Pear and chocolate betty

Serves 6

100g lightly salted butter
2 tsps ground ginger
8 pears, peeled, cored and cut into thick wedges
150g maple syrup
3 tbsps lime juice
125g breadcrumbs
50g plain chocolate, chopped

Step 1) Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6. Melt half the butter in a frying pan with the ginger. Add the pears and fry gently for a few minutes until coated in spicy butter and beginning to soften. Transfer to a shallow ovenproof dish and drizzle with 100ml of the maple syrup and the lime juice.

Step 2) For the topping, melt the remaining butter in the pan and gently fry the breadcrumbs for 2 minutes, stiring, until coated in the butter. Stir in the remaining maple syrup.

Step 3) Scatter the chocolate over the pears and tip the breadcrumbs over the top, spreading them to cover the pears. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the breadcrumbs are lightly crisped. Serve warm.

Recipe by Joanna Farrow

Looking for more delicious recipes? Why not try Country Homes & Interiors' simple smoked trout pate with beetroot relish, and for dessert, their mouth-watering ginger panna cotta?   

Chosen by Country Homes & Gardens