A Birmingham dinner lady has parted with her secret recipe for a dish that Brummies adore.
Much-loved chocolate concrete was served at schools across the city in the 1970s and 1980s.
After a discussion online reminiscing about the crumbly iconic pudding, Josephine Wheat chipped in offering up the long-standing recipe that she used to Birmingham Live readers.
Chocolate concrete has been fondly referred to by grown-ups reminiscing on their childhood school days and dinners as the “best ever pudding”.
Here’s dinner lady Jo’s recipe for all those who want to try it out for themselves.
Method
Start by creaming together the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy, then weigh out all of the other ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
Add the creamed mixture to the large bowl and combine everything to form a thick dough-like batter.
Roll the mixture into a ball then flatten it out onto a greased baking tray with a rolling pin. The consensus is to bake at 180C for about 20 minutes or until you see the right hard consistency.
Chocolate concrete has been compared to a “kind of chocolate shortbread”.
Lovers of the popular pudding, which was a Midlands delicacy, are still arguing over which type of custard is best served with it.
Controversy surrounds whether it should be served with pink, minty green or even chocolate custard.
Jo’s recipe doesn’t include custard but there are plenty of easy recipes online for the unique luminous-coloured topping, including this one by Food.
