Carrot Pudding

Recipe by: Diane Morgan | from The Thanksgiving Table: Recipes and Ideas to Create Your Own Holiday Tradition

Cookstr

Course: Side Dish

Total Time: Under 2 Hours

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Inexpensive

Photo by: Joseph De Leo

Here is one vegetable dish that doesn’t need any last minute attention from the busy Thanksgiving cook—and that’s a blessing! The carrots can be cooked and puréed a couple of days ahead. Assemble the pudding on Thanksgiving Day, set it aside, and then bake it 1 hour before serving. Hot from the oven, the carrot pudding is gloriously puffed, beautifully browned, and pretty on the plate.

Yield: 8-10 servings

INGREDIENTS

5 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 tablespoons grated yellow onion
1 cup milk
3 large eggs, lightly beaten

Directions

TO PREPARE THE CARROTS

Place the carrots in a medium saucepan and add enough cold water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil over high heat; then reduce to a simmer and cook the carrots until tender when pierced with a fork, about 20 minutes. Drain and cool slightly. Purée the carrots in the work bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Add the lemon juice, process to combine, and then transfer to a small bowl. (The carrots can be made up to 2 days in advance. Cover and refrigerate; then bring to room temperature before making the pudding.)

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 2-quart soufflé dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter. Set aside. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter, the sugar, flour, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Beat until smooth. Add the onion and puréed carrots, and beat until well blended. Add the milk and eggs, and mix until smooth. Spoon the mixture into the prepared dish.

Bake, uncovered, until the pudding is puffed and lightly browned and the center is firm to the touch, about 50 minutes to 1 hour. Serve immediately. (The pudding can be assembled several hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate; then remove from the refrigerator 1 hour before baking.)