Pear
& Almond Tart
Home grown pears are one of the most under-rated
fruits – they are so versatile and their delicious
texture can add interest to so many dishes –
sweet and savoury.
This simple recipe from the Fruisana Kitchen will
make a fabulous finale to any meal – even
a picnic. It has a scrumptious sweet almond pastry
and a pear and frangipane topping. Best served warm,
it is equally delicious cold.
Serves 8
Sweet Almond Pastry
125 g plain flour
1½ tbsp Fruisana Fruit Sugar
30g ground almonds
70g unsalted butter
1 egg
2- 4 tbsp water (for binding pastry)
Poaching syrup
50g Fruisana Fruit Sugar
300ml water
Pear topping
4 pears, (comice, williams or packham)
70g Fruisana Fruit Sugar
110g unsalted butter
3 large eggs
175g ground almonds
1 tsp almond essence
To make the Pastry
1. Place the flour, Fruisana and ground almonds
in a bowl, cut the butter into small cubes and rub
into the flour until the mixture resembles fine
breadcrumbs.
2. Stir in the egg and enough of the water to form
a soft dough.
3. Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface
and knead until smooth.
4. Roll out to fit a 25cm (10 inch) flan dish.
5. Bake blind in a fan oven 180°C, electric
oven 200°C or gas mark 6 for 15-20 minutes until
cooked and pale.
To prepare the Pears
6. Peel the pears, cut in half lengthways and remove
the cores with a small spoon.
7. In a frying pan place the Fruisana and water,
bring to the boil to dissolve and add the pears.
Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Poach for 20-30
minutes until the pears are soft but retaining their
shape (timing will depend on the ripeness of the
pears). Drain well.
Topping
8. Cream together the butter and Fruisana, beat
in each egg, then stir in the ground almonds and
essence.
9. Arrange the pears in the pastry case, spread
the almond mixture evenly over the top and smooth.
10. Bake in a fan oven 180°C, electric oven
200°C or gas mark 6 for 25-35 minutes until
the topping is springy and golden in colour.
Serve
with whipped cream.
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Strawberry
Cheesecake with Pink Peppercorn Sauce
This delicious and simple cheesecake from the Fruisana
Kitchen captures the very best of the flavour of the
strawberries……with an unusual twist –
a pink peppercorn sauce! In the same way that chilli
adds “length” to the flavour of chocolate,
rather than heat, so too does the peppercorn, with
the Fruisana, help to bring out the fullness of flavour
in the strawberries. Mmmn, this is sure to become
a firm family favourite!
Serves 10
Base
200g digestive biscuits
3 tbsp Fruisana Fruit Sugar
100g unsalted butter, melted
Sauce
225g strawberries, hulled and cut into slices
50g Fruisana Fruit Sugar
12 - 16 pink peppercorns, crushed
Topping
250g curd cheese
1 tbsp cornflour
4 tbsp double cream
3 large eggs, separated
finely grated rind and juice of 1 orange
80g Fruisana Fruit Sugar
250g strawberries, hulled and cut in half
1. Crush the biscuits finely. Place in a bowl and
stir in the Fruisana and butter. Mix well. Press evenly
into the base and sides of a 25cm (10inch) spring
clip tin.
2. Place the curd cheese, corn flour, double cream
and egg yolks in a bowl, mix well. Stir in the rind
and juice of the orange and the Fruisana. In another
bowl whisk the egg whites until stiff. Gradually fold
into the curd cheese mixture. Mix thoroughly.
3. Place the strawberry halves evenly over the biscuit
base, pour over the curd cheese mixture.
4. Bake in a fan oven 180°C, electric oven 200°C
or gas mark 6 for 30-40 minutes until set and pale
golden on top.
5. To make the sauce: Place the strawberries and Fruisana
in a saucepan and allow to cook gently. Push the strawberries
through a sieve to form a smooth sauce. Stir in the
peppercorns and serve with the cheesecake.
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