Caramel & Basil Apple Balls Recipe

• 2 large apples
• 1L water
• 250g sugar
• 1/2 lemon
• 100g sugar
• 3 tbsp water
• 10cl cream
• 1 basil seasoning pencil to sharpen

1. Peel the apples, then form small apple balls using a melon baller.
2. Drizzle with lemon juice to prevent them from oxidizing.
3. In a saucepan, mix the water, sugar, vanilla, and the rest of the lemon juice.
4. Once it reaches a boil, let it cook for a few minutes.
5. Submerge the apple balls in the syrup.
6. Remove them once they are tender.
7. In a saucepan, pour in the water and sugar. Remove from heat once the mixture begins to caramelize.
8. Skewer the apple balls and coat them in the still-warm caramel.
9. Once you have the desired number of apple balls, stir the cream into the remaining caramel to make a sauce to accompany your apples.
10. Arrange on your plate with a mix of plain apples and caramel-coated apples, serving the sauce separately.
11. Sharpen a few shavings of the chili seasoning of your choice, or basil.

A word from the Food Scientist:

We recommend pairing this dessert with Reaper or Trinidad chili. These chilies will help liven up your dish, which is naturally quite mild. The sweetness (from the syrup, caramel, and caramel sauce) will pair wonderfully with a hot chili. The chili will cut through the sweetness, avoiding an excess of sugar while boosting your dessert by adding a touch of fun... and heat!