{Poached Pear and Chocolate Pudding}

I baked this for a Saturday lunch with friends last weekend. It followed a roast on a rainy and cold Sydney day. Just. Perfect!

Serves 4
Ingredients:
4 mini pears

185g good quality chocolate (dark or milk)
185g unsalted butter
4 eggs (seperated)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup of almond meal
3 tbl plain flour
3 tbls sugar, extra


Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180'C
1. Sit pears in a saucepan of water on a low heat. (I put them in there whilst making the pudding part and checked every so often).
2. Place chocolate and butter in a saucepan on a low heat and stir until melted and smooth. Set aside.
3. Place egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and mix until light and creamy.
4. Slowly add the chocolate mixture, almond meal and flour. Fold through.
5. Whisk egg whites until soft peaks form. Add sugar slowly and keep whisking until glossy.
6. Fold a spoonful of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture gently with a metal spoon. Then keep adding the egg whites until combined, but be gentle not to take the air out of the mixture.
7. Gently pour the chocolate mixture into the dish (or individual ramekins). Then, when the pears are tender, place gently in the pudding dish(es).
8. Bake for about 20 mins or until the edges are cooked and its a little soft around the pear.