Honey-roasted fruit with star anise recipe | Good Food

Spice roasted fruits with honey & orange sauce

4 fresh bay leaves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 vanilla pod
4 seeds from half a star anise
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
zest and juice of 3 oranges
4 tbsp clear honey
3 tbsp light muscovado sugar
6 fresh peaches or nectarines
6 fresh figs
25g unsalted butter
crème fraîche and macaroons or soft amaretti biscuits
to serve

Method

step 1
The day before: tear the bay leaves and break the cinnamon into two or three pieces to release the oils and perfumes. Split the vanilla pod in half and scrape out the seeds with the back of a knife. Mix with the star anise seeds and the pepper, orange zest and juice, honey and sugar to make a sauce. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
step 2
Half an hour before serving: Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/fan 180C. Cut the peaches or nectarines in half and remove the stones. Halve the figs. Put the peaches or nectarines skin-side down in a large baking dish or a roasting tray with sides. Pour the spicy sauce over the fruit and dot with the butter.Roast in the oven for 10 minutes, add the figs and baste the fruits with a large spoon.Roast for 15 minutes more, basting at least three times, until the fruits are tender. Serve with crème fraîche and macaroons or amaretti biscuits to soak up all the lovely juices.