Chocolate orange steamed pudding with chocolate sauce

• cocoa↗50g g
• butter↗50g g

  plus extra for greasing

• total sweetener100g g

  (xylitol, see note)

• vanilla extract↗1 tsp tsp
• semi‑skimmed milk↗200ml ml
• small orange1
• total sweetener100g g

  (xylitol)

• self‑raising flour↗225g g
• cocoa↗50g g
• semi‑skimmed milk↗150ml ml
• vanilla extract↗1 tsp tsp
• large eggs↗2

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   First prepare the sauce. Sift cocoa into a small saucepan, add all the other ingredients, then heat over medium‑high heat, stirring. Bring to a vigorous boil for 1 minute to obtain a glossy sauce. Pour 4 tbsp into the bottom of a lightly buttered traditional pudding basin (1.2 L). Set the rest aside to cool, stirring occasionally.

2. 2

   Place a very large saucepan (deep enough to hold the entire pudding basin) filled with water on the boil; place a small inverted plate at the bottom of the pan to support the basin.

3. 3

   Grate the orange zest, then peel off the skin and white pith, and cut between the membranes to obtain segments. Place all pudding ingredients, except the orange segments, into a food processor and blend to a smooth consistency. Add the orange segments and briefly pulse them into the mixture. Transfer the mixture into the pudding basin, smoothing the edges.

4. 4

   Cut a sheet of foil and a sheet of parchment paper, each about 30 cm long. Butter the parchment and use it to cover the foil. Fold a 3 cm wide pleat in the center of the sheets, then cover the pudding with the parchment, buttered side down. Tie a string around the rim of the basin to form a handle. Trim the excess parchment and foil to about 5 cm, then wrap the foil around the parchment to seal. Lower the basin into the pot of water, ensuring the water reaches two‑thirds of the basin’s height, cover the pot with a lid to trap steam, and simmer for 1½ hours.

5. 5

   Carefully unwrap the pudding—it should rise and become firm—and invert it onto a plate. Drizzle a little warm sauce over it and serve the remaining sauce separately with pudding pieces.