In its most basic form, Indian Pudding is a type of English hasty pudding, a sweetened porridge, adapted to American staples, cornmeal and molasses.
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Looking for something a little different to serve at Thanksgiving this year? Few recipes are as closely tied to New Englands colonial history as hasty pudding. Although its roots reach back to Europe, this grain-based dessert began evolving into a uniquely American staple when North American settlers first landed on Plymouth Rock. Hasty pudding has nearly disappeared from modern American tables and cookbooks. However, fall might just be the perfect time to revisit this traditional dish. Here is everything you need to know about hasty pudding.
What is hasty pudding?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, hasty pudding is “a mush containing cornmeal or wheat flour stirred to a thick batter in milk or water.” The consistency is similar to that of a porridge and it is eaten while still warm. Modern day recipes are often topped with ice cream or whipped cream and plated with a more attractive presentation than the more rustic original version.
When was it first created?
While hasty pudding is often associated with colonial times, it actually dates back farther than that. According to Jeri Quinzios Pudding: A Global History, hasty pudding was eaten as early as the 1600s, although similar dishes by other names go back even farther. Quinzio writes:
Is it known by any other names?
Another common name for hasty pudding is Indian pudding. The recipes are very similar, except Indian pudding — also known as Indian mush or Indian meal — includes molasses and oftentimes ginger and nutmeg as additional flavorings.
Why is it called hasty pudding?
While many different puddings and porridges were popular dishes during the seventeenth century, some recipes required that it be cooked for hours over a low fire. Those pudding recipes that were able to be made in a quicker fashion became known as “pudding in haste” or “hasty pudding” due to their fast cooking time.
Where was it invented?
While the dish has British roots, early Americans settlers made the dish their own in the New World. One of the main differences between the two is that the British preferred the use of flour, while most Americans used ground corn — a crop that was readily available in the colonies. While it originally only contained grains and milk or water, later versions included sugar or molasses as a sweetener and often eggs, raisins, and spices.
In “From the Kitchen” published in The American Magazine and Historical Chronicle, Jan Longone discusses the differences between the American and British versions:
When was the recipe first published?
One of the first cookbooks to reference hasty pudding was Robert Mays The Accomplisht Cook published in 1660 in England, which includes three variations. However, the recipe surfaced again in early American cookbooks such as Hannah Glasses The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy published in 1774. In the book, she includes a recipe for flour hasty pudding, oatmeal hasty pudding, fine hasty pudding, and hasty fritters. For the simplest and most common version — flour hasty pudding — Glasse suggests:
In addition to appearing in various cookbooks, the dish also makes a cameo in the American classic, “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” The second verse of the song reads:
Are there different variations?
According to The Revolutionary War Era by Randall Huff, there were many different variations of the recipe during Colonial times. Each household put their own spin on the dish, adding or omitting ingredients for different flavors.
Video: Watch how to make hasty pudding
Indian Pudding
FAQ
What is the origin of the hasty pudding?
What is Indian pudding made of?
What is hasty pudding made of?
What is also known as Indian pudding a type of porridge made from cornmeal?
Is Indian pudding the same as Hasty Pudding?
Despite the name Indian Pudding, it is not a traditional native dish. Native Americans had neither milk nor molasses to use in their cooking. They did mix ground corn with berries, and may have had maple syrup. Hasty Pudding and Indian Pudding are basically the same pudding, as Hasty Pudding was an English tradition for centuries.
What is a common name for Hasty Pudding?
Another common name for hasty pudding is Indian pudding. The recipes are very similar, except Indian pudding — also known as Indian mush or Indian meal — includes molasses and oftentimes ginger and nutmeg as additional flavorings. Why is it called ‘hasty pudding’?
When was Hasty Pudding invented?
Printed references to hasty pudding in England date to 1599, while Indian pudding recipes start appearing in American cookbooks in 1796. The love of pudding came with the first colonist in Virginia and was a favorite of the New England settlers.
Why is it called a pudding in haste?
While many different puddings and porridges were popular dishes during the seventeenth century, some recipes required that it be cooked for hours over a low fire. Those pudding recipes that were able to be made in a quicker fashion became known as “pudding in haste” or “hasty pudding” due to their fast cooking time. Where was it invented?