Tomato Pudding
Share
- ✉
-
Author Notes: Like so many of you, I'm now mother-less. And I miss her most when I am in the kitchen. My mother died five years ago, just four hours after her own mother. It was a difficult summer (understatement of the century?) and the culmination of two funerals in two days only made it more surreal. Once I was back home, and gave in to my grief, this was the dish that made me reminisce - simultaneously happy and so, so sad. My mother made this recipe all the time - I'm sure if asked to describe her comfort food this would be it. Great brunch dish, served with runny-yolked eggs and a salad. Equally fantastic as a side dish with roast chicken or simple roast meats. - MrsWheelbarrow - MrsWheelbarrow
Food52 Review: This recipe rolled off without a snafu. Admittedly a fan of Mrs. Wheelbarrow, I was nevertheless delighted by the instant success of her mom's recipe. I was concerned about a cup of brown sugar, but it works. I drained a can of San Marzano tomatoes and pureed them in the blender, resisting the urge to add fresh garden thyme. As she recommended, I roasted a chicken and served a green salad. My only correction would be that it serves 4, not 6. Too scrumptious! - Lizthechef - A&M
Serves 6 (or one)
- 2.5 cups cubed bread, crusts removed
- 4 ounces unsalted butter
- 1.5 cups tomato puree*
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon Coleman's dry mustard
- Salt & pepper to taste
- *Tomato puree is available with other canned tomato products. I use my home canned tomatoes, drained, and then pureed in the blender.
- Preheat oven to 350. Place a pyrex or ceramic loaf pan in the oven and melt the butter. Toss the bread cubes in the butter and gently stir to coat.
- In a saucepan, add tomato puree, brown sugar, water and mustard. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, to melt the sugar. Taste and correct for salt & pepper.
- Pour tomato sauce over the bread. Do not stir. Bake for 1-1/2 hours uncovered.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for The Best Recipe or Technique Your Mother Taught You
Tags: comfort food, Easy, Side Dishes
More Great Recipes
Share a Recipe
Enter one of our contests, or share that great thing you made for dinner last night.
Add a Recipe
4 months ago Elyse Camozzo
I remember well your mother's tomato pudding.. She shared "her" recipe with me... From Joy of Cooking. Glad to see you have made some updates to it!
6 months ago Wild MountainThyme
I learned about this dish from a song and went on a search for more information. The song is by Jeff Daniels and it is here: http://www.youtube.com....
I also had a traumatic life experience of losing both my parents within a week. This was 10 years ago, and I still miss them both!! It is always good to keep the memories alive through the taste buds!
6 months ago MrsWheelbarrow
Cathy is a trusted source on Pickling/Preserving.
Thank you so much for posting this video. It's made my day. I'm such a fan of Jeff Daniels! I'm glad we all share the love of Tomato Pudding.
over 2 years ago pauljoseph
Excellent recipe
about 3 years ago drbabs
Barbara is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Dear Mrs. Wheelbarrow,
I made this today, and since I was bringing it to a friend's house, I scooped out the center and put it into a serving dish and ate the burned edges myself. :) I can totally see how you could sit down and eat it alone--it's delicious but in an unexpected way--bready, buttery, tomatoey, sweet--a combination of flavors and textures that screams comfort food. And it was so easy to make--I wish I had doubled or tripled the recipe!
about 3 years ago MrsWheelbarrow
Cathy is a trusted source on Pickling/Preserving.
DrBabs, You've made my day. In our house, the burnt edges were the best part. It's very unexpected, that's the perfect word for it. Thanks so much for the comment. MrsW
about 3 years ago Teri
This made me weepy and hungry, two of my favorite emotions. Do you think I can use drained canned tomatoes that are then pureed? I don't think I'll easily find tomato puree on Tokyo grocery-store shelves.
about 3 years ago MrsWheelbarrow
Cathy is a trusted source on Pickling/Preserving.
Yes, I think that drained canned tomatoes would be fine. That's what I use now! (Sorry about the weepy!)
about 3 years ago dymnyno
I love the impish sparkle in your mother's eyes!
about 3 years ago Lizthechef
My mother's maiden name was "Coleman" so this was the ONLY dry mustard in our house. Still my favorite -
about 3 years ago WinnieAb
While the story that goes with this recipe makes me really sad, this tomato pudding looks delicious and unlike anything I have ever seen. I hope that sharing her favorite comfort food with us does bring you comfort Cathy. ps. my mom/grandmother inspired recipe involves Coleman's dry mustard too...haven't posted it yet, but I will.
about 3 years ago WinnieAb
pps I love the portrait!
about 3 years ago MrsWheelbarrow
Cathy is a trusted source on Pickling/Preserving.
Thanks, Winnie. What is it about Coleman's? For the longest time, I didn't know there was any other kind of dry mustard.
about 3 years ago Lizthechef
My Mom would have loved this dish - her kid does too...
about 3 years ago drbabs
Barbara is a trusted source on General Cooking.
You lost your mother and grandmother on the same day!? How incredibly sad. I wish you good memories. I love the picture. In it, you can really see what a sweet person your mother was.
about 3 years ago MrsWheelbarrow
Cathy is a trusted source on Pickling/Preserving.
It was a very odd day, indeed. Glad you like the portrait - it hung in my grandmother's house for years. Mom was 16 when it was painted.
about 3 years ago TheWimpyVegetarian
I love the portrait too! I'm so sorry you had such big losses the same day. And I understand. My mom and grandmother died in the same month. Very painful time, but maybe even more so for my aunt who lost her mom and only sibling the same month. And the recipe - sounds like a terrific comfort food. It's a great example of the healing power of food.