Caramelised pears and chestnuts

Method

1. Melt 10g of the butter in a heavy-based frying pan, then gently cook the onion for 5-8 minutes until soft and lightly browned. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Melt another 20g of the butter in the pan, then add the pears and the sugar, raising the heat slightly. Bubble for a few minutes until the pears are golden on the underside, then flip them over and repeat until browned all over. Set aside with the onion.
2. Melt the remaining butter, then turn up the heat and shake the pan until the butter foams. Add the chestnuts and thyme, season with plenty of salt, then toss well. Cook over a high heat for 2 minutes without moving the contents of the pan, until toasted on one side. Toss again and repeat.
3. Return the onion and pears to the pan and cook, stirring from time to time but being careful not to break up the pears too much. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then add the lemon juice – you may only need a squeeze, depending on the sweetness of the pears.
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