When I was contacted and asked to enter a competition to capture the true taste of Italy, I was delighted! Especially when I was told that it would be judged by Francesco Mazzei, a fabulous Italian chef who has featured on Great British Chefs, Saturday Kitchen and Masterchef!
I was asked to create two courses using Grana Padano cheese as the star ingredient (one assumes in savoury dishes, and not sweet ones!)…
My mind began whirring immediately.
Now as the challenge is a two course one, today I am sharing my pudding entry because it was perfected first. Nothing to do with the fact that I adore cooking sweet things and challenging myself to make them more healthy!
Before deciding on this recipe I had tried out a recipe for healthy dairy-free toffee ice cream with honeycombe pieces and some apple fritters. Both were delicious but were not quite what I was hoping for for this competition.
Finally, after watching the Great British Bakeoff it came to me! A gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free egg-free, refined sugar-free frangipane pudding!!! And what better use of seasonal plums too?
So here it is, my healthy recipe makeover of a frangipane pudding or tart. If you wanted to make a crust for yours then I would suggest using either my shortcrust pastry recipe, or my grainfree almond pastry that I made for my summer ‘mincepies’.
I decided that they didn’t need a crust, and I was right. These are simply delicious all on their own although a dollop of dairy-free icecream wouldn’t go amiss if you fancied the extra sugar hit!
As always, if you make this recipe please let me know and post your photos on your favourite social media site. It always makes my day to see my recipes in use!
And pop back on Friday when I will reveal how to make my main course of seasonal squash, pancetta and grana padano homemade gluten-free raviolli!
Until then have a super week…
Plum Frangipane Pudding - Grain-free, Dairy-free, Egg-free, Refined Sugar-free
Ingredients
- 100 g unsweetened apple puree - homemade or bought
- 50 g runny honey
- 1 tbsp ground flax seeds
- 3 tbsp water
- 100 g ground almonds
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3-4 plums
- Handful sliced almonds
Instructions
- Combine the ground flax seeds with the water in a small bowl, mix well and set aside
- Place the apple puree, honey, ground almonds, almond extract and cinnamon in the bowl of a food processor (or a large bowl if you don't have a food processor)
- Return to your flax seed mixture and stir well until it turns gelatinous, then add to the other ingredients
- Process the mixture for about 2 minutes. Alternatively, use a hand held electric whisk and mix for about 2 minutes. If you don't have an electric whisk then mix well by hand
- Grease a four hole pie tin with a little coconut oil or vegetable oil
- Divide the mixture between the four holes
- Halve your plums and remove the stone, then cut each half into four pieces (so each plum gives 8 pieces)
- Decorate the top of your pies with the plum slices, pushing them gently into the top of the mixture
- Place in a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees (160 degree fan) for 15 minutes then remove from the oven and scatter with almond slices
- Return to the oven for a further 15 minutes before reducing the temparature to 160 degrees (140 degree fan) and cooking for a further 10 minutes
- Allow to cool in the tin before removing, or remove very carefully if you wish to eat them warm
Pin the recipe to Pinterest for later…
This is part of my entry into the Francesco Mazzei – ‘Top Chef’ Blogger Competition. I was provided with some ingredients and a Supermarket voucher to undertake the challenge.
I have shared the recipe with:
Galina V says
It looks delicious! I am just working on my post, but they told me even a dessert should include Grana Padano, so I did the starter and the main instead.
Vicki Montague says
Unfortunately they didn’t answer when I asked the question about desert, so didn’t include the cheese. I have just made another desert which I now have to find time to blog before Monday!!
Fede PastaBites says
Same for me – I did not risk dessert as it had to include Grana! Good luck to all
Vicki Montague says
Thanks Fede. Good luck to you too! I actually did do a desert with Grana…it was an apple torta…you can find that on my site too!
Julie's Family Kitchen says
Vicki, these little frangipane tarts look delightful. Best of luck with the competition, I have every confidence you will do brilliantly. xx
Vicki Montague says
Thanks Julie!
Kate - glutenfreealchemist says
Brilliant Vicki…. very very clever! I bet they taste amazing….. Good luck with the competition and looking forward to seeing your ravioli. xx
Vicki Montague says
Do let me know what you think. We think they are delicious and I have had to stop making them cos I keep eating too much!!! Thank you for your kind words x
Catherine says
These sound delicious, I can’t eat almonds but usually use ground hazelnuts instead.
Vicki Montague says
Ground hazelnuts would work perfectly. If you make it let me know what you think!
Honest mum says
These look delicious and I love how pretty they are too and of course healthy! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays
Vicki Montague says
Thanks Vicki. They are soooo tasty, they didn’t last long. I need to make some more!
Amy says
These are fab! Good luck in the competition. Looking forward to checking out the main on Fri!
Vicki Montague says
Thanks Amy. I think I might get disqualified for not including grana padano in my pudding…but not sure you can incorporate it into any puddings!!!
Marta @ petiteraisin.ca says
This sounds delicious, and like a fun competition! I’m sure there were some fabulous creations 🙂
#tastytuesdays
.:Marta:.
Vicki Montague says
Thanks Marta!