Bread Pudding

What can you make with old bread other than throwing it away? How about some bread pudding?
Bread pudding is a popular dessert across the world. It finds mention in American,French, Mexican and Belgian cuisine. There are subtle differences between the recipes, but the main ingredients remain the same; old bread, milk, sugar/syrup and dry fruit.

The recipe I have for you today is again from my mom-in-law. A very straight forward recipe, with very little fuss with a rewarding end product to boot. Do try it out. You will never look at your old bread the same way again.
The pudding is baked exactly in the same fashion as caramel custard in a double boiler or water bath. Get the detailed method here:
If you do not have an oven, simply bake the pudding on the stove top, using two vessels, a larger one with water and the smaller one containing the pudding mix. Steam the pudding for about 30 minutes or till it is completely cooked.


Ingredients:
Bread: 10 slices (we used brown bread, you could use white too)
Milk: 1/2 cup (plus more if required)
Sugar: 3 tbsp
Raisins: 50 gms
Ghee: 2 tbsp
Eggs: 2

Method

1)Shred the bread slices into small pieces, by hand
2)Add milk and sugar to the slices and keep aside for about 10-15 minutes till the bread has soaked up all the milk and the sugar is melted.
3)After 15 minutes, using a spoon to mix the bread, milk, sugar to make a nice paste. Add more milk if required only.
4)Add the rest of the ingredients, viz eggs, raisins and ghee.
5)Caramelize sugar in a thick bottomed vessel and pour the resultant mixture into the baking pan. For more details follow the method here:
6)Add the ready pudding paste into the same pan
7)Bake the pudding either in an oven or on the stove top using a double boiler/water bath.
8)Once cooked, remove from oven/stove and cool.
9)Once cooled, invert the pudding into a serving dish. The caramelized sugar is on top of the pudding. Cut into slices.
10)Refrigerate before serving

Note:
a)This pudding can be also had as breakfast accompaniment, if the sugar quantity is reduced.
b)Use whipped cream or ice cream topping for added flavor.
c) Instead of ghee, you can use butter.
d)The amount of milk determines the consistency of the batter and the final thickness of the pudding. So add more milk if you want a flan like consistency.
e)The color of the pudding changes depending on the bread used. Don't be worried if your pudding looks different from the one in the picture :)

You'll find a few other variations for bread pudding at this link