Chocolate Pancakes with Spiced Pears and Miso Caramel

Ingredients

• Miso Caramel

  • 1 cup (210 g) sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water
  • ½ cup (125 ml) 35% cream, hot
  • ¼ cup (55 g) unsalted butter, diced
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) miso

• Spiced Pears

  • 1 cup (250 ml) cold water
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice
  • ½ cup (105 g) sugar
  • 1 piece fresh ginger, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long
  • 1 cinnamon stick, about 4 inches (10 cm) long
  • 2 star anise
  • 3 pears, ripe but firm

• Chocolate Pancakes

  • ¾ cup (115 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup (25 g) cocoa powder, sifted
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) buttermilk, cold
  • 2 tbsp butter, melted, plus more for cooking
  • 1 egg, yolk and white separated

• Toppings

  • ½ cup (125 ml) mascarpone cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup (45 g) roasted almonds, roughly chopped
  • 2 tbsp roasted white and black sesame seeds