Vanilla Pudding: The Best Homemade Dessert

How to Make Vanilla Pudding?

Pudding as the well-known dessert we all know is of American origin. American puddings are what the British refer to as custard. But did you know that the dish primarily originated in Britain, where it is more savory than sweet? Puddings date back to 1305, where the English word ‘poding‘ meant, “meat-filled animal stomach”. However, vanilla pudding, the classic form of the dessert, is the most preferred one world over and we have the perfect recipe for you. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started. [1]

Homemade Vanilla Pudding Recipe

Rich, creamy and the perfect recipe for all dessert lovers!
Ingredients

• 1 cup heavy cream 
• 7 ounces granulated sugar 
• 4 and 1/2 cups whole milk 
• 2 ounces corn starch 
• 6 egg yolks (large) 
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt 
• 2 tbsp butter (cold and cut into small pieces) 
• 2 tbsp vanilla extract

Instructions

• To make vanilla pudding, put aside 1/2 cup of milk. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the remaining milk, cream, salt, and sugar and let it simmer on medium heat. Keep stirring the mixture till the sugar dissolves. Remove the saucepan from the stove and allow it to cool for some time. 

• • To make vanilla pudding, put aside 1/2 cup of milk. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the remaining milk, cream, salt, and sugar and let it simmer on medium heat. Keep stirring the mixture till the sugar dissolves. Remove the saucepan from the stove and allow it to cool for some time. 
  • In the meantime, take cornstarch in a bowl, add in the milk which was kept aside and whisk it till you get a smooth consistency. Thereafter, break the eggs and separate the yolks. Add the yolks to the smooth mixture. Continue to whisk till the mixture is further smoothened. 
  • Now, take the simmering milk from the stove and add it slowly to the yolk mixture, while whisking it to ensure the eggs do not scramble. Once done, transfer the mixture into a saucepan and let it simmer over medium heat. Ensure that the mixture is continuously whisked during this process. You’ll notice that it will begin to thicken. Take a thermometer and note the temperature. It should register 180-degree Fahrenheit. Once done, remove the mixture from the stove and add in the butter and vanilla extract. Whisk it till it becomes smooth and shiny. Use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the pudding into a clean bowl/cup. 
  • Once it is prepared, allow it to cool and then refrigerate it for 3-4 hours or overnight.  Make sure that you whisk the pudding properly before serving so that it smoothens. If there is leftover pudding, it can be stored in an air-tight container for 5-7 days.

• • To make the meat blend, take a large, ovenproof skillet and heat oil in it over medium heat. Once it heats up (not too much as it could burn the ingredients), add carrots, garlic, onion, mushrooms, and thyme (or any other herb of your choice). Cook until it softens and gives out a fragrant. This should take about 5 minutes or so. Add ground beef/minced lamb to the mixture and cook till it ceases to be pink. Once done, drain the fat.
  • If you wish to add frozen peas and corn to the mixture, now would be a good time to do so. Continue to cook them on medium heat until it softens. Once done. Season it with salt and pepper.
  • Now check the oven. Preheat it to 400° F.  Meanwhile, start to prepare the meat mixture. Sprinkle flour over the meat and stir properly to evenly distribute it. Cook it for a minute or two and add chicken broth to it. Let it simmer for 5 minutes, while the mixture thickens. Add Worcestershire sauce to the mixture as per your taste, which will provide it a sweet and savory flavor with a distinct tangy aftertaste. For the uninitiated, Worcestershire sauce is a fermented condiment prepared from a base of vinegar. Its flavor is enhanced with molasses, anchovies, tamarind, onion, garlic, and other seasonings.
  • Cover the beef mixture with an evenly distributed layer of mashed potatoes and bake it until they become golden. This should not take more than 20 minutes. Garnish it with your favorite herbs before serving it hot! Given that this is quite a meat-dense dish, you can serve it with a lighter salad such as ‘Beet and Goat Cheese Salad’ or ‘Apple, Walnut and Candied Cranberry Salad’, to name a few.

The longer you whisk the pudding over-heat, the more it will thicken. Also, if you want to make your vanilla pudding interesting, you can jazz it up by adding fruits, jelly, whipped cream, and caramel.