Mishtimukh – Vanilla Bread Pudding

Sreyashi Mitra

---

This recipe is a very special one for me. This is my Thamma’s bread pudding. Throughout my childhood, I’ve been hearing about this special recipe of hers from everyone. I have tasted that also when I was very little.
My Ditima (Dida), who got the recipe from Thamma makes it quite often and it is absolutely delicious. This still remains as one of my all-time favourite desserts. It is a simple dish which will surely be your family favourite too.

Ingredients

• Milk – 4 Cups
• Milk Powder – 2 to 3 teaspoons
• Sugar – 4 heaped Tablespoons
• Bread – 6 pcs crustless white bread
• Eggs- 4 (room temperature)
• Vanilla – 2 teaspoons

For caramel

• Sugar – 1 Tablespoon
• Water – 1 Tablespoon

Preparation

1. Boil the milk along with the milk powder and let it thicken.
2. Add the sugar to the milk mixture until combined.
3. Take off from the heat, mix in the small pieces of bread in the milk mixture.
4. Strain the mixture through a sieve.
5. Only after the mixture cools down a bit, whisk in the eggs one by one. Do not mix the eggs if the mixture is hot.
   Add the vanilla into the mixture as well.

For Caramel

• Prepare the cake tin or pan in which you want to steam the pudding in.  Grease the sides of the tin very lightly with butter and keep it aside.
• Add the sugar and the water in a pan on low-medium heat. Do not stir the mixture.
• Wait for the caramel to turn dark golden brown. Quickly add it to the tin and spread it so that it covers the entire base of the tin.
• Be careful as this mixture is really hot.
  

  Baking/Steaming

  1. Bake at 180°C or steam for about 35-40 mins, until it is wobbly in the middle and a toothpick inserted, comes out clean.
  2. Once you take it out of the oven or pressure cooker, let it cool at room temperature and then refrigerate for 2-3 hours and then flip it onto your favourite plate.  Your labour of love will be ready for you and your loved ones to consume.

  Tips

• Adding milk powder will help in thickening the milk mixture faster.
• Use room temperature eggs.