Author Notes: The recipe for the clafoutis base was adapted from Lulu Grimes Cooks Book of Everything. I adapted it further (the original used cherries) to incorporate some beautiful pears I had picked up at the Farmer’s Markets and poached in Pedro Ximenez Sherry. If you’ve never tried Pedro Ximenez I strongly suggest you do as it’s a beautifully sweet drink that goes perfectly with desserts or on it’s own. Poaching the pears in the Pedro Ximenez infused them with the deliciously raisin, coffee and treacle flavours inherit in the sherry and the addition of vanilla bean and cinnamon only added to the resulting deliciousness of the pears once poached. I then baked the pears into the clafoutis and served with a reduction of the poaching liquid. —Jennifer (Delicieux)
Serves: 6
Ingredients
Poached Pears
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2
packham pears
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1
cup Pedro Ximenez or other sweet sherry
-
2
cups water
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1/2
cup sugar
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1
vanilla bean
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1
cinnamon quill
Clafoutis
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60
grams (1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon) of plain flour
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75
grams (1/3 cup) of sugar
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4
eggs
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250
milliliters (1 cup) full cream milk
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25
grams (1/4 stick) of unsalted butter
-
1
teaspoon vanilla extract
-
2
tablespoons cream
Directions
Poached Pears
- Place a saucepan large enough to hold the pears and liquid on a medium heat. Add the Pedro Ximinez, water, sugar cinnamon quill and pears.
- Split the vanilla bean and scrape the seeds into the pot and then add the bean to the poaching liquid.
- Poach the pears until they become tender but not so soft they fall apart. The time this will take depends on how ripe the pears are.
- Remove the pears from the poaching liquid and drain on some paper towel while you make the clafoutis.
- Meanwhile, add an additional 1/2 cup of sugar and increase the heat and bring the poaching liquid to a simmer and reduce the liquid into a syrup to pour over the clafoutis upon serving.
Clafoutis
- Preheat the oven to 180degrees and grease the baking dish(es) you will use to bake the clafoutis.
- In a jug or separate bowl add the eggs,milk, cream and melted butter and beat together gently to combine.
- Sift the flour into a bowl and add the sugar. Make a well in the centre and gradually whisk in the liquid until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.
- Place the pears in the bottom of the baking dish(es) and pour the batter over the pears.
- Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, or until the batter has risen and is golden on the edges.
- Serve with freshly whipped cream or ice cream along with a drizzle of the poaching liquid.
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Photo by Mark Weinberg
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Photo by Mark Weinberg