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Cherry Pottage (Pudding)

Cherry Pottage is a luxurious medieval dish that combines the tart sweetness of cherries with the richness of wine, sugar, and butter. Thickened with fine breadcrumbs, this dish was a symbol of wealth and sophistication, as it utilized high-cost ingredients like white sugar and fine white bread (wastel bread). Typically served at noble feasts, it was both a dessert and a visual delight, garnished with aromatic cloves and sprinkled with coarse sugar for an added touch of elegance. The dish balances fruity tartness with creamy and spiced undertones, offering a unique and indulgent taste of medieval dining culture.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes

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IngredientsMethodVideoNotes

Ingredients
  

  • 300 g fresh ripe red cherries about 2 cups
  • 120 ml red wine 1/2 cup
  • 60 g white sugar about 1/3 cup
  • 15 g unsalted butter 1 tablespoon
  • 75 g soft white breadcrumbs about 1/2 cup
  • Pinch of salt
  • Whole cloves for decoration
  • Coarse white sugar for sprinkling
  • Optional Topping: Whipped snow cream - 1 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup sugar

Instructions
 

Prepare the Cherries:

  1. Wash the cherries and remove the stems and stones. Purée the cherries in a blender or food processor with 50ml of the wine (about 3 tablespoons) and half the sugar. If the mixture is too thick, add a little more wine to loosen it.

Cook the Pottage:

  1. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the cherry purée, breadcrumbs, remaining wine, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Stir the mixture steadily to combine.
  2. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens to a pudding-like consistency, about 8-10 minutes.

Cool and Decorate:

  1. Pour the cherry pottage into a serving bowl and let it cool to room temperature. Once cooled, place in the refrigerator to chill completely.
  2. Decorate the edge of the bowl with whole cloves (gilded if you like for a decorative touch) or small flowers. Sprinkle coarse white sugar over the center.

Serve with Whipped Cream:

  1. Add a dollop of whipped cream on top of each serving just before serving. For homemade whipped cream, beat 1/4 cup heavy cream with 1 teaspoon of sugar until soft peaks form.

Video

Notes

  • Clove Warning: The whole cloves are for decoration and should not be eaten, as they are very strong in flavor.
 
  • Substitutions: For a non-alcoholic version, substitute the red wine with cherry juice or grape juice.
 
  • Whipped Cream Variations: Add a touch of vanilla or a pinch of cinnamon to the whipped cream for extra flavor.