Mr Flibble
Jun 21st, 2009, 04:57 PM
These truffles were an experiment based on the premise that I like Pimms, I like strawberries and I like chocolate.
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect but I'm reasonably pleased with them. Predominantly it's a chocolate hazelnut truffle, but the taste of pimms and strawberry does come through without being offensive.
I think next time I might make cashew cream instead and possibly add some mint. The hazelnut is nice, but it's a strong flavour with takes away some of the flavour I was aiming for. I'm not sure as of yet as to whether I can get cucumber into the recipe :D
There are 3 stages to the recipe:
The first makes Strawberry Pimms Syrup, which is great served warm with vanilla icecream and broken ginger biscuits.
The second makes a hazelnut paste using the syrup.
The third actually makes truffles, using the paste.
http://photos.offline.org.uk/showpic.php?picid=9070
Syrup
A few glugs of Pimms
Strawberries (couple of handfuls)
Sugar
Wash, chop and add strawberries to a small pan
Add a few glugs of Pimms (if I had to guess I'd say about 100ml)
Heat but don't boil
Crush a few of the strawberries to release juice
Add sugar - enough to make a syrup.
Once the sugar has disolved let the mixture cool, or use some of it for pudding.
Hazelnut Paste
60g of strained syrup (see above)
80g blanched hazelnuts
20ml Pimms
20ml water
Blend all ingredients to make a paste. I used a blender first which produced something looking akin to what one might expect to find on a pavement late on Friday night. I then transfered it to a jug and used an immersion blender which gave much better results. It doesn't need to be 100% smooth, but you need to get rid of any chucks of hazelnut.
Truffles
80g Hazelnut Paste
100g Dark Chocolate (I used 70% cocoa Divine)
Melt the chocolate in the way that you normally do
Mix the paste in thoroughly
Leave to chill until hard (I left mine over night in the fridge)
Divide up and roll into balls
Coat with chocolate, chocolate shavings or cocoa
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect but I'm reasonably pleased with them. Predominantly it's a chocolate hazelnut truffle, but the taste of pimms and strawberry does come through without being offensive.
I think next time I might make cashew cream instead and possibly add some mint. The hazelnut is nice, but it's a strong flavour with takes away some of the flavour I was aiming for. I'm not sure as of yet as to whether I can get cucumber into the recipe :D
There are 3 stages to the recipe:
The first makes Strawberry Pimms Syrup, which is great served warm with vanilla icecream and broken ginger biscuits.
The second makes a hazelnut paste using the syrup.
The third actually makes truffles, using the paste.
http://photos.offline.org.uk/showpic.php?picid=9070
Syrup
A few glugs of Pimms
Strawberries (couple of handfuls)
Sugar
Wash, chop and add strawberries to a small pan
Add a few glugs of Pimms (if I had to guess I'd say about 100ml)
Heat but don't boil
Crush a few of the strawberries to release juice
Add sugar - enough to make a syrup.
Once the sugar has disolved let the mixture cool, or use some of it for pudding.
Hazelnut Paste
60g of strained syrup (see above)
80g blanched hazelnuts
20ml Pimms
20ml water
Blend all ingredients to make a paste. I used a blender first which produced something looking akin to what one might expect to find on a pavement late on Friday night. I then transfered it to a jug and used an immersion blender which gave much better results. It doesn't need to be 100% smooth, but you need to get rid of any chucks of hazelnut.
Truffles
80g Hazelnut Paste
100g Dark Chocolate (I used 70% cocoa Divine)
Melt the chocolate in the way that you normally do
Mix the paste in thoroughly
Leave to chill until hard (I left mine over night in the fridge)
Divide up and roll into balls
Coat with chocolate, chocolate shavings or cocoa