Traditional Yorkshire Pudding Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What was the original Yorkshire pudding? ›

The origin story

Prior to being given the prefix of Yorkshire in 1747 in the bestselling cookbook The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Simple by English cookery writer Hannah Glasse, a Yorkshire Pudding was simply known as a “batter” or “dripping pudding”.

History. The popover is an American version of Yorkshire pudding and similar batter puddings made in England since the 17th century, The oldest known reference to popovers dates to 1850. The first cookbook to print a recipe for popovers was in 1876.

To make the batter, tip 140g plain flour into a bowl and beat in 4 eggs until smooth. Gradually add 200ml milk and carry on beating until the mix is completely lump-free. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the batter into a jug, then remove the hot tins from the oven.

Yorkshire pudding is traditionally served with gravy as a starter dish followed by the main dish, or alongside roast beef or similar meat for a dinner spread.

The pudding would have originally been cooked beneath the meat (usually beef) as it was roasting on a spit above a fire. This position would have meant that the fats and juices from the meat could drip onto the batter pudding, flavouring and adding colour.

And room temperature batter is ideal

Room temperature vs cold batter: if your batter is at room temperature when it hits the hot pan, you will get a better rise with a crispier hollow pudding. If your batter is cold, your Yorkshires will be slightly more dense inside but with that perfect gravy-pooling cup shape.

Always use equal volumes of egg, milk, and all-purpose flour. If you use too much flour, the resulting pudding will be heavy and dense. Without enough egg, there will be insufficient air beaten in for a successful rise. Too much milk will make the batter too loose.

Why It Works. Resting the batter overnight is key for developing better flavor. Forget about cold batter: letting it rest at room temperature helps it rise taller as it bakes. A combination of milk and water gives the Yorkshire puddings extra rise and crispness.

Batter pudding is the Irish version of Yorkshire pudding. Many Irish like their meat quite well cooked, which rather spoils a good joint of beef in my opinion. A largish piece of beef cooked in this way will have the best flavour, as small joints are disappointing.

Cooking fat: Yorkshire pudding is a dripping pudding, meaning that chefs traditionally make it using the meat drippings leftover from cooking a Sunday roast dinner. Meanwhile, popover recipes tend to call for butter instead. Yorkshire pudding batter, therefore, takes on a more savory flavor than popover batter.

What is the best oil or fat for Yorkshire puddings? ›

What is best oil or fat for Yorkshire puddings? Gordon Ramsay's recipe calls for vegetable oil or beef dripping, but you can also use sunflower oil, lard or solid vegetable shortening. Avoid olive oil or butter as they burn easily and have low 'smoke' points.

The batter should be about as thick as double cream (so easily pourable but with some body). Why do my Yorkshire puddings rise then go flat? It might be because the oven door was opened while they were cooking. Yorkshire puddings need a consistently high heat to rise fully and set.

A lumpy Yorkshire pudding batter could never a perfect pudding make, so use a large balloon whisk to beat the batter thoroughly and get plenty of air into the mixture. If you really want to remove every tiny lump, pour it through a fine metal strainer, then give it one last whisk.

Sometimes because the oven door is open too long or the pan or fat isn't hot enough before the batter is added. Sometimes it's because there is too much batter in the pan, sometimes because the pan is too large for the quantity of batter, and sometimes because the pan isn't deep enough.

Originally called Broken-Haired Scotch or Yorkshire Terriers, the name Yorkshire Terrier became official in 1870. Yorkshires were initially much bigger dogs, but as their reputation as good-looking and reliable working dogs spread, they quickly became more popular as companion pets for high society.

Bred to hunt mice and rats, the Yorkshire terrier left the cotton mills and mines in the mid-1850s to become a popular lap dog, embedded within families and cherished for its bravado, loyalty and effusive affection.

The pudding we know today began life as a pottage. This was a kind of broth, including raisins and other dried fruit, spices and wine. It was thickened with breadcrumbs or ground almonds. Not dissimilar to the mince pies of yesteryear, it often included meat or at least meat stock.

The name "Yorkshire", first appeared in writing in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 1065. It was originally composed of three sections called Thrydings, subsequently referred to as Ridings.