Banana & rum tatins

Method

• step 1

  Put the sugar and 2 tbsps water in a heavy-based frying pan and allow to stand for 10 mins so that the sugar becomes saturated.

• step 2

  Flatten the vanilla pod with the back of a large knife. Slit it open and scrape out the sticky seeds inside. Add these to the sugar pan. Heat the pan over a low heat until the sugar dissolves, swirling the pan occasionally to stop the sugar catching. Raise the heat and cook it to a dark golden brown.

• step 3

  Cool for 30 secs and stir in about a third of the butter, then mix in the rum and the remaining butter, stirring the mixture to a smooth caramel. Pour into a heatproof jug,but don’t chill or allow the caramel to set.

• step 4

  On a lightly floured board roll out the pastry to a rectangle approximately 50 x 30 cm and the thickness of a £1 coin.

• step 5

  Slice each banana lengthways keeping the halves as even as possible. Place each half rounded side up on the pastry and cut round the fruit, leaving a good 1cm border all the way round.

• step 6

  Lift the bananas up, paint them with the egg yolk mixed together with 1 tsp water, then drape the pastry cut-outs over them, pressing the dough around the sides. Leave to rest in the fridge for 30 mins. Divide caramel between 2 ovenproof frying pans or a shallow baking tin and swirl around the pan as you would a pancake. If the caramel is too thick, re-heat it slightly.

• step 7

  Heat oven to 200C/fan180C /gas 6. Put tatins in the frying pans or baking tin, leaving a little space between each one. Cook the tatins for about 12-15 mins until the pastry is light golden brown and crisp. Remove the pans or tin from the oven and stand for a minute or so. Slide a long palette knife under each banana and carefully lift it up, then flip over onto a waiting dessert plate so the banana is showing.

• step 8

  Brush over any caramelised pan juices and serve with a dusting of icing sugar and a dollop of crème fraîche, if using.