You can serve this dessert warm or, alternatively, refrigerate until cold, scatter with caster sugar and caramelise the top with a blowtorch. Good-quality shop-bought biscuits such as cantucci or ginger wafers add extra texture without adding labour.
Ingredients
Method
Main
1.Preheat oven to 160C. Combine dessert wine, 330gm sugar, vanilla bean and seeds, lemon rind, half the cardamom and 50ml water in a large deep-sided frying pan, stir over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil, cook for 7-8 minutes until a light syrup forms, add apple, reduce heat to low-medium and cook, turning occasionally, until tender and translucent (10-12 minutes). Drain half the apple from syrup with a slotted spoon, divide among bases of four 500ml-capacity shallow ovenproof bowls placed in a baking tray lined with a tea towel, set aside. Warm remaining apples and syrup just before serving.
2.Meanwhile, combine cream and remaining cardamom in a saucepan over medium heat and bring just to the boil. Whisk yolks and remaining sugar to combine, pour over cream mixture and whisk to combine. Strain into a jug, divide among bowls and scatter with nutmeg. Pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up sides of ramekins, cover with foil and bake until just set (15-20 minutes), stand for 5 minutes, dust with icing sugar and serve with remaining apples, syrup and crisp biscuits.
Drink Suggestion: Botrytis semillon. Drink suggestion by Max Allen
Notes
