Christmas Pudding the Healthy Way

This pudding happens in two main steps. The fruit mix is created and fermented and then the pudding is created. The longer the fruit ferments, the better the taste and more easily it is digested.

INGREDIENTS

FRUIT MIX

1 cup of medjool whole pitted dates

1/2 cup boiling water

200g mixed dried fruit (we chose goji berries, apricots, cranberries, sultanas and prunes)

1/2 cup orange juice

1/4 cup maple syrup

PUDDING

300g of medjool whole pitted dates

4 eggs

200g mashed pumpkin (to cook pumpkin: boil in water for 30 minutes). 

2 cups POMPOM Cauliflower Flour Mix

50g grass fed butter

2 tablespoons almond meal

1 teaspoon of cloves

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of nutmeg

2 teaspoons ground ginger

Coconut oil for greasing

1/4 cup of Almo Almond Creme

1 ripe fig chopped into quarters.

INSTRUCTIONS

FRUIT MIX

Chop the dates coarsely. 

In a sealable container place the dried fruit, juice, syrup and dates. Stir well, add the lid and leave in a dark cupboard for at least a week but up to 4 weeks remembering to shake each few days. 

PUDDING

Add the dates, pumpkin, butter and eggs into the food processor and puree. Add in the flour, almond meal and spices. Combine in the fruit mix too on low speed.

Take a 2 litre pudding bowl and grease the sides of the bowl with coconut oil. Add a circle of baking paper on the base of the pudding bowl and grease this too.

Pour the mixture into the pudding bowl. Place another circle of baking paper on the pudding and screw on the lid. Place the pudding bowl inside a slow cooker.

Pour boiling water into a slow cooker, ensuring it comes 3/4 of the way up the edge of the pudding bowl. Slow cook on high for 6 hours. 

After 6 hours remove the pudding bowl from the saucepan and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Remove the lid and run a knife around the edge of the pudding to ensure it can be easily removed.

Turn the pudding onto a serving tray. 

Pour over the almond creme allowing it to drip down the edges of the pudding. Top with chopped figs and serve.