan cook for 12 to 15 minutes. stir at intervals.
• On a low to medium-low heat cook covered with the lid till all the apples have softened and become mushy. The apples mixture will start to thicken.
• With a spoon or potato masher, mash the cooked apples and keep on stirring so that the mixture does not stick to the bottom of the pan. You could keep some small chunk sized pieces if you want.
• Then add sugar. Tangy apples will require more sugar. So amount of sugar to be added depends upon the sweetness of the apples. mix well.
• Stirring often cook till some ghee can be seen at the sides for about 9 to 10 minutes on a low to medium-low heat. At this point, there should be no bubbling of apple juices in the halwa.
• Then add cinnamon powder. Apples and cinnamon together are a wonderful combination.
• Next add vanilla extract.
• Add chopped nuts. Also keep a few chopped nuts aside for garnish.
• Mix very well. Check the taste of halwa and if required add some more sugar.
• Sauté stirring often for 3 to 4 minutes till the apple halwa mixture starts coming together and pulls away from the sides of the kadai or pan.
• Serve apple halwa hot or warm garnished with some chopped nuts. Leftover halwa can be refrigerated. Stays good for a week.

INDIAN PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 9 x 5 x 3 inch Pyrex loaf pan.
• Combine the milk and cornmeal in a medium stainless or enamel saucepan. Cook over moderate heat, whisking constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to low and continue stirring until it is as thick as oatmeal.
• Add the sugar, brown sugar, molasses, salt, butter, cloves and 2 cups of the half and half. Stir to combine. Bring the mixture back to a boil and transfer to the prepared loaf pan.
• Place inside a larger pan and pour in boiling water until it rises halfway up the sides of the loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour, stirring once after the first half hour.
• Press the grated ginger against a fine sieve or squeeze it in a square of cheesecloth to extract 1 or 2 tablespoons of juice. After the pudding has baked for 1 hour, add the ginger juice and the remaining cup of half and half and stir to mix. Bake for an additional hour, stirring again after half an hour. Serve immediately in small bowls or cups, or store in the refrigerator and reheat, stirring, over low heat.

APPLE CIDER INDIAN PUDDING

Steps:

• In the top of a double boiler set over simmering water scald 1/2 cup of the milk. In a bowl whisk together the cornmeal and the cider, stir the mixture into the scalded milk, and cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes, or until it is thickened. (The mixture may appear slightly curdled.) Remove the pan from the heat, whisk in the egg, the brown sugar, the cinnamon, the salt, the butter, and the raisins, and pour the mixture into a buttered 13-by 9-inch baking pan. Whisk in the remaining 1/2 cup milk and bake the pudding in the middle of a preheated 325°F. oven for 1 hour. Serve the pudding warm with the ice cream.

APPLE CIDER BREAD PUDDING WITH CARAMEL BOURBON-PECAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Combine bread cubes, apples, and raisins in a very large bowl.
• Whisk eggs, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and salt together in another large bowl until well combined. Whisk in milk and apple cider. Pour mixture over bread mixture, and toss gently using a spatula until evenly coated. Let bread pudding mixture stand for 15 minutes.
• Pour bread pudding mixture into the prepared pan and smooth into an even layer.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and lightly browned and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Let bread pudding cool for at least 15 minutes; pudding will sink slightly.
• Meanwhile, spread pecans on a baking sheet. Bake in the hot oven until lightly browned, about 5 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Combine brown sugar, corn syrup, heavy cream, and butter in a large, heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking, stirring constantly to prevent burning, until mixture is reduced to 3 cups, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove sauce from heat. Stir in pecans, bourbon, and vanilla extract.
• Serve sauce with bread pudding.

OLD-FASHIONED INDIAN PUDDING

Steps:

• Put the scalded milk and corn meal in the top of a double boiler over boiling water. Add the salt and cook, stirring frequently for about 20 minutes. Mix with the molasses and ginger and pour into a buttered 2-quart soufflè dish or baking dish. Bake in a 300°F. oven for about 2 hours. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

MY BEST AND EASY INDIAN PUDDING

Steps:

• Using a non stick (or heavy bottomed) sauce pan add milk and heat on medium heat until nearly bubbling at the edges and steaming.
• Slowly whisk in the meal and whisk slowly until the meal is suspended in the milk, meaning none hanging out at the bottom of the pot. Continue whisking off and on until it reaches a medium thick hot cereal consistency. Again you *can* walk away and whisk every 5 minutes or so.
• Turn stove to low heat and continue to whisk off and on while it thickens. No need to be afraid. I have left it unattended for over 10 minutes and it will not scorch, lump or stick.
• When it reaches 'thick hot cereal' stage, stir in remaining ingredients. I usually whisk. Mix well to combine evenly.
• Leave pudding on low, stirring/whisking occasionally until thickened a bit more; 10-15 minutes approximately.
• Turn off heat and let the pan sit until it has cooled down half way, then cover with the lid and let it 'set.' Times will vary with setting. Last night it was 15 minutes or so and in 2 hours I could upturn the pan. Refrigerate and reheat gently; I use the microwave for individual servings.
• I used the high end of the cook time and will depend on your corn meal, heat of stove, etc -- I have seen many recipes making this pudding appear scary; stand at stove and never stop whisking the entire time. Fiddley sticks!

INDIAN PUDDING WITH DRIED-FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• Make pudding:
• In a heavy saucepan stir together milk and cornmeal and bring to a simmer, stirring. Stir in molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and a pinch salt and simmer mixture, stirring, 30 minutes, or until very thick. Add butter, stirring until melted. Remove pan from heat and cool pudding 20 minutes, covered.
• Make compote:
• In a saucepan simmer cider, brown sugar, water, and lemon juice, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Add fruits and simmer 5 minutes more, or until fruits are softened and plumped up.
• Put a spoonful of pudding in each of 8 shallow bowls or soup plates using a 2-ounce (1/4 cup) ice-cream scoop and top with some compote.