What Does Black Pudding Taste Like? Does it Taste Good?

Black pudding, one of the most popular ingredients in traditional British breakfast, appeals to many as a mystery food.

You either love it or hate it, but you can’t deny that the humble black pudding that’s found in full English breakfasts offers a unique taste that sets it apart from other breakfast items.

Despite the love that many people have for it, black pudding’s inclusion in breakfast never fails to surprise someone who is not accustomed to this sausage.

For this reason, if you’ve never tried it before, you might wonder “What does black pudding taste like?”

If you’re curious, let’s find out below.

What is Black Pudding?

Traditional black pudding, also known as blood pudding, is blood sausage made of animal blood, usually pig’s blood, fat, and oatmeal.

Nowadays, some variations replace the oatmeal with barley, bread crumbs, or potatoes. The mixture is cooked until it becomes a thick, creamy texture, seasoned with spices like pepper, nutmeg, or ginger.

Black pudding had been around for centuries, and it was born out of necessity. People wanted to make use of every part of the animals they slaughtered. The blood was combined with salt and spices to prevent any spoilage, and it made the blood edible.

Despite people’s initial skepticism, black pudding might have been one of the earliest forms of charcuterie. Its flavors became popular across Europe, and it became a staple in traditional breakfast and even high-end cuisine.

What Does Black Pudding Taste Like?

The first words that come to mind when describing black pudding are rich and savory.

The taste of black pudding is quite assertive, thanks to the complex flavors of spices like cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. While it’s made from blood, it doesn’t have a metallic taste; instead, it’s rich and earthy.

The texture of black pudding is surprisingly creamy and smooth, and it feels almost velvety on the tongue. It holds its shape when sliced, and it doesn’t crumble like most sausages do.

People generally describe black pudding’s taste as a mix of nutty, umami, and almost sweet flavors, with a subtle spice undertone.

This unique combination of flavors and texture means that there is nothing else quite like black pudding in the world of sausages.

How to Enjoy Black Pudding’s Flavors?

Even if you’re not a fan of black pudding in a traditional full English breakfast, there are multiple ways you can enjoy this sausage’s flavors.

Black pudding complements the flavors of many ingredients, and they go well with both sweet and savory dishes. Here are some ways to enjoy black pudding’s flavors:

• Eat it as a side dish – Because black pudding offers such a unique flavor, it’s often an excellent accompaniment to other dishes. You can enjoy it with a side salad, with mashed potatoes and gravy, or alongside roasted vegetables. This way, you can appreciate its unique flavors without feeling overwhelmed.
• Make a black pudding sandwich – You can make a black pudding sandwich with a fresh ciabatta roll, crispy bacon or sausage, fresh tomato slices, and maybe a little ketchup or hot sauce.
• Pair with eggs – Whether you serve the black pudding as part of a full English breakfast or pair it with poached, scrambled, or fried eggs, you’ve got a classic combination.
• Add it to pasta – In Italy, they use blood to make a type of pasta called pici; nonetheless, black pudding works well with pasta. The flavors blend beautifully with a tomato-based sauce, and it helps to cut through the richness of the dish.
• Use it in a stew – You can add black pudding to a stew recipe to give it more flavor and depth, or you can replace the cuts with them.
• Black pudding scotch egg – A scotch egg is a popular finger food in the UK – it’s a boiled egg coated in sausage meat and breadcrumbs and fried until golden brown. You can make it more interesting by replacing the sausage meat with black pudding for a unique twist on this staple.

Conclusion

If you have never tried black pudding before, it’s understandable why you might feel a little hesitant. Even with its connotations of being a blood sausage, it’s important to remember that black pudding offers a unique taste with complex flavors, providing a creamy texture that sets it apart from other sausages.

Although you might not love it immediately, it’s worth trying it just for the experience. And who knows, you might surprise yourself and find that you, too, are a fan of this quirky and divisive sausage.

Black pudding is versatile enough to serve in many dishes outside a traditional English breakfast. Once you’ve found a cooking method and a recipe that you enjoy, you’ll be able to appreciate this staple with a newfound appreciation.