Preparation / Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350F. Place the chocolate in a small heatproof bowl. Add
3 tablespoons of hot water and set the bowl over a pan of hot but not
simmering water. Stir with a whisk until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
Remove the bowl from the water and let the chocolate cool to room temperature.
Coarsely chop the pecan pieces in a food processor. Remove 1/2 cup of the
pecans and set aside. Add 1 tablespoon of the sugar to the remaining nuts and
grind to a fine powder. Combine the finely ground pecans, bread crumbs and
cinnamon in a bowl; mix well and set the mixture aside.
In a large mixer bowl, beat the butter with half the remaining sugar until
soft and light. Beat in the cooled chocolate and then the bourbon. Add the
egg yolks, one at a time, beating until smooth. Stir in the pecan bread crumb
mixture.
In a large bowl, beat the egg whites with the salt until they form very soft
peaks. Gradually beat in the remaining sugar in a slow stream and continue
beating until the egg whites hold soft peaks. Stir one-fourth
of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate batter, then gently fold in the
remaining egg whites.
Pour the batter into a buttered 1 1/2 quart baking dish or 8 inch square
baking pan. Smooth the top. Scatter the reserved chopped pecans evenly over
the surface of the batter. Place the baking dish in a larger pan
and pour hot tap water into the larger pan to reach halfway up the sides of
the baking dish. Bake the pudding in the middle of the oven for 30 to 35
minutes, until the pudding puffs and feels slightly firm when
pressed with the palm of the hand; do not overbake.
To serve, spoon the warm chocolate pecan pudding onto dessert plates. Ladle 2
or 3 tablespoons of the Bourbon Sauce over. Pass the remaining sauce
separately.
Bourbon Sauce:
In a medium nonreactive saucepan, combine the milk and sugar. Bring to a boil
over moderate heat.
Beat the egg yolks in a small bowl until liquefied. When the milk boils,
gradually whisk 1/3 of it into the yolks. Return the remaining milk to a boil
over low heat and whisk in the yolk mixture. Cook, whisking constantly, until
the sauce thickens, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes; do not let boil. Immediately remove
from the heat.
Whisk the sauce constantly for 1 minute to cool. Strain through a fine sieve
into a bowl and whisk for 30 seconds. Stir in the bourbon and the vanilla.
Serve warm.
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