Steamed pudding with damsons

Serves 4

(LISA BARBER)

This warm light pudding is very definitely comfort food!

300g/10oz damsons, rinsed under cool running water
150g/5oz caster sugar
Enough water to just cover the fruit

Place the damsons, water and sugar into a heavy-based, non-reactive pan. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring from time to time, for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the stove and pass through a colander, pressing down with a ladle to ensure that as much liquid as possible comes through. Allow to cool to room temperature.

For the puddings

100g/31/2oz unsalted butter at room temperature, plus a little extra for greasing the moulds
100g/31/2oz caster sugar
2 organic free-range eggs
100g/31/2oz self-raising flour
Finely grated zest of one lemon

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas4. Butter four dariole moulds or small individual pudding basins. Cream the butter and sugar together until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift in the flour from a good height and fold in gently. Finally, stir in the zest. Place a generous spoonful of damson into the base of each mould and spoon the batter over the top. Cover each mould loosely with buttered foil and bake on the middle shelf for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before inverting on to a warm plate. Serve with a dollop of cream or custard.