Dark Chocolate Cherry and Tahini Clafoutis

Cherries 2010 (0003) by MeetaK

I am still encased in the wonderful bliss of Norway. Although my body seems to be back in Weimar, I seem to have left my mind, spirit and most importantly, my heart in Norway.

The vacation was stunning, rejuvenating and just what I needed. I kept asking myself why did it take me so long to get to Norway. Then I asked myself “do I ever want to leave?”

Of course my camera and I worked overtime and I was so in my element, feeling good to be concentrating on other motives than food. I lugged almost all my camera equipment almost everywhere with me, the different lenses, tripod and all – no, I certainly did not regret it.

The pictures will keep me company for a long time. I am sorting through all +450 pictures and am trying to pick the best so I can share this breathtaking country in the proper justice it deserves. I so want you all to see what I experienced and I want you to hold your breath just the way I constantly was holding mine at every turn we took, every tunnel we came out of and every mountain we crossed.

Dark Chocolate Cherry and Tahini Clafoutis (0021) by MeetaK

July seems to be the perfect month to travel to Norway. The country is bursting with juicy ripe fruits like strawberries, raspberries and cherries. We indulged pleasurably, buying the fruit from vendors selling them on makeshift tables and stalls on the side of the narrow roads.

On our road trip through Norway we were lucky enough to stay at two camping places that were cherry orchards and enjoyed picking the sweet, ripe red jewels straight from the trees – for free.

But all those stories in my next post.

Dark Chocolate Cherry and Tahini Clafoutis Diptych by MeetaK

Before I left, cherries were just making their appearance at the markets and I could not resist buying a few bags full. While most of them were eaten straight out of the bowl, I did manage to play around with an idea I had been developing ever since I made the tahini dark chocolate cream for my Studmuffin Macarons.

Dark chocolate and tahini were such an explosive combination that I knew they would make a few interesting dessert and sweet treats. As cherry season always clicks in the clafoutis craze in my kitchen, I wanted to take the classic cherry clafoutis and give it my own twist.

Dark Chocolate Cherry and Tahini Clafoutis (0025) by MeetaK

This recipe intermingles flavors of the Middle East with a traditional French dessert. Sweet cherries are hugged by a rich and luscious batter made with dark chocolate, browned butter, ground almonds and tahini. No your hips will not thank you for this one but trust me every other part of you will be craving for more.

Dark Chocolate Cherry and Tahini Clafoutis

Printable version of recipe here

Serves 6

Ingredients

600g cherries, washed and unpitted
160g butter, melted
180g sugar
75g flour
65g dark chocolate (70% cocoa), melted
150g ground almonds
2 eggs
150 ml milk
50g almond slices
2-3 tablespoons Tahini
handful of sesame seeds
pinch of fleur de sel
 

Method

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees C. Brush either 6 ramekins (ca. 125 ml) or one larger form with some of the melted butter and evenly sprinkle about 40g sugar, then divide the cherries into the form/s.

  2. In a saucepan heat 80g butter on low heat and gently brown. It should be a light golden color and wonderfully aromatic. Set aside to cool slightly.

  3. Mix together flour, 100g sugar, ground almonds and fleur de sel in a large bowl. In a separate bowl whisk together eggs and milk, then together with the melted butter, melted dark chocolate and tahini pour over the flour-ground almond mixture. Fold the mixture together to incorporate the ingredients into a thick batter. Pour over the cherries.

  4. Mix the remaining 80g melted butter, almond slices and sesame seeds together and pour over the clafoutis.

  5. Bake the clafoutis in the oven for 20-40 minutes, depending on the size of your forms.

  6. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream or simple indulge in it pure with just a fork.

 

The Food Guide Tips:

- Stylish and hot superfruit – cherries

- Selecting and storing almonds

 

 

 


Verdict

 Dark Chocolate Cherry and Tahini Clafoutis (0023) by MeetaK

The sweetness is beautifully complemented by the nuttiness of the tahini. Very moreish and dangerously good. This is one to be savored, forkful for forkful, each bite giving you a whole new flavor dimension. The cherries are not pitted for a reason. Not only will they stop you from devouring the clafoutis, which you really will want to do, but also they add a sensational flavor. The cherry pits add a faint bitter almond flavor as they come from the same family as the almond. The ground almonds in the recipe mirror this offering flavor and texture.

Do you know who the most desirable duo is this week? Jean Paul Gaultier and me – you heard it right. Over at FashionFoodFatale.com my Chocolate Pavlova with Chocolate Mascarpone Mousse, Honey Roasted Peaches and Fresh Raspberries creation is paired with Jean Paul Gaultier’s hot Fall 2010 collection. Come and check out how fashion meets food on FFF’s Daily Dish.

More clafoutis from WFLH:

Gooseberry Red Current and Blueberry Clafoutis Raspberry and Nectarine Clafoutis Apricot Clafoutis

 


All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2010 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

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47 comments:

  1. norway, france, middle east ... all in this one post -- and from you in germany to me in switzerland - i love it ! and reeaaaaally love the sound of this dessert - dark chocolate, tahini, cherries - WOW !! and a pinch of fleur de sel of course. this i just have to try. yum. what a fantastic creation.

    again, welcome back meeta - can't wait to hear all about norway. and show olivier all your posts and photos so he'll want to book that trip too... ;)

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  2. I want some of that. But now I remember that you were playing with chocolate and cherries before you left, so obviously it's all gone, as if there might actually have been any left otherwise. I think I can conjure a taste in my mind from the delicious macarons, that will have to be enough for now. Lovely post, Meeta Meeta. =)

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  3. I love the idea of tahini paired with the dark chocolate and cherry. A winning combination for everything but the hips eh! Beautiful photos!!

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  4. Oh Meeta, this is wonderful! I'm so glad you had such a soul-enriching, heart-soaring time in Norway. My family is hoping to ALL get together and go on a road trip through Scandinavia next spring. I can't wait!! :-)

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  5. Oooh just a quick peak here while I am in the sweltering heat of Florida --- what a stunning, exotic dessert. I may have to make this for a party this weekend! Delish! Cannot wait to see those pics from Norway and hear all about it. I wish I could come to Weimar...

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  6. Oh I love that we are now even cooking the same things at the same time!! Our mind meld is complete ;-) This looks fantastic and I still remember how divine those raspberry chocolate tahini macarons were... and I can only imagine this is equally divine!

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  7. Dear Meeta,
    Tis is such an exotic dessert...tahini really stands out like a superstar. Bookmarking ur recipe got to try it.
    Luv ur clicks as always...n yes the chocolate pavlova is equally desirable as JPG's collection....
    Cheers.

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  8. I've been eating cherries by handfulls for the last few weeks. This looks delicious! I understand 400+ images. I just returned from the beach with 300+, and that's after deleting several of the duplicates. Enjoy...it's great to hear the shutter c l i c k.

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  9. What a fascinating and tempting marriage of flavors, Meeta. I'm always in the mood for chocolate and cherries are a summer delight. Glad you had a fantastic trip and can't wait to see all your shots.

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  10. Welcome back, Meeta! This looks fantastic :)

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  11. Meeta,
    Welcome back. Wish you had a wonderful trip in Norway. Would just love to see some pics from your trip.

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  12. Gorgeous clicks Meeta!!!!!I love scandinavia !!!!and cant wait to see more pics of norway!!!!

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  13. Cherries, chocolate and tahini . . who would have thought? I'm curious enough to try this exotic combination of flavors once back home myself.

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  14. What an original and gorgeous combination! That clafoutis looks irresistible.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  15. I keep meaning to try making a clafoutis, putting tahini in it is genius!

    Glad you had a wonderful holiday, can't wait to see more pictures.

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  16. A very tempting clafoutis! The tahini and chocolate must be so tasty!
    Pavlova/JPG is a brilliant combination, too ;-)

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  17. Wow, this sounds fantastic, never would've thought of combining tahini with dark chocolate, but I can see how the combination would work. Kind of like how almond essence makes chocolate taste more chocolatey. Looking forward to your photos of Norway!

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  18. This is such a clever idea Meeta - am very happy to sacrifice both hips x

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  19. I've never been to Norway and I can't wait to see your photos! I'm sure I will want to jump on a plane and go there immediately.

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  20. Congrats on appearing in the Daily Dish! I think that's very cool.I cannot wait to see the photos from Norway. I have never been, but I am sure it is breathtaking.

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  21. Excellent.i too must try tahini in such a dessert.With choc the combo looks heavenly

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  22. I had no doubt that you and your camera will be over working in your holiday.
    I love that there is thaini in them even thou i would have never ever thought about adding them to bakes. Cherry season is here too but have not baked anything for a while.
    Sure bookmarking this one.

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  23. hi meeta! love this recipe and the piks are gorgeous. so happy i found ur blog

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  24. Oooooh welcome back sweetheart. Left your heart in Norway? Can imagine. Waiting to see your beautiful pictures ... Hugs!
    Love the clafoutis, and the beautiful mingling of flavours; novel and intriguing!

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  25. Thank you so much everyone for all your comments. So glad that you like my twist of the classic clafoutis. Hope you'll come back and tell me how you liked it.

    @kerrin - this really has many of your fave ingredients. well cross the swiss border and i'll make you some.

    @hilda like i said last night. come here and i'll make you two.

    @GB - thanks!

    @jennifer - well maybe the hips will forgive a small portion!

    @krista - oh i hope you do get there next summer. i know you will love it. we are thinking of going next year to norway again. a little higher up north this time.

    @jamie - i wish you could come to weimar too saucy! need to plan reunion when you get back. glad you liked this!

    @jeanne - the borg meld is now complete! can't wait till you get here on the weekend!

    @kalyn oh it tasted divine.

    @chetna - lol! hope you come back and tell me how it tasted.

    @gale - oh you bet it is great to hear the shutter click and that one feeling you have captured the essence.

    @xiaolu - add some tahini to the pair and you get a terrific threesome.

    @torvie @anh thanks so much!

    @sudeshna @veda i hope to have the post up this week.

    @grapefruit - oh a grand combination. hope you come back and tell me about it.

    @rosa thanks.

    @sarah it's the easiest dessert and all the fruit now available is shouting for clafoutis!

    @sweet artichoke - thanks. they were tempting and i was too tempted ;o)

    @marissa - it really complements the chocolate - it's almost like nutella only better!

    @charlie - haha! finally a girl who knows her priorities and pleasures.

    @lydia i'll jump on that plane with you and we can tour together!

    @bunnycooks - it was breathtaking and you should make plans to visit!

    @a spicy perspective, @curry leave - great flavors and really worth trying

    @HC - you should try the tahini choc combo. it's a great match!

    @mira - glad you found it too ;o) hope to see you more often!

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  26. hey deeba!

    just missed you! yes norway was spectacular and i need to go back - to find my heart! ;o)

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  27. That is one amazing looking clafoutis! The chocolate and cherry flavour combo is so good and I like the use of the tahini in this one!

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  28. I could lick the screen! I had pretty good luck making clafoutis in muffin tins with mixed berries: http://www.muffintinmania.com/2010/07/clafoutis-with-mixed-berries.html

    But next time, I gotta work in the chocolate.

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  29. I've only just recently gotten in to the whole photograhpy "thing" but now that I have I can totally relate to carry it around with you everywhere! Glad you had a great holiday. We are off to France in August and I can't wait. Lovely dish you've created here too. Cherries are an absolute fav in our house. I can't keep them long enough to actually cook with them though. Always love reading your posts Meeta x

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  30. Meeta! Delectable clafoutis and gorgeous cherries! My mouth is watering.... Cannot wait to see your photos of Norway and hear all about your fabulous holiday!

    love & hugs
    xoxo

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  31. What a luscious combination. I love the brown butter, choc, and tahini batter... Running out to get cherries right now!

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  32. Oh Meeta, you've outdone yourself again! Fabulous! I just love the photos and I have never, ever thought of combining tahini with chocolate. What an intriguing idea! Looking forward to your Norway post!
    xx

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  33. I have never heard of this combination but it sounds very delicious, it certainly looks amazing.
    I visited Norway about 10 years ago and thought it was gorgeous. I am looking forward to reading about your travels.

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  34. Welcome back - looks like you had a great time. I wouldn't want to do Norway (or most of Scandinavia anytime but in the summer):-), being tropical -blooded and all!

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  35. OK, OK, you definitely convinced me! I was trying to avoid to make desserts and use chocolate for a while (you know, sea time coing..) but, since my parents are going on holidays and I have a whole house (and kitchen) at my total disposal, this is on top of my to-do list!
    I'll let you know!
    And I'm eager to know about Norway!
    Hugs!

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  36. Round the world with Meeta!! This looks just lovely. We all adore cherries almost as much as we love Chocolate. Only trouble is cherries are so blasted expensive over here...

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  37. After reading your verdict, I am so tempted to make this one.

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  38. Chocolate and cherry can never go wrong! Love your clafoutis.

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  39. finally a clafoutis recipe I must must try - it looka amazing - I usually turn up my nose is disinterest at a clafoutis but not this one

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  40. had to read that twice... what a combination! i use tahini way too little and never really experimented with it, although i am addicted to the flavour. my iraqi friend says the simple combo of tahini with pomegranate or date molasses was the only type of dessert or sweets they knew in a war-ridden country.
    and it tastes amazing!

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  41. Lovely combination of tastes :)
    I definitely want to make that!

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Thank you for visiting What's For Lunch, Honey? and taking time to browse through my recipes, listen to my ramblings and enjoy my photographs. I appreciate all your comments, feedback and input. I will answer your questions to my best knowledge and respond to your comments as soon as possible.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy your stay here and that I was able to make this an experience for your senses.

Hugs
Meeta