Caramelised Pears, Armagnac Cream & Date Compote

Cook Time 40 minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

Date compote

500g pitted medjool Dates

100g icing sugar

300ml water

1tsp bi carb soda

Armagnac cream

230g thickened Cream

1 tsp Vanilla bean paste

30ml Armagnac

Caramelised Pears

4 under ripe beurre bosc pears

½ orange zest

100g caster sugar

30ml Armagnac

50g butter

Method

For the date compote, place the dates, icing sugar water and bicarb in a saucepan and bring to boil.

Leave to reduce until water has evaporated and dates haven broken down to a pulp. Set aside to cool.

For the Armagnac cream, whip the cream, Armagnac and vanilla together until it becomes soft peaks.

Peel, core, and cut pears into quarters.

In a heavy stainless steel pan add butter and sauté pears, turn over when browned.

Sprinkle sugar and leave to cook to a dark amber caramel.

Once the colour of caramel is correct add orange zest and allow to cook on a medium high heat for about 6-8 mins on each side depending on ripeness.

Before taking pears out of caramel deglaze pan with 50ml Armagnac and flambé.

Once flames have subsided you can then proceed to take pears out of caramel. They should be glazed in a delicious sticky syrup.

These can be served either warm or cold, they are delicious either way!