Microwave Crème Brulee with Raspberries

Recipes from Suzanne James | www.suzannejames.co.uk

If like me, you have a friend with an allotment and a lot of raspberries then beg a handful or two from them for this recipe ever. Trust me – the proof is in the pudding with this recipe, it is super easy and delicious. It works in teacups, in a big dish (be careful if using glass make sure it is heat resistant) or as small individual ramekins. Serves 4.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups double cream

• 3 egg yolks

• ¼ cup sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• about 2 cups hot water

• 4 tablespoons of sugar (to sprinkle on top)

Method

1) Put the dish(es) you plan to use into the fridge for about an hour before you start so they will be nice and cold.

2) Microwave the cream for 3 minutes in a jug or bowl.

3) During this time, whisk the egg yolks, ¼ cup of sugar and the vanilla together until smooth.

4) Slowly pour the warm cream into the eggsugar-vanilla concoction, keep mixing throughout.

5) Pour the combined mixture into the microwavable jug or bowl.

6) Return to the microwave and cook in 2-minute bursts, whisking well at each interval. You will probably need to cook for about 5 minutes in total, just keep going (and checking it until it is almost set.

7) Take your dish(es) out of the fridge, pop a layer of raspberries in the bottom and then pour the custard over the top.

8) Cover with foil and return the dish(es) to the fridge for about an hour to allow the custard to set.

9) Remove from the fridge, sprinkle one tablespoon of sugar over the top of each dish. Place under the grill until the sugar layer crackles and turns brown or use a brulee gun if you have one!

In Season This Month

Fruit, Nuts & Fungi - Apples, Apricot, Aubergine, Blackberries, Blackcurrants, Blueberries, Loganberries, Peaches, Plums, Raspberries, Redcurrants, Strawberries, White currants, Cobnuts, Hazelnuts

Vegetables & Herbs - Artichokes, Aubergines, Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbages, Carrots, Cauliflower, Chard, Courgettes, Cucumber, Fennel, French Beans, Garlic, Kohlrabi, Lamb’s Lettuce, Onions, Pak Choi, Peas (inc. Sugar Snaps) Potatoes, Radishes, Rocket, Runner Beans, Salsify, Scorzonera, Samphire, Sorrel, Spinach, Sweetcorn, Tomatoes, Watercress

Meat & Game - Lamb, Rabbit, Venison, Wood Pigeon

Fish & Shellfish - Black Bream, Crab (brown, hen & Spider), Signal Crayfish, Grey Mullet, Lobster, Mackerel, Pollack, Prawns, Scallops, Sea Bass, Squid, Trout (river – brown and rainbow)

Going Out Of Season - Blackberries, Blueberries, Cherry, Mange Tout, Peach, Redcurrant, Strawberries