Steaming a pudding

During steaming, the base of the pudding bowl cannot touch the direct heat of the pan. Lesley Waters demonstrates how to steam puddings without a steamer.

• Use a pan with a very tight-fitting lid.

• Lightly scrunch a large sheet of aluminium foil into a rough disc shape.

• Place the aluminium foil into the bottom of the pan. Rest the wrapped pudding on top. Make sure the base of the pudding bowl is not in direct contact with the base of the pan.

• Add enough water to reach halfway up the sides of the pudding bowl. Make sure the water is boiling when you add the pudding to the pan.

• Cover the pan tightly with the lid. Steam the pudding according to the recipe instructions. After the pudding has been cooking for half an hour or longer, keep topping up the water in the pan so that it reaches halfway up the sides of the basin.