White Pepper Creme Brulee With Fig And Prune Compote

By á-174942

Ingredients

• COMPOTE:
• 2 cups apple juice
• 3/4 cup diced dried Calimyrna figs - (abt 5 oz)
• 3/4 cup diced dried pitted prunes - (abt 5 oz)
• 1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel - (packed)
• CUSTARDS:
• 2 1/3 cups whipping cream
• 1/3 cup half-and-half
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly-ground white pepper
• 1 piece vanilla bean - (abt 5") split lengthwise
• 8 large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar
• ===
• 9 teaspoons raw sugar crystals

Details

Servings 6

Preparation

Step 1

For Compote: Combine all ingredients in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently until figs and prunes are soft, about 10 minutes. Cool compote slightly. Transfer to small bowl. (Compote can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

For Custards: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Arrange six 3/4-cup ramekins or custard cups in 13- by 9- by 2-inch metal baking pan. Combine cream, half-and-half, and pepper in heavy medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring cream mixture to simmer over medium heat. Cover; set aside 10 minutes to steep. Discard vanilla bean. Whisk egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar in medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in warm cream mixture.

Divide custard among ramekins. Pour enough hot water into baking pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins. Bake custards until set in center, about 35 minutes. Remove custards from water; refrigerate uncovered until cold, about 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)

Preheat broiler. Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons raw sugar crystals over top of each custard. Place custards on small baking sheet and broil until sugar melts and browns, rotating sheet for even browning, about 3 minutes. Refrigerate custards uncovered until topping hardens, at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours.

Serve custards with compote.

This recipe yields 6 servings.