Cheap and Delicious Bread and Honey Pudding
Easy Recipe for Traditional Spanish Easter Dessert
Mar 24, 2009
Food is connected with religious feasting and fasting all over the world. Leading up to Lent in some parts of Spain, there are some unusual traditions. For example in Galicia, north-western Spain they have an event which involves throwing bran and flour at one another. It is difficult to imagine the origins of this peculiar idea!
Traditional Spanish Easter Dessert
Following the 46 day period of Lent, where no meat is eaten, in traditional Catholic Spain they celebrate Easter with sweet treats and elaborate religious processions. There is no history of the Hot Cross Buns, Simnel Cake or Easter eggs found in Britain and US, but there are several special Easter dishes including Bread and Honey Pudding (Torrijas). Although these can be found in bakeries, they are easy to make at home.
Spanish Dessert Recipe
Like the traditional British Bread and Butter Pudding, Bread and Honey Pudding is a delicious way to use up stale bread. It looks and tastes a bit like French toast only much, much sweeter. There is no point in counting the calories - remember this is for a special treat!
This dish is a eaten as a dessert or for breakfast in all parts of Spain during Semana Santa – the Holy Week of Easter. Different regions have slight variations but this is the basic recipe.
Bread and Honey Pudding or Torrijas
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 large cup of milk
- 4 tbsps honey
- 4 tbsps white or brown sugar
- 4 eggs
- 8 thick slices of white bread
- olive oil for frying
- Pinch of Cinnamon
Method
- Remove crusts from the bread.
- Cut each of the slices into 3 fat strips.
- Pour the milk into a large bowl and add the sugar. Beat well.
- Beat the eggs in a separate dish.
- Heat oil in a frying pan.
- Dip the strips of bread in the sugared milk and then into the eggs
- Fry for about a minute on each side, until golden brown.
- Drain well on paper towel and place the bread in a serving dish.
- Pour the honey over the bread.
- Pour the remains of the sugar and milk over the Bread and Honey Pudding and sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Serve hot or cold.
The longer the dish is left to soak in the milk and sugar mixture, the richer and softer it becomes, creating a dessert that the kids will love as much as Manchester Tart!
Variations of Bread and Honey Pudding
For a more grown-up version, try replacing half the honey with wine or sherry. Stir it into the remaining honey before pouring it over the bread. Or try experimenting by adding a tablespoon of rum or cognac to the milk.
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