Desserts
Patina de Piris (Spiced Pear Custard)
Ingredients
- - 4 ripe pears, peeled, cored and chopped
- - 4 eggs
- - 60 ml honey (3 tbsp honey)
- - 60 ml sweet white wine (1/4 cup sweet white wine)
- - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- - 15 g butter or olive oil, for the dish (1 tbsp butter or olive oil)
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180C (350F) and lightly grease a baking dish.
- Simmer the chopped pears in a small saucepan with a splash of water for 10 minutes, until soft, then drain and mash roughly.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs with the honey and wine until combined.
- Stir the mashed pear, black pepper and cumin into the egg mixture.
- Pour into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, until just set with a slight wobble in the centre. Cool slightly before serving.
Native Name: Patina de Piris
Cultural Background: This baked pear custard appears in Apicius as a sweet patina, boiled pears mashed and combined with honey, wine, eggs and warming spice, then baked until set – a dish clearly designed to be served at the close of a formal Roman dinner, the secunda mensa or 'second table'.
Tips: Bake until just set – a slight wobble in the centre is correct, as the custard will continue to firm up as it cools.
Variations: Apples make an equally authentic substitute for pears, following the same method and timings.
Vegetarian / Vegan Note: Vegetarian as written; not easily adapted to vegan due to the egg-set custard base.
Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheating: Serve chilled or at room temperature; gentle warming in a low oven is optional but not required.
Nutrition: Approx. 210 kcal, 8 g protein, 27 g carbohydrate, 8 g fat per serving.
FAQs:
Q: Why is there black pepper in a dessert?
A: Pepper was a prized, expensive spice in Rome and was used across both sweet and savoury dishes as a sign of a well-stocked kitchen.
Q: Can I make this ahead?
A: Yes, it's well suited to being made a day ahead and served chilled, and the flavour deepens slightly overnight.