Semolina pudding but not as you know it......Sweet strawberries are baked under sugar encrusted semolina until bubbling & saucy. The pudding becomes almost sponge-like & is so comforting & delicious!
Was Semolina Pudding even a school dinner thing over here in North America? Perhaps it is just something that was served up in English schools back in the day for torture dinner.
Luckily for me, my Mum always packed my lunches, but that didn't stop me having to experience the awful offerings on the occasions I forgot my lunch or lost it. I have vague memories of disgusting pink custard, frog spawn tapioca pudding and milky, sloppy, gruel like, semolina pudding.
There was even a song we used to sing:
"School dinners. school dinners. Concrete chips concrete chips. Soggy semolina. Soggy Semolina. I feel sick. Bathroom quick. It’s too late, it's on my plate."
Ohhh-kay.... So if the very mention of Semolina Pudding brings back traumatic memories of horrific school dinners, please bear with me. This is Semolina Pudding but not as you once knew it...
I'm not doing much to sell this recipe am I? Does this photo change your mind?
When I told my husband I had bought a bag of semolina he wasn't impressed and said that he hoped I didn't expect him to eat it. He obviously had those old school day memories too. He soon changed his tune when this got taken out of the oven for the first time!
It is truly irresistible. The strawberries bake up to a soft and saucy perfection and the thick, baked semolina pudding becomes almost sponge-like. It's hard to describe but you will see what I mean when you try it.
It all gets baked in the oven but I like to finish it off under the grill. I still don't know the term for that here. I know it's known as broiling. So do I finish it off under the broiler? Is that right?
I'm feeling very foreign again....
It's the baking it in the oven that transforms this Semolina Pudding into something NOT like school dinner semolina pudding at all. It couldn't be more different and is a million, trillion times better. We cant stop making and eating it! The fact it's so easy too makes it even more appealing.
This is the perfect recipe to make when you have some strawberries that are a little past their best. A bit like my Strawberry Baked Oatmeal.
More English recipes
- Vegan English Pancakes
- Vegan Digestive Biscuits
- Bubble & Squeak
- Homemade English Muffins
- Vegan Yorkshire Puddings
Recipe video
Baked Strawberry Semolina Pudding
Author:Ingredients
- 1lb | 454 g fresh strawberries
- 60mls | ¼ cup maple syrup
- 180g | 1 cup semolina , the slightly coarser type is best but semolina flour or fine ground will work too.
- 80g | packed ⅓ cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder , or use vanilla extract
- 600mls | 2½ cups plant-based milk
- granulated sugar , for sprinkling
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 400°F
- Slice the strawberries and put in the bottom of a shallowish oven proof dish.
- Pour over the maple syrup and stir to coat.
- In a small pan add the semolina, sugar, salt, vanilla and milk. Stir with a balloon whisk to work out any lumpy bits. If you don't have a balloon whisk a wooden spoon will do.
- Warm over a medium heat, whisking constantly. If you stop it will go lumpy. Keep whisking until it's too thick to carry on. (Like the texture in my video above).
- Spoon the semolina pudding on top of the strawberries. If you don't do this immediately it will become really, really thick and a bit difficult. Don't worry if you do get interrupted though as once it bakes up it will be fine.
- Smooth it out, trying your best to seal it all the way around the edges, then sprinkle over a generous amount of granulated sugar.
- At this stage you could leave it to cool and refrigerate, ready to bake later.
- Place in the hot oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- Broiling is optional but it makes the top crusty and delicious so I recommend doing it. Broil it as soon as it has finished baking and until it is bubbling and crusty. Be careful it doesn't burn. It is normal for some of the liquid to erupt through.
- Serve immediately.
NOTES
NUTRITION
Nutritional information is provided for convenience. The data is a computer generated estimate and should be used as a guide only.
Patience says
Very interested! I am unfamiliar with the term "Semolina Pudding", but am wondering if the term "semolina" is the same or similar to what we call here in the States "wheat farina"....? Thus I'm planning to give this a go, using wheat farina (plus the addition of some nice, home-grown rhubarb along with the strawberries :-D).....
A Virtual Vegan says
It appears that semolina is pretty hard to find in the U.S which is really strange as it is easy to get here on the West Coast of Canada. It is yellow and looks very like cornmeal. It is made from durum wheat like pasta is. Farina or cream of wheat, from my research is different. It comes from a different type of wheat and is whiter and has a lower protein level and doesn't hold it's shape like semolina would. I think the farina will work but the texture wont be the same. I'm not sure about flavour as I've never tried it. You can buy Semolina from Amazon for a reasonable price. I link to one in the recipe. I would imagine too that any Italian grocery store would sell it.It seems too that Bob's Red Mill sells a semolina flour. It's probably a bit finer than the one I used but is actually semolina so would probably be better to use than cream of wheat or farina. I hope that helps!
Oh and rhubarb in it is really good. We had it made with rhubarb instead of strawberries last night! Enjoy!
Becky Striepe says
I've never had semolina pudding before, but I'd love to try your strawberry version!
A Virtual Vegan says
You should give it a try! It's a really family-friendly dessert :)
Sarah McMinn says
I believe you this is delicious and nothing like your school lunches :) It looks incredible. Thanks for the inspiration!
A Virtual Vegan says
You're welcome. Thank you Sarah!
Dreena Burton says
I don't think Semonlina Pudding is well known in Canada or US... but from the look of this recipe, it should be! I am just imagining those flavors together and the texture, it's brilliant!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you! I was just having a discussion with a reader about it. She is from Poland and semolina is very popular there like in England. She said it's a post war thing. Apparently because it was so cheap and filling it became a really popular thing to eat when food was scarce and has stuck around ever since. It kind of makes sense and explains why it's not so popular here.
Linda @ Veganosity says
I've never had semolina pudding, and as awful as your school days puddings sound, this looks incredibly delicious. Sold!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Linda!
Jasmin says
Since I can thinking I love semolina pudding. I am from Germany and we ate it just at home. Vanilla Seminola pudding with cinnemon and sugar.. I do not have a nightmare., we hadn't lunch in school. Lucky he? ;)
Your recipe is delicious... I guess everyone who try this their nightmares fly away. :)
For me the perfect recipe. Strawberries sooo delicious and than with the pudding.. Yummy in my tummy.
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Jasmin. It sound lovely with cinnamon and sugar. Perfect comfort food!
Kris says
You say serve immediately, so if you have leftovers will it still be edible the next day?
A Virtual Vegan says
You can reheat it. I mention that in the recipe notes. It's not good cold but is almost as good as new once you warm it up again!
Kris Greene says
I just made this and it is HEAVENLY! Thanks for the recipe.
A Virtual Vegan says
I am so pleased you enjoyed it Kris. Thank you so much for letting me know!