suet?

soolin

Bit of a strange question this and this is probably the only board where someone might have an answer.

I used to buy a Tesco own brand suet that was actually gluten free which I used with gluten free flour to make dumplings. However the Tesco suet now has wheat flour and is no longer suitable for me. I've not been able to find any other suet I can use and someone suggested that I should be able to make my own if I buy the right stuff from a butcher. But what on earth is it that I need? To me suet is something I buy in a packet and add to flour to make dumplings, but I assume it is actually a fat product, can anyone help?

It must be completely gluten free though as I have coeliac disease.

Soo

snaffler

Herb Suet Dumplings

Method
1. Combine all the ingredients in a medium size bowl using a fork to give a stiff sticky dough.
2. Roll dough on a surface lightly dusted with Glutafin Select Fibre Mix and shape into 8 rounds.
3. Place on top of cooked casserole. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Cooking time 20 minutes simmering
Preparation time 10 minutes
Makes 8 dumplings to serve 4

Ingredients...
125g/4½oz Glutafin Select Fibre Mix
½ x 5ml tsp Gluten free baking powder*
50g/2oz shredded gluten free vegetable suet*
2 x 5ml tsp mixed dried herbs
5-6 x 15ml tbsps cold water
Pinch salt and ground black pepper
*Check in your Coeliac UK Gluten-free Food and Drink Directory for suitable brands.

http://www.glutafin.co.uk/

or

http://www.wheatanddairyfree.com/

or

http://www.dovesfarm-glutenfree.co.uk/

Let me know if you need more help

soolin

I used to basically do the Glutafin recipe but they don't sell suet, which is the bit that I'm missing for all the recipes.

Doves farm have already told me they also do not sell suet, and Juvela actually put in their latest magazine that GF suet is now almost impossible to find (they don't sell it either).

I'm surprised how high a profile getting these dumplings made is becoming..I'm having a bad few months and not having dumplings is just proving the final straw..odd as that may sound

Soo

thriftlady_2

A good butcher should be able to prepare suet for you. My butcher sells it already grated up at this time of the year. I'm pretty sure it is just suet and has nothing else added like flour. It freezes well

soolin

Thanks thriftlady, I'll go and ask my local friendly butcher!

Soo

Debt_Free_Chick

AFAIK, suet is just shredded fat, usually beef (but sometimes mutton) and it's the fat that surrounds & protects the kidneys.

So ... you could experiment with a solid fat of your choice e.g. beef dripping, lard etc.

I'd put it in the freezer for an hour and then simply grate it, using the coarse side of a grater. If you prepare the rest of the mixture first, you can grate it directly into the mix - provided you've accurately measured the amount of fat (suet) needed.

HTH

carol_a_3

They only put the flour in to stop the fat sticking together don't they. I buy vegetarian suet for my DD1 which is made of "hydrogenated vegetable oil" and doesn't sound too healthy but that uses wheat flour too, I just checked the box. As everyone else says, a butcher should help you. Good luck.

soolin

Thanks everyone, I'm going to try freezing and grating some old fahioned lard into my gf flour and see what happens!

Soo

apprentice_tycoon

In past years I've used Broadlands suet which is vegetarian and wheat free, this was from health food shops

soolin

AT, I've used that brand in the past but it disappeared from my local stores a few years back which is why I switched to the Tesco one. I'll have to do a search online and see if I can find any.

Soo