Macaroni Honeycomb Ornament for Puddings
A decorative Victorian technique used to create a honeycomb pattern on the exterior of steamed puddings. By lining a buttered mold with small rings of boiled macaroni before adding the batter, the finished dish emerges with an intricate, textured appearance. Suitable for both savory meat puddings and sweet dessert puddings.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces Pipe Macaroni (Ziti, Bucatini, or similar tubular pasta) (Enough to line the specific mold being used)
- 4 tablespoons Unsalted butter, heavily softened (Used as an adhesive for the macaroni)
- 2 liters Water (For boiling pasta)
- 1 teaspoon Salt (For pasta water)
- 1 batch Prepared pudding mixture (Savory or Sweet) (Any standard steamed pudding batter suitable for a basin mold)
Instructions
- 1Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pipe macaroni and cook until tender but firm (al dente). Do not overcook as it needs to hold its shape.
- 2Drain the macaroni and let it cool slightly until safe to handle. Using a sharp knife or kitchen shears, cut the macaroni tubes into small rings, approximately 1/4 inch (6mm) in length.
- 3Thickly coat the inside of a pudding basin or round mold with the softened butter. The butter layer must be thick enough to hold the macaroni pieces in place against gravity.
- 4Stick the macaroni rings into the butter layer on the inside of the mold. Place them close together to form a honeycomb pattern covering the surface. This requires patience.
- 5Gently pour your prepared savory or sweet pudding mixture into the lined mold, being careful not to dislodge the macaroni rings. Cover and steam according to your specific pudding recipe (typically 1.5 to 2 hours).
- 6Once steamed, remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes. Carefully turn the pudding out onto a serving dish. The outside will resemble a honeycomb.