Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Chilled Caramelized Oranges with Greek Yoghurt

Serving Size : Serves 6–8.
 
Ingredients
 
6 navel oranges or any small thin-skinned variety
500g caster sugar
250ml water
8 cardamom pods, crushed
Greek yoghurt (approx. 500g)
 
Directions
 
1.Using a small sharp knife, cut a thin slice off the top and bottom of the oranges, and then slice off the skin vertically, turning the orange as you go, being careful to keep as much flesh as possible but removing all pith.
 
2.Slice each orange into 5mm rounds, trying to reserve as much juice as you can.
 
3.Just plonk the slices, pouring the juices, into a bowl as you cut them. Or just cut them straight into something like a lasagne dish.
 
4.To make the caramel, put the sugar, water and cardamom pods into a large saucepan and swirl (not stir) a little to dissolve the sugar. Then slowly bring to the boil without stirring, until the syrup becomes a dark amber colour.
 
5.Take the saucepan off the heat and tip in the oranges and any juice that's collected in the bowl. Quickly coat the orange slices in the caramel and pour on to a flat plate; act with speed otherwise the caramel will set before you can get it out of the saucepan. If you can pick out the cardamom pods without burning your fingers, great, but there's no need to get too exercised about it: let those eating do a little work as well. Let the oranges cool, and then put them in the fridge to chill for a little while. Put the Greek yoghurt in a bowl on the table for people to eat it with.