Frozen banana & praline parfait
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Frozen banana & praline parfait

This freeze-ahead dinner party dessert has real wow-factor, so all that's left for you to do on the night is present it in stunning style

Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Serves 8

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 40 mins

Plus freezing
Freezable

Method

  1. To make the praline, put the sugar into a heavy-based pan with 3 tbsp water. Place over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved and is clear. Don't stir, or it will crystallise. Increase the heat and bubble to a dark caramel (see video technique), about 5 mins. Remove from the heat, stir through the nuts, then tip onto a lightly greased non-stick baking tray. Spread to level and leave to cool. Be careful as the tray will get very hot.
  2. When the praline is cold and brittle, break it into pieces. Then, using the end of a rolling pin, smash it up until fairly well crushed. If this is proving hard work, tip into a food processor and pulse until it's the texture of coarse breadcrumbs.
  3. Line a 1.2-litre loaf tin with a strip of baking parchment (this size tin gives a neat shape, but you can set the parfait in any shaped tin, or individual pudding basins or ramekins). In a bowl, mash the bananas with half the lemon juice until you have a rough purée, then set aside.
  4. Put the cream into a bowl and whip until it holds its shape but is still a little soft. In another very clean bowl and using a very clean electric whisk, beat the egg whites with a squeeze more lemon juice until stiff. Slowly add the sugar until you have a stiff, shiny meringue.
  5. Gently fold the whipped cream and meringue together, then add the banana and most of the praline, leaving about 4 tbsp to serve. Spoon into the loaf tin, smooth the top and freeze until firm, preferably overnight.
  6. To serve, remove the parfait from the freezer 10 mins before serving and leave in the fridge to soften slightly. Meanwhile, slice the bananas on a slant, allowing 3 slices for each serving. Lay the slices on a baking tray set on a wooden board and scatter heavily with the sugar. Use a blowtorch to caramelise the banana, then set aside. Be very careful as the tray will be extremely hot. If you don't have a blowtorch, place the slices into a hot, dry frying pan and sear the sugar-coated sides until caramelised. Lift and flip them over to a tray.
  7. To plate up, sprinkle a neat line of praline just off-centre on each plate. Arrange the slices of caramelised banana at opposing angles. Unmould the parfait, then use a warmed knife to neaten the sides and cut into finger-thick slices. Lay the slice on the opposite side of the plate to the banana and serve straight away.
Try

Parfait flavourings

As well as, or instead of the banana, you can add diced candied fruit, sultanas and roughly chopped pistachios or almonds to the parfait to turn it into a frozen nougat parfait.

Storing the parfait

Normally you can keep a frozen parfait in the freezer for a couple of weeks, but because you want to retain some crunch from the praline, which gradually dissolves in the cream, it's best made a maximum of 1 week ahead.

Per serving

442 kcalories, protein 4.0g, carbohydrate 47.0g, fat 28.0 g, saturated fat 12.0g, fibre 1.0g, sugar 46.0g, salt 0.07 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, March 2010.

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Latest comments and suggestions

  • Binder photo juditht4

    16 May 2010

    juditht4 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    once you figure how to do the prarline(watch the video, it took me 3 tries to realize i was doing it wrong all along!!), its tasty, crunchy and delicious. defiantly worth the hassle!!

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  • Binder photo mi4ence

    03 August 2010

    mi4ence commented on this recipe

    I had no difficulties at all to follow the steps and cook Gordon's fantastic dessert! It takes no time to make it and it takes my guests' breath away every time!! Not enough stars to rate it :)

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  • Binder photo mi4ence

    03 August 2010

    mi4ence rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    :) and I forgot to rate it!

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  • Binder photo lovemyfood

    17 March 2011

    lovemyfood rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    actually quite easy to make for such a "fancy" dessert. Aboslutely gorgeous, my husband didn't believe I'd make this myself :) I used walnuts as I had no hazelnuts and it was yummy.

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  • Binder photo Nikki.E

    22 April 2011

    Nikki.E commented on this recipe

    This was quite easy to make and was delicious. I served it as part of a trio of desserts (the others being the Millionnaires Chocolate Tart and Lemon Panna Cotta). This is an excellent dinner party recipe because it is quite easy to make and you only have to remove it from the fridge 10 minutes before you want to eat it. I made the praline as directed and then once it was cool I blitzed it in my food processor. I froze the parfait in a loaf tin with a loaf tin liner in and it worked very well as you could lift out the parfait quite easily in order to cut it. I will definately make this again. My guests loved it.

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  • Binder photo nicbow

    18 May 2011

    nicbow rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I have never attempted anything like this before - im more of a baker, but it was amazing!! Really simple to make - even the praline which i was worried about! But i nearly bounced my food processor off the worktop trying to break it up - definitely needed doing with a rolling pin first. My fiancee was very impressed with his birthday dinner and asked when i would be entering Masterchef haha!!

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  • Binder photo angela

    28 October 2011

    angela commented on this recipe

    where do I find the video

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  • Binder photo Basia

    28 October 2011

    Basia rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • Binder photo madhatter.

    20 December 2011

    madhatter. commented on this recipe

    THIS IS A GREAT RECIPE NEVER FAILS TO IMPRESS AND SO EASY TO DO.

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  • Binder photo Mariam

    29 May 2012

    Mariam commented on this recipe

    Angela, You can find the video in the 'cookery videos' under the 'How to Cook' tab with the name "How to make caramel".

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  • Binder photo KAREN

    23 September 2012

    KAREN commented on this recipe

    Absolutely fantastic & so easy. A great make ahead dessert that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. Will always have one in the freezer!!

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  • Binder photo Maritus7

    28 December 2012

    Maritus7 rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    crowd pleasing with an wow factor although a bit overly sweet for my liking. will do it again though!

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  • Binder photo Grey Parrot

    23 January 2013

    Grey Parrot commented on this recipe

    What a wonderful recipe! I enjoyed making it although I did have to make two attempts at making the praline. My guests were very impressed and liked the presentation as well as the flavour. I like the fact that it can be made in advance too so you only have to prepare the bananas after your main course. Will be making this again.

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  • Binder photo gillian

    24 March 2013

    gillian rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Very impressive, easy to make. Dinner party guests adored this. Fab that it can be made ahead. Made the caramel on banana slices a couple of hours prior to guests arriving. Not a good idea :( caramel melted back into a liquid, so had to re-make!

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Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Serves 8

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 40 mins

Plus freezing
Freezable

Ingredients

FOR THE PRALINE

  • 200g caster sugar
  • 100g whole blanched hazelnuts
  • sunflower oil , for greasing

FOR THE PARFAIT

  • 2 ripe bananas (the skin should be very spotty, but not bruised or black)
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 300ml double cream
  • 2 egg whites
  • 100g caster sugar

TO SERVE

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Per serving

442 kcalories, protein 4.0g, carbohydrate 47.0g, fat 28.0 g, saturated fat 12.0g, fibre 1.0g, sugar 46.0g, salt 0.07 g

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