Caramelized Blood Orange And Almond Sundaes Food

CARAMELIZED BLOOD ORANGE AND ALMOND SUNDAES

Steps:

• Squeeze juice from 1 orange (about 1/4 cup) into small bowl. Cut ends off remaining 2 oranges to expose flesh. Cut oranges lengthwise into quarters; pull out and discard white center pith. Cut orange quarters crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Place orange slices along with any collected juices in another bowl.
• Sprinkle sugar evenly over bottom of heavy 10-inch-diameter skillet; scatter butter pieces over and drizzle with 2 tablespoons orange juice. Stir over medium heat until mixture begins to melt and bubble, then swirl pan to blend. Cook until sugar mixture is dark amber, occasionally scraping down sides of skillet with heatproof spatula, about 6 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons orange juice and cook until smooth and thickened, about 2 minutes. Add orange slices with juices to skillet and stir until coated, about 1 minute. Cool. DO AHEAD: Caramelized orange sauce can be made up to 3 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Scoop ice cream into bowls and spoon caramelized orange sauce over. Top sundaes with toasted almonds and sprinkle with fleur de sel, if desired.
• * A type of sea salt; available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.

CARAMELIZED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Toss almonds with sugar in nonstick skillet; cook on medium-high heat until sugar is caramelized, stirring frequently.
• Spread into single layer on greased baking sheet or sheet of wax paper; cool at least 1 hour.
• Break into small pieces. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature.

CARAMELIZED ORANGES

Steps:

• Place cold water in a heavy-based saucepan, add the sugar and bring SLOWLY to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
• (The sugar must be completely dissolved before the liquid boils.) Once the sugar is boiling, DO NOT STIR.
• Continue to boil.
• Use a pastry-brush dipped in water to wash down any sugar crystals forming on the sides of the pan, until the sugar is a rich, dark, caramel colour.
• Remove from heat and CAREFULLY add the warm water to the caramel WHICH WILL SPIT AND SPLUTTER!
• Return pan to the heat and continue stirring to dissolve the caramel in the water.
• Set aside to cool.
• Peel all the oranges, setting the peel of one aside.
• (Remove as much of the white pith as possible.) Place the peeled oranges in a bowl and pour over the caramel sauce, gently turning the fruit to cover each with sauce.
• Chill well.
• Cut the served peel into matchstick-sized pieces and cook until tender in boiling water.
• Refresh in cold water and drain.
• Sprinkle half the cooked zest over the oranges in the bowl and stir.
• Serve each chilled orange with the sauce and garnish with additional zest.
• Serves 6.