Yankee Indian Pudding | Roadfood Bests
Indian pudding is vintage New England comfort food: slow-cooked cornmeal and molasses that smells like caramelized roasted sweet corn.

Indian pudding is one of New England’s fundamental comfort foods. Despite its name, it is not a native American dish adapted by colonist cooks. Early settlers considered just about anything made with corn to be Indian in nature. In its most primitive form – beaten corn, boiled with milk — it kept the Pilgrims alive; and as the first adaptation of an English recipe (for wheat meal and milk, known as Hasty Pudding), it signifies nothing less than the beginning of American cookery.
Its fundamental mixture of corn meal and molasses tastes like history, as basic a foodstuff as bread itself. An extremely long cooking time – up to 10 hours – is necessary to soften the corn and for the flavors to meld; and although some restaurants add raisins or other flavorings, the only traditional add-on is a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting fast atop each hot serving.
Indian pudding usually is served as dessert by the steaming bowlful; but, like apple pie, it can be found serving double-duty in town cafes, where it becomes breakfast porridge. The greatest version ever used to be made at Boston’s Durgin-Park, which closed in 2019. But you can count on these four Yankee eateries to serve it right.
Maine Diner
The Maine Diner is one of America's best, featuring exemplary Downeast dishes such as lobster pie and seafood chowder, also classic blue-plate specials.
Cole Farms
Maine's Cole Farms restaurant serves classic Yankee fare, from muffins to boiled dinner to old-fashioned Indian pudding, but now has a modern pub menu, too.
Aunt Carrie’s
Aunt Carrie's, at Point Judith on the ocean, remains one of the few restaurants in Rhode Island that still serves a full shore dinner.
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