Winter 2022

Chai Crème Caramel, Slow Roasted Quince, Rose Petal Ice Cream

Quinces require a bit of preparation, but if you put them in the oven to cook slowly overnight, you’ll be rewarded with their haunting fragrance filling your kitchen in the morning.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

½ cup sugar

¼ cup water

½ tsp white vinegar

150 ml cream

200 ml milk

1 tbs chai spice mix

3 eggs

¼ cup castor sugar

2 quinces, peeled, quartered and cores removed

1 cup castor sugar

2 cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

2 pieces orange peel

250 ml good quality vanilla bean ice cream

4 tbs dried organic rose petals (available online from Organica Floret)

Method:

• Grease 4 x 90mm soufflé dishes with butter or lightly spray with oil.
• In a small saucepan, boil the sugar, water and vinegar until it turns a deep caramel colour.
• Carefully divide between the four dishes, allow to cool until set hard.
• Warm the milk and cream with the chai spice, set aside and allow to infuse for 10 minutes.
• Whisk together the eggs and sugar, then whisk in the cream and milk mixture. Strain through a fine sieve to remove the spices.
• Pour into the moulds, transfer to an oven proof baking dish half filled with hot water and bake for 25–30 minutes at 150°C.
• Remove from the tray and refrigerate overnight.
• Pack the quince quarters into a small baking tray and cover with the sugar, spices and orange peel. Cover tightly and cook for 12 hours at 100°C.
• Cool the quince, then dice into 5mm dice.
• Soften the ice cream slightly, mix through half of the rose petals and refreeze.
• Run a sharp knife around the sides of the crème caramels and turn out onto serving bowls.
• Top with a generous spoonful of diced quince, a scoop of ice cream, and garnish with the remaining rose petals.