Desserts Recipes - Chinese-style Toffee Apples Recipe

Ingredients

• 115g/4oz/1 cup plain (all-purpose) flour

• 10ml/2 tsp baking powder

• 60ml/4 tbsp corn flour (cornstarch)

• 4 firm apples

• sunflower oil, for deep-frying

• 200g/7oz/1 cup caster (superfine) sugar

Serves 4

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Method:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, corn flour and 175ml/1/4 cup water. Stir to make a smooth batter and set aside.

2. Peel and core the apples, then cut each one into 8 thick wedges. Fill a large bowl with ice cubes and chilled water.

3. Fill a wok one-third full of sunflower oil and heat to 180°C/350°F or until a cube of bread, dropped into the oil, browns in 45 seconds.

4. Working quickly, in batches, dip the apple wedges in the batter, drain off any excess and deep-fry for 2 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on kitchen paper to drain.

5. Reheat the oil to 180°C/350°F and fry the wedges for a second time, again giving them about 2 minutes. Drain well on kitchen paper and set aside.

6. Very carefully, pour off all but 30ml/2 tbsp of the oil from the wok and stir in the sugar. Heat gently until the sugar melts and starts to caramelize. When the mixture is light brown, add a few pieces of apple at a time and toss to coat .

7. Plunge the coated pieces briefly into the iced water to set the caramel, then remove with a slotted spoon and serve.

Note: Crunchy apple wedges fried until crisp in a light batter, then dipped in caramel, makes a sweet, gloriously sticky dessert.