Recipes from the Market Table by Pascale Beale

Fig and Lemon Verbena Pots de Crème

Many years ago I came across a recipe by Philip Johnson in an Australian magazine for lemon creams that was so simple and quick to make. It resembled more of a lemon posset than a classic pot de crème, but I loved the fact that there were no eggs and no baking. Over the years I have made countless adaptations of this dessert by adding assorted fruit and flavors. In this one, the crème is perfumed with lemon verbena and filled with fresh figs. It’s fragrant, rich and sensuous.

Serves 8 people

2 ½ cups cream — do not use ultra-pasteurized which will cause the pots de crème to separate

5 oz (2/3 cup) sugar

5-6 lemon verbena leaves

1/3 cup lemon juice 

Zest of 2 lemons

16 figs — chopped

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon mild honey

8 figs — split in half to the stem

1. Pour the cream, sugar and lemon verbena leaves into a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and then remove from the heat. Add the 1/3 cup lemon juice and zest and stir to combine well. The cream will begin to thicken.
2. Divide the chopped figs among 8 ramekins or small glasses. Fill with the cream and refrigerate for 2 hours.
3. In a small saucepan, warm the 3 tablespoons of lemon juice and the honey. Mix well.  Place the 8 remaining split figs into a small bowl and drizzle with the lemon-honey mixture. Make sure each fig is well coated.
4. When the pots de crème have set, carefully place one of the syrup-covered split figs on top of each ramekin.