Fig and its leaf with bergamot, honey and earl grey

This is a complex recipe involving many elements – however, as mentioned above, the vast majority of the work can be done in advance and reserved in the fridge, freezer and airtight containers, so read the recipe thoroughly and come up with a plan of action before you start

To make the fig insert, warm the fig purée in a pan to around 40ºC. Whilst it is heating, mix together the pectin and caster sugar. Add this pectin-sugar mix to the purée, bring to the boil and cook for 1 minute. Pour into a flat mould or tray measuring 40x30x1cm lined with cling film. Freeze until solid

To make the bergamot curd, warm the bergamot purée in a pan to around 40°C. Whilst it is heating, mix together the agar agar and caster sugar. Add this mix to the purée, bring to the boil then cook for 1 minute

Add the eggs to a mixing bowl. Once boiled, gradually pour the purée onto the eggs whilst mixing constantly. Return the mixture to the pan and bring back to the boil whilst constantly whisking. Pass through a fine sieve or chinois into a container. Cut the cold butter into small cubes and slowly add to the container, emulsifying it into the mixture with a hand blender. Pour into a flat mould or tray measuring 40x30x1cm lined with cling film then freeze until solid

Once both the fig insert and bergamot insert are frozen solid, remove both from their moulds or trays. Using a blowtorch, lightly heat one side of each insert to melt them very slightly, then stick them together. Using a 4.5cm round cutter, stamp out 8 circles. Return these discs to the freezer whilst you prepare the other elements

To make the crystallised fig leaves, create a stock syrup by boiling the water and sugar together, then remove from the heat. While this cools slightly, cut out around 24 small shapes (around 2cm in diameter) from the fig leaves, using a leaf-shaped cutter if you have one (or just a round cutter if you don't). Reserve the fig leaf trimmings

Place the cut out leaf shapes in the syrup then transfer to a vacuum bag. Compress using a vacuum sealer 3 times, until the leaves appear darker. Place all the leaves individually on a small silpat mat or a dehydrator tray wrapped in clingfilm

For the fig crisps, cut the halved fig into thin slices and place on a silpat mat (or dehydrator tray wrapped in cling film). Place both this tray and the tray of compressed fig leaves in the dehydrator for roughly 3 hours, or until they are crisp. Reserve both in an airtight container 

For the fig leaf mousse, bring 180g of the double cream to the boil then add in the reserved fig leaf trimmings. Leave to infuse for 45 minutes

After this time, strain the cream into a clean pan, squeezing as much liquid out of the fig leaf trimmings as you can. Heat the infused cream in the pan until hot but not boiling. Whisk the egg yolks and caster sugar together. Gradually add the hot cream to the egg and sugar mix. Return to the pan and cook the mixture until it reaches 84ºC, stirring often

Whilst cooking the anglaise, soak the gelatine leaf in cold water. When the anglaise has reached 84ºC, squeeze out the excess water from the gelatine and add to the pan, mixing well. Pour the anglaise into a bowl and leave to cool until only just warm

Whip the remaining 230g of double cream to soft peaks, then fold this into the anglaise in 3 parts, folding to combine between each addition. Transfer the mousse to a piping bag

The Silikomart moulds Ruth and Emily use can be bought online, but you can also use any mould that holds 85ml and is 6.5cm in diameter and 3cm in height. Fill your moulds two-thirds of the way full with the fig leaf mousse, then press in the frozen double insert disc with the bergamot curd facing down and entering the mould first. Level off the moulds and place in the freezer until frozen solid

To make the earl grey sable and crumble, beat the butter in a stand mixer with the early grey powder and caster sugar until smooth. Add the egg yolk and mix again, scraping down the sides as needed. Finally add the flour and baking powder and mix again until just combined. Roll out between sheets of baking paper to roughly 1-2mm thick, then place in the fridge to firm up

Preheat an oven to 165ºC/gas mark 3. Bake the sable sheet between 2 perforated silpat mats (or 2 sheets of baking paper with a tray on each side) for 8 minutes until golden all over. Remove from the oven and cut into 8 circles using a 5cm round cutter. Place the remaining sable into a blender and briefly blitz to make a coarse crumb. Reserve both in airtight containers

To make the earl grey and honey gel, add the tea, sugar and honey to a pan over a medium heat. Add the agar agar whilst whisking constantly, continuing to heat the mixture until it comes to the boil for 1 minute. Add the bergamot purée then take off the heat. Pour into a container, cover with cling film (ensuring it is touching the liquid to stop a skin from forming) and place in the fridge until set. Once set, place into a blender and blitz until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag

To make the tuiles, preheat the oven to 170ºC/gas mark 3. Cream together the butter and icing sugar, then gradually add in the egg white, followed by the flour. Spread the mix onto a silpat mat (or tray lined with baking paper) and sprinkle over a pinch of fig leaf powder. Bake until an even golden colour, 5–8 minutes. Note that the tuiles in the picture above are created by using a leaf stencil, but if you don't have one of these you can cut the sable into whatever shapes you desire immediately after it comes out of the oven. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve

Place the sable biscuits on a large tray. Demould the frozen mousses and place each one on top of the sables. Set aside to defrost then dust heavily with icing sugar

Once defrosted you can begin to plate. Place the mousse and sable in the centre of each serving plate, sticking it down with some earl grey gel. Arrange the earl grey crumble even around the mousse and follow with dots of the gel. Next add 4 pieces of orange and 3 segments of fresh fig to each plate. In the spaces between the fig segments, place the tuiles, fig crisps and crystallised fig leaves. Finally add small pieces of butterfly sorrel