Recipe of the week: Apricot bread and butter pudding

JOE always has the best interests of our readers at heart. With the season of over-indulgence on the horizon, we want to give you a recipe that keeps the weighing scales down.

JOE

Apricot bread and butter pudding

JOE always has the best interests of our readers at heart. With the season of over-indulgence on the horizon, we want to give you a recipe that keeps the weighing scales down.

At first glance, a pudding may not seem like the best option to keep the pounds off before Christmas. But let’s face it, we all like something sweet and this vegetarian dish is easy and is low on the ProPoints.

Some of you may not have ever attempted this type of recipe before, so time to lose your apricot bread and butter pudding virginity and prove to any doubters that when it comes to culinary skills, you can hold your own with the best of them…or your mates at the very least.

Add some creaminess with 2 tablespoons of low fat plain yogurt per person for an extra 1 ProPoints values per serving.

The Basics

Serves 4

5 ProPoints per serving

22 ProPoints per recipe

10 mins prep, 20 mins soaking and 35 mins to bake

Vegetarian

What you need:

25g(1 oz) low fat spread
4 low calorie, slightly stale, white bread slices
50g (1 3/4 oz) ready to eat, semi-dried apricots, chopped
25g (1 oz) sultanas or raisins
2 eggs
450ml (16 fl oz) skimmed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
20g (3/4 oz) caster sugar

What to do:

Grease a 1.2 litre (2pint) baking dish with a small amount of the low fat spread then spread the rest of it on to the bread slices. Cut each slice into four triangles. Arrange them in the dish with the chopped apricots and sultanas or raisins.
Beat together the eggs, milk and vanilla extract. Stir in the sugar, allowing a few minutes for it to dissolve. Pour the mixture over the bread and fruit. Cover with cling film and leave to soak for at least 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 4/180°C/ fan oven 160°C.
Remove the cling film from the pudding and bake for about 30-35 minutes until set and golden brown. Serve immediately.

Suggestions:

Why not soak the apricots and sultanas or raisins in 25ml (1 fl oz) rum or brandy overnight and then add the soaked fruit and brandy in step 1, following the recipe. The ProPoints values per serving will be 6. Don’t worry, it won’t take much of your drink stock and adds greatly to the taste.

For more delicious Weight Watchers meals, simply click here.