Evergreen Crumble with Pears

Ingredients

• For the Pear Filling:
• Pears (e.g., Conference or Comice), peeled, cored and chopped 4-5 medium
• Caster sugar 50g
• Ground cinnamon 1 tsp
• Ground ginger 1/2 tsp
• Lemon juice 1 tbsp
• Cornflour (cornstarch) 1 tbsp
• For the Evergreen Crumble Topping:
• Plain flour 175g
• Cold unsalted butter, cubed 85g
• Light brown sugar 75g
• Ground almonds 50g
• Fresh mint leaves, finely chopped 2 tbsp

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 190°C (170°C fan/Gas Mark 5).
2. Prepare the pear filling: In a large bowl, combine the chopped pears, caster sugar, cinnamon, ginger, lemon juice, and cornflour. Toss gently to coat the pears evenly.
3. Pour the pear mixture into an ovenproof dish (approx. 20x20cm or a similar capacity).
4. Make the crumble topping: In a separate bowl, rub the cold butter into the plain flour using your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Be careful not to overwork it.
5. Stir the light brown sugar and ground almonds into the flour and butter mixture. Add the finely chopped fresh mint and mix gently to combine.
6. Spoon the crumble topping evenly over the pear mixture in the dish, ensuring it's well covered.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and crisp, and the pear filling is bubbling.
8. Allow to stand for a few minutes before serving. Serve warm, perhaps with custard, cream, or ice cream.