Apricots Stuffed With Almond Paste -

Apricots Stuffed With Almond Paste

Almonds, whether whole, flaked or ground, have a delightful affinity with apricots.

Ingredients

75g/3oz/scant ½ cup caster sugar
30ml/2 tbsp lemon juice
115g/4oz/1 cup ground almonds
50g/2oz/½ cup icing sugar or caster sugar
A little orange flower water (optional)
25g/1oz/2 tbsp melted soya margarine
2.5ml/½ tsp almond essence
900g/2lb fresh apricots
Fresh mint sprigs, to decorate

Details

Serves: 6

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/ Gas 4. Place the sugar, lemon juice and 300ml/½ pint/1¼ cups water in a small saucepan, bring to the boil, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved. Simmer gently for 5-10 minutes to make a thin sugar syrup.

Blend the ground almonds with the icing sugar, orange flower water, if using, soya margarine and almond essence to make a smooth paste.

Wash the apricots, make a slit in the flesh and ease out the stone. Roll the almond paste into small balls and press one into each apricot.

Arrange the stuffed apricots in a shallow ovenproof dish and carefully pour the sugar syrup around them. Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes.

Serve the apricots with a little of the syrup, if liked, and decorate with sprigs of mint.

NUTRITION NOTES Per portion:- Energy 276kcals/1165kj, Protein 5.4g, Fat 14.2g, Saturated Fat 1.9g, Carbohydrate 34g, Fibre 3.9g,
Sugars 34g, Calcium 70mg

Related food category:

• Desserts and Bakes