Sago plum pudding
Sago plum pudding is a classic steamed dessert made with sago, full cream milk, dates, figs and apricots. The Thermomix TM7 gently cooks the creamy sago base and combines the dried fruits into a rich, dense pudding. Ideal as a festive dessert, it delivers a caramel-dark sugar sweetness with a tender, pudding-soft texture every time.
About this recipe
Sago plum pudding with the Thermomix TM7 brings a beloved festive classic straight into your all-in-one kitchen machine. This traditional steamed dessert, popular at Christmas and winter celebrations, combines sago pearls soaked in full cream milk with sweet dates, dried figs and apricots, bound together by breadcrumbs and dark sugar. Searching for sago pudding recipes usually leads to complicated stovetop methods with constant stirring, but the TM7 takes over that work: precise heating keeps the milk and sago from catching on the bottom, while the mixing blade folds the fruit evenly through the batter. The result is a dense, moist pudding with a caramel depth from the dark sugar and a bright lift of lemon. Served warm with custard or a hard sauce, this dessert is the make-ahead centrepiece your festive table needs, and it reheats beautifully for second helpings.
Preparation tips
- Soak the sago in the full cream milk for at least thirty minutes before cooking so the pearls soften evenly and the pudding achieves its characteristic tender, translucent texture without any hard centres.
- Chop the dates, figs and apricots to roughly equal pieces before adding them, so every spoonful of the finished pudding contains a balanced mix of fruit rather than large chunks sinking to the bottom.
- This pudding reheats wonderfully: steam it again for a short while before serving, or individual portions can be warmed gently. Serve with warm custard, brandy butter or a spoonful of thick cream for a festive finish.
- For a nuttier flavour, replace half of the breadcrumbs with finely ground almonds. Children usually love this pudding too; serve it with vanilla custard instead of a boozy sauce and add a few extra apricots for natural sweetness.
Recipe variations
- Alcohol-free festive version: skip any traditional brandy or rum addition and instead steep the dried figs and apricots in fresh orange juice before chopping. The citrus pairs beautifully with the lemon already in the pudding.
- Gluten-free adaptation: substitute the breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs or ground almonds mixed with a little rice flour. The sago and fruit provide plenty of structure, so the pudding stays dense and sliceable.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Gentle simmering - The TM7 heats the full cream milk and sago without catching, giving a silky base for the pudding. [Temperature control]. [Precision Control]
- Fine chopping - The Thermomix chops the dates, figs and apricots into even pieces for balanced fruit in every bite. [Chopping]. [Built-in Scale]
- Direct weighing - Weigh the dark sugar and breadcrumbs straight into the mixing bowl of the TM7 for accurate results. [Weighing]. [Built-in Scale]
- One-bowl mixing - The Thermomix blends the breadcrumbs, butter and fruit mixture evenly in a single bowl, saving washing up. [Mixing]. [Multi-Function]
- Steam cooking - The Varoma of the TM7 steams the pudding gently, preserving its moist texture and rich caramel flavour. [Steaming]. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- sago
- full cream milk
- unsalted butter
- lemon
- dark brown sugar
- breadcrumbs
- bicarbonate of soda
- pitted dates
- dried figs
- dried apricots