Pear and Ginger Pudding
Simple in technique , rich in flavor with pear and ginger health benefits , smooth in texture you will be licking your spoon clean .Pudding is the basis for a few desserts you will see featured this week , so I figure I might as well make it a baking basis feature .Especially since homemade pudding is so easily adaptable you can make it into just about any flavor you want once you have the base recipe mastered .
Health Benefits of pears
Pears are naturally high in vitamin C and as well as nutrients such as copper - all of which act as antioxidants to protect our cells from damage from free radicals .One pear contains up to 11 percents of our daily recommended intake of vitamin C and 9.5 percent of our daily recommended intake of copper .Pears are also said to have more nutrients per calorie than calorie per nutrient .
Protect our hearts
Pears are an excellent source of dietary fiber ,and fiber is good for the heart .Studies have shown that fiber can lower levels of bad cholesterol by binding to bile salts -which are made from cholesterol -and carrying them out of the body .Eating pears can also reduce risk of stroke by up to 50 percent .
Cancer prevention
Pears can also protect us from varying types of cancer .In addition to binding to cholesterol , the fiber in pears can also bind to and help remove cancer -causing chemicals in the colon , thus reducing risk of colon cancer .Studies have also shown that eating fiber- rich fruits such as pears can reduce risk of break cancer by 34 percent in post -menopausal women .
Selection
If buying pears from the super market ,you may find it tricky , to find a perfect ripe pear .This is because pears are often picked well before they are ripe , as they continue to ripen after they are picked .Fortunately , you can pick up firm , unripe pears at the market and allow them to ripen on your counter top until they're ready to eat .
Because of their tender flesh , pears bruise easily .Avoid pears that have big , noticeable bruises ,cuts or dents .
Ingredients
Serves 4
55 g unsalted butter ,softened
plus extra for greasing
55 g self raising flour
55 g caster sugar
1 large free range egg
1 piece of stem ginger in syrup
1 orange
1 ripe pear
golden syrup or reserved ginger
syrup
Method
Start by making 2 grease proof discs to top the puddings :place 2 teacups pr ramekins upside down on grease proof paper , draw round them , then cut out the circles , just inside the line .
Lightly grease one side with butter , then grease the inside of the teacups or ramekins .
In a food processor , blitz the flour , sugar , butter and egg to make a batter .
Chop and add the ginger , finely grate in the orange zest , then pulse once or twice .
Peel , core and cut the pear into 1 cm chunks.
Pour a little golden syrup or reserved ginger syrup into the base of each cup or ramekin , then top with half the chopped pear each .
Divide the batter between the two , then lightly press a circle of paper on top butter side down .
Cook in the microwave on full power for 4 minutes , or until it feels springy to the touch .
Leave to cool for a couple of minutes , then carefully turn out and enjoy with lashings of hot custard .
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