TV CHEF PHIL VICKERY’S FAMILY FEASTS: Harry Redknapp’s roly poly

I cooked this specially for Mr Redknapp when he appeared on This Morning having won I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! That was the food he missed the most while in the jungle. If you have any leftover roll, wrap it in clingfilm and chill in the fridge. When needed, slice while cold then warm gently in a microwave on medium power.

SERVES 4

225g self-raising flour

100g vegetarian suet

50g caster sugar

1 medium egg, lightly beaten

150g reduced-sugar blackcurrant jam

butter, for greasing

FOR THE CUSTARD

568ml skimmed milk

4 heaped tbsp custard powder

3-4 tbsp sugar

• Preheat the oven to 190C/gas 5. Place the flour, suet, sugar and egg in a bowl and mix well. Add a touch of cold water and mix to a soft but not sticky dough.
• Roll out the pastry until it measures about 30cm × 40cm. Spread over the jam thickly; there is nothing worse than an under-filled roly poly. Roll up lightly – not too tight – then cut in half, so you end up with two manageable rolls.
• Tear off two pieces of foil, each roughly 30cm × 40cm. Butter really well, then carefully place each pastry roll on top. Roll loosely around the pastry (it will expand when baking), then twist up the ends of each roll.
• Scrunch up a large piece of foil and place in a baking tray, then place the rolls on top, making sure they do not touch the tray. Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes, turning the rolls after 20 minutes. This ensures an even cook and colour at the end.
• To test the roly polys are done, just gently squeeze and they should be full and firm. If not, bake for a few more minutes. Once cooked, carefully remove from the oven and leave the rolls to set.
• Meanwhile, make the custard by mixing roughly 100ml of the milk with the custard powder. Put the rest of the milk in a pan and bring to the boil, then quickly whisk in the custard milk mixture and bring back to a simmer to thicken. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar to taste. Open the foil rolls and slice the roly poly. Serve with hot custard.

TIP The suet and sugar content is ten per cent less than traditional roly poly, and reduced-sugar jam makes this overall a lower-calorie version. 

Just £3