Spiced Oatmeal Fritters With Coconut Caramel Pears Recipes

SPICED OATMEAL FRITTERS WITH COCONUT CARAMEL PEARS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the almond milk, cloves, nutmeg and 3 tsp of the cinnamon. Bring to a simmer. Tip in the oats and cook for 6 mins over a low heat, stirring constantly, until thick and creamy, like porridge. Scrape into a mixing bowl, cover, and cool for 20 mins.
• While you wait, make the caramel pears. Sprinkle the sugar evenly over a frying pan set on a low heat. Don't stir it, but wait until it starts to melt, turning dark golden here and there. When most of the sugar is melted, gently swirl to incorporate any dry patches. Stir in 25g of the coconut butter. Toss the pear slices in the remaining cinnamon, then add to the caramel and cook for 5 mins until softened. Set aside.
• Return to the oats now, beating in the eggs and ½ tsp salt to make a loose pancake-like batter. Heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1 and put plates in to warm.
• Melt a little of the remaining coconut butter in a frying pan. When hot, add half-ladlefuls of the batter spaced apart and cook for 4 mins each side, or until golden brown. Remove to a plate and keep warm in the oven. Continue frying the fritters, adding more coconut butter as needed. Serve the fritters topped with a spoonful of coconut yogurt followed by the warm pears.

SPICED PEARS WITH ORANGES AND CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Using melon baller and starting from bottom, core each pear. Cut thin slice off bottom of each pear to make level.
• Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in heavy large saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil until syrup is deep amber color, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan occasionally, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat; whisk in butter, then 2 tablespoons water.
• Stand pears in caramel sauce in saucepan. Sprinkle cinnamon over. Cover and cook over low heat 10 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with ras-el-hanout. Cover and continue to cook until pears are tender, occasionally spooning caramel sauce over pears and shaking pan so pears don't stick, about 15 minutes. Arrange orange slices around pears; spoon caramel sauce over. Cover and simmer until orange slices soften, about 5 minutes.
• Place orange slices on plates. Stand pears atop orange slices. Spoon caramel sauce over and sprinkle with almonds. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• *A Moroccan spice blend available at some specialty foods stores and Middle Eastern markets, and by mail from The Spice House (312-274-0378; thespicehouse.com).