Fleet’s nectarine tarte Tatin with vanilla and thyme

1.For custard, stir milk and cream in a saucepan, then add ginger and lemon rind. Warm gently over low heat, but don’t allow it to come to a simmer. Remove from heat, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and leave to infuse (30 minutes). Whisk yolks and caster sugar in a bowl until pale and creamy, add a little infused milk mixture, whisk to combine, then add yolk mixture to remaining infused milk in pan. Stir continuously over low heat until custard coats the back of a spoon (10-12 minutes). Remove from heat and pass through a fine sieve. Cover directly with plastic wrap and chill (reheat custard before serving).

2.Preheat oven to 180°C. Divide butter and sugar between 2 large ovenproof frying pans, rubbing together with fingers until combined. Wrap puff pastry squares around the round sides of nectarine halves, tucking excess into the holes in the centre, then place cut-side down on top of butter mixture in pans, tucking a sprig of thyme and a piece of vanilla underneath each. Add a splash of water to the base of each pan – this will create a delicious caramel to spoon over while baking. Heat pans over medium heat until liquid starts to boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook until liquid just starts to turn golden (3-4 minutes). Transfer pans to oven and bake, basting occasionally, until pastry is dark golden (22-25 minutes). Cool briefly, then serve, cut-side up, topped with a sprig of thyme and with reheated ginger custard on the side.