
Ingredients
- 160 g of dates, destoned and chopped (for the pudding)
- 90 g of unsalted butter, well softened, plus extra for greasing (for the pudding), plus 100g for the sauce
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract, for the pudding
- 150 g of light muscovado sugar, for the pudding
- 60 g of ginger, peeled and grated (for the pudding)
- 1 tbsp of black treacle, for the pudding, plus ½ tsp for the sauce
- 2 large eggs, for the pudding
- 185 g of self-raising flour, for the pudding
- 1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda, for the pudding
- 100 ml of whole milk, for the pudding
- 150 g of caster sugar, for the pears
- 1 cinnamon stick, for the pears
- 1 tsp of coriander seeds, for the pears
- 10 cardamom pods, bashed (for the pears)
- 2 lemons, pared zest of 1, juice of 2 (for the pears)
- 8 pears, peeled, base of core removed (for the pears)
- 30 g of blanched hazelnuts, toasted and chopped (for the pears)
- 200 g of light muscovado sugar, for the sauce
- 275 ml of double cream, for the sauce
- 1 tbsp of white miso paste, at room temperature
- 30 ml of dark rum, plus an extra splash
Method
Step 1
Put the dates in a bowl with 200ml boiling water. Soak for 30 mins; mash. Grease a 1.5L baking dish; preheat the oven to 170°C/150°C fan/gas 3-4.Step 2
Put the butter in a large bowl with the vanilla and muscovado sugar and beat with an electric mixer for 2-3 mins, until light and fluffy. Add the ginger and treacle. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.Step 3
In another bowl, mix the flour, bicarb and a big pinch of salt. Beat a third into the egg mix, then a third of the milk. Repeat twice, then stir in the dates. Transfer to the baking dish; bake for 50 mins, or until a skewer comes out clean.Step 4
Meanwhile, put the caster sugar, spices, zest, and juice of 1½ of the lemons into a pan with 1L water and place over the heat. When the sugar has dissolved, add the pears and bring to a simmer. Cover with a circle of baking paper (cut to fit inside your pan); simmer for 15 mins. Remove from the heat.Step 5
For the sauce, put the sugar, 250ml of the cream, the treacle, miso paste, butter and rum into a pan. Bring to a simmer, then to a rolling boil for 3 mins, stirring often. Remove from the heat; stir in the remaining cream and rum.Step 6
Remove the pudding from the oven, cool for 20 mins, then poke holes into it with a skewer. Pour over a third of the sauce; leave to cool for 30-45 mins.Step 7
Remove the pears from the syrup; pat dry with kitchen towel. Halve, slice into fans and drizzle with the rest of the lemon juice; arrange on the pudding.Step 8
Warm the sauce, drizzle some over the pears and scatter on the hazelnuts.