You can find vegetable shortening in all supermarkets and it’s easily accessible and can be used for a range of recipes. Vegetable shortening is one of the best substitutes for suet.

It also doesn’t have much flavor, so it will not affect the flavor of your meal. You can find it in any supermarket. It is a great ingredient to use when frying. 7. Sunflower oil Weigh out double that amount in flour (200 grams of suet to 400 grams of flour). If you’re using plain flour and adding bicarbonate of soda or baking powder then add in two teaspoons of that too. Lard is made from pig fat, and can be found in any supermarket, making it easily accessible and a great substitute for suet. Furthermore the removal of the skin and tissue and the even mixing due to the fine shreds, imparts an extreme lightness in the cooking, and removes the reproach which was sometimes levelled at puddings made with the old-fashioned suet, of being heavy and stodgy. Atora is the main UK brand for suet – but any supermarket brand of suet is just as good, so don’t think this is the only name that works.This may not be easily accessible in your supermarket, however, vegetable suet has become more popular over the years. Sunflower oil can also be used when frying as a substitute for suet. However, it should not be used when making doughs or baked goods as it will ruin the texture of the dish completely. Children may like to start a bird book, keeping a record of the species they see – and don’t forget the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch every January, when you note the birds that visit your garden (or park or other open space) and send your results to the RSPB. Beef fat also has a high smoke point and when used in pastry crusts it yields a light, flaky pastry, perfect for any pie filling, sweet or savory.

Using the same method, make a hole about the size of an egg, about halfway up the bottle. Fill the bottle with seed to just below the hole. The birds will perch on the edge of the hole to feed. I’ve acquired a vintage copy of the Atora Suet Recipes Book, printed some time in the 1950s. I grew up with these Atora recipe books being omnipresent in the kitchen and one of my earliest memories of visiting gran is of her steaming a steak & kidney pudding in a saucepan on her stovetop! Mum used a pressure cooker to make our suet puddings, the pressure cooker had belonged to dad as a present from his mum. While granny had time to make steak & kidney pudding, mum used to usually just cook us stew & dumplings. Anything suet is a “win” in my book! However, if you’re really in a pinch, you can use butter for pie crusts and baked goods. However, it would be best to freeze the butter and grate it, just like vegetable shortening. 6. Ghee This is another great substitute for suet, however only in certain recipes such as pie crusts. Or for some frying.Tie a length of ribbon or twine around the top of pine cones. Roll them in melted fat, then roll in seeds. Place in the fridge to set. Hang the pine cones from a tree. Logs Butter has a much lower smoke point than suet. So, it will burn if using it for deep frying, and might not add that light and airy consistency to your plum pudding or Christmas cakes.

Suet pastry is made in a simple ratio of 2 parts flour to 1 part suet (by weight), with a pinch of salt. And that’s it! That’s then mixed with some cold water until it binds and you’ve got instant dumplings. This isn’t a “cheat”, this is how they’ve always been made, so you’re not skimping on quality or anything. Use an empty plastic drinks bottle to make a loose seed feeder. Make a couple of small holes in the bottom, to allow any water to drain. Use the drill, a heated metal skewer, or twist away with a pointy-ended implement. That is an interesting short piece on the man who invented Atora – and how it is made – and what benefits Atora suet gave over making your own suet from fresh. Atora Suet Recipes:However, if a recipe calls for suet, the properties of suet will often help the texture of the recipe, although in most places it can be replaced with lard in the same quantity. Can I use coconut oil instead of suet? You can use it in the same way as beef fat, and it can also be substituted for any recipe. It does not have a lot of flavors but has a high smoke point so it is especially good for deep frying and making dough. 4. Vegetable suet Yes, butter is one of the best substitutes for suet in Christmas pudding, as butter is usually used in cakes and baked goods, making it an easy swap. The best way to use butter as a substitute is to use the same ratio and freeze it before grating it into your mix. Can I replace vegetable suet with butter?

The name "Atora" was derived from the "toro", the Spanish word for bull, inspired by the fact that suet comes from beef cattle. You can ask for beef fat at the butchers and use it the same way as suet in your recipes, making it a great substitute that will yield the same results as you would have when using suet. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pudding basin, cover with parchment paper and foil and steam for 8 hours. The following substitutes can help you save your next meal that includes suet if you don’t have suet at hand. 1. Vegetable shorteningSuet should be made with regular, beef, or vegetarian ingredients. Your own opinion. Flour can be raised without the use of chemicals. Alternatively, plain flour can be made with bicarbonate of soda. One last important point. These recipes prepared with “ATORA” are not only nice – they contain all the nourishment of good beef suet. Remember that suet is more than a cooking medium, it is a food, and there is no substitute for it. Vegetable oil is great for deep frying because it has a high smoke point. So if you are asked to fry something in suet, you can use vegetable oil instead and it will yield you the same results. 8. Xanthan Gum