Chocolate lime fondants with candied lime peel
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Chocolate lime fondants with candied lime peel

By Nadiya Hussain

Rich, dark chocolate and tart citrussy limes are a dreamy combination in this warm, gooey-centred chocolate dessert

  • Prep:35 mins
    Cook:1 hrs
    plus cooling
  • Serves 6
  • A challenge

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 991
  • fat 62g
  • saturates 35g
  • carbs 90g
  • sugars 61g
  • fibre 6g
  • protein 16g
  • salt 1.1g

Ingredients

  • 200g butter, plus 25g/1oz melted, for greasing
  • 50g cocoa powder, for dusting
  • 200g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), melted
  • 200g golden caster sugar
  • 4 eggs and 4 egg yolks (freeze the egg whites and use for meringues)
  • zest of 3 limes (use the juice for the curd)
  • 200g plain flour
  • 140g golden caster sugar, plus extra for dusting
  • 2 limes, the peel pared into long strips, then thinly sliced (use the juice for the curd)
  • juice of 8 limes, plus the zest of 3
  • 200g golden caster sugar
  • 1 tsp cornflour
  • 100g butter, chopped into small pieces
  • 3 eggs and 1 egg yolk
  • green food gel colouring (optional - I always like to add a little, just to enhance the green)
  • 6 dariole mould or ramekins

Method

  1. For the candied lime peel, put the sugar and 150ml water in a small saucepan over a medium heat. Bring to the boil, then turn down to a slow simmer. Add the strips of lime peel and cook gently for 25 mins until the peel has softened and the syrup has thickened. Sprinkle a layer of caster sugar over a sheet of baking parchment, lift the softened lime peel with a slotted spoon onto the sugar and roll to coat. Leave to cool until hardened. Will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

  2. Next, make the lime curd. Put the lime juice and zest, sugar, cornflour, butter, eggs and egg yolk in a heatproof bowl, and whisk together to combine. Set the bowl on top of a pan of simmering water, and continue to whisk for about 20 mins until thickened – don’t be alarmed if it looks like it has curdled at first, as once the butter has melted, it will come together. It should coat the back of the spoon once done. Stir through the food colouring, if using, and set aside to cool. Will keep, chilled, in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

  3. Brush the moulds with the melted butter, then place them on a tray and put in the freezer for 10 mins or until the butter has set. Take out and brush with butter again, then return to the freezer for another 10 mins. Dust the insides with a good coating of cocoa powder, tap out any excess and set aside.

  4. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. In a bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt the butter and chocolate together, then leave to cool.

  5. Whisk the sugar and eggs with an electric hand whisk until light, fluffy and the mixture has tripled in volume. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and lime zest, and mix well. Fold the flour gently and quickly into the fondant mixture until fully incorporated, then spoon the mixture into the moulds, filling them almost to the top – leave a little space as they will rise. Bake in the oven for 10 mins or until a crust has formed and the sides are just starting to come away from the moulds.

  6. Remove from the oven, and leave to stand for 1 min, then turn out – don’t leave them any longer or the heat from the moulds will continue to cook the fondant and they won’t have an oozy centre. To serve, place a spoonful of curd on each serving plate and spread with the back of a spoon. Place the fondants on top, and top each one with candied lime peel.

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