Fig Apricot And Raspberry Brûlée Recipes

FIG AND RASPBERRY CLAFOUTIS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange the fresh figs, cut side up, in a buttered 2-quart baking or gratin dish. Sprinkle the dried figs and raspberries around and on top of the fresh figs. Set aside. In a blender or food processor, combine the flour, 1 1/4 cups of the cream, the sugar, eggs, and salt. Process until well-mixed, about 30 seconds. Pour the batter over the fruit. Sprinkle the top with the sliced almonds. Bake in the middle of the oven until the top is golden and the batter is slightly firm to the touch, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the pan to a rack and let it cool for 15 minutes. In the meantime, combine the remaining 1-cup cream with the confectioners' sugar and the vanilla, and whip until soft peaks form. Spoon the clafoutis onto individual plates, and serve with whipped cream.

RASPBERRY FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine figs, water, honey and vanilla bean in a saucepan.
• Stir over a low heat until honey dissolves. Bring to the boil then simmer until figs are tender and liquid has reduced to a thick syrup, stirring frequently for about 20 minutes.
• Stir in frozen raspberries and continue to simmer until sauce thickens to required consistency, about 5 minutes.

DRIED FIG, APRICOT AND CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Combine 2 1/2 cups water, sugar and cinnamon sticks in large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 5 minutes. Add figs and simmer uncovered 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in apricots, cherries and then brandy. Return to heat and simmer uncovered until all fruits are tender but still retain shape, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in crystallized ginger. Cool. (Compote can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Serve at room temperature or chilled.

RASPBERRY BRûLéE

Steps:

• Split the vanilla pod and scrape the seeds into a pan with the lemon zest and cream. Toss the pod in too. Heat until just before the cream boils - tiny bubbles will be forming at the edges. Turn off the heat and infuse for 15 mins.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Put four ramekins into a roasting tin and fill the tin with boiling water so that about 2cm of the ramekins is uncovered.
• Divide the raspberries between the ramekins, reserving a few. Whisk the egg yolks and caster sugar, using an electric whisk, until very pale and fluffy, about 3 mins. Remove the zest and vanilla pod from the cooled cream, then slowly stir it into the egg mixture. Transfer to a jug and pour through a sieve into the ramekins, then top with the reserved raspberries. Bake in the oven for 20-25 mins until the custard forms a skin and holds a slight wobble when you nudge the tray. Allow to cool, then chill in the fridge for at least 4 hrs.
• If you don't have a blowtorch, heat the grill to high. Sprinkle demerara sugar over each ramekin and either use a blowtorch to caramelise the top or place them under the grill until the sugar has melted and crisped. Allow to settle for 5 mins before serving.

FIG, APRICOT, AND RASPBERRY BRûLéE

Steps:

• In a small bowl stir together zest, citrus juices, vanilla, and mint sugar.
• Butter six 1-cup shallow flameproof gratin dishes or bowls. Quarter figs. Halve and pit apricots. Divide figs, apricots, raspberries, and juice mixture among dishes or bowls.
• Just before serving, sprinkle sugar evenly over fruit and caramelize with blowtorch, moving flame evenly back and forth just over sugar (alternatively, broil fruit under a preheated broiler set 2 to 3 inches from heat) until most of sugar is melted and deep golden in places.
• Immediately serve brûlées with crème fraîche.