Poached plantain in spicy drizzle

Ingredients

• ½ plantain - ripe - yellow skin
• [Syrup ingredients]
• 200ml/7floz water
• 115g/4oz caster sugar
• ½ vanilla bean, sliced in half lengthways
• 2 star anise
• 4 green cardamom pods
• 2 pieces liquorice root
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2cm/1 inch root ginger, peeled, thinly sliced
• [Fresh fruits]
• 1 pineapple
• 1 papaya
• 1 ripe mango

Method

1. Peel, then chop the plantain into ½ cm (¼ inch) discs.
2. Put the syrup ingredients in a pan and bring to a boil. Once the sugar dissolves add the plantain and simmer until syrupy, allowing the plantain to poach and cook through.
3. Remove from the heat and leave to cool then chill in the fridge, preferably overnight.
4. Peel, core, de-seed and slice the fresh fruits and put in a shallow bowl. Drizzle with the plantain spicy syrup and serve.
5. Tip - delicious served over ice cream or natural yoghurt