Choco-Hoto-Pots

When I make these I use all chocolate chips. I am philosophically opposed to white chocolate. Ha! I get no complaints.

Why would I order a five-pound bag of Italian flour when I only need 3 tablespoons? That would be a lifetime supply. I'm going to try with regular flour ...

I used regular sugar, all-purpose flour, and chocolate chips. They were delicious. Ice cream would be a good addition.

I liked this a lot. 4.5 stars. It's a little too sweet--I would use 2/3 c sugar and 3/4 tsp expression powder. Finally, I think six servings instead of four would be better. The problem then is the baking time. 20 min was perfect.

I reduced the recipe for two: 2 oz. butter in a glass measuring cup microwaved until melted, stirred in 1/2 cup 60% cacao chips, which melted perfectly in the residual heat, then 1/3 cup regular sugar. Stirred well, set aside until after dinner. After dinner, I shook 1 egg in a small glass jar, added the "beaten" egg and 1 1/2 tablespoon Wondra flour to the chocolate mixture in the measuring cup, poured it in to the ramekins. Perfect with peppermint ice cream. A keeper!

This is, basically, the Jean-Georges Vongerichten recipe for Molten Choc Cakes. Except Nigella spares us the effort of unmolding them, which is a good idea since the unmolding too often leads to presentational disasters. The other difference from the JGV version is this is cooked longer at a lower temperature (his recipe is 7-9 min at 450F). The problem with the hotter oven is that it is really easy to cook the thing all the way through (still tasty but not molten). So I prefer NL's method.

Espresso. Darn that spell check.

I think the information about the KAF Italian 00 flour is outdated. The "Italian Style" flour is now $7.95 for a 3 lb. bag.

From looking at their website, it's a low-protein (8.5%), finely milled flour. Wondra or some other "instant" flour or cake flour might be a better substitute than AP.

If you do spring for the KAF 00, it does have other uses, as noted below. Pasta, crackers, in gravy, pizza, etc.

Love these. I use 70% or higher chocolate and skip the white stuff. Very chocolaty and rich.
Wegmans sells 00 flour in the store for a couple of bucks (great to keep on hand for pizza crust).

I have made these many times for guests. I always serve them with ice cream or whipped cream on the side because they are intensely chocolate. I don't do the white chocolate chips and maybe that's why I need something to cut the chocolate.

Could you use a glass pie plate instead of individual ramekins, then cut into wedges?
What would the cooking time be?

00 flour makes the best pizza crust. Yes, I know that all purpose also works, but if you had 00, tried it in pizza, you would be a happy person!

keep extra flour in the freezer!

From the Jamie Oliver website:

"Carol Field in the Italian Baker recommends that you mix 1 part pastry flour with 3 parts all purpose to make a substitute 00"

I use brown sugar; not white sugar. I add pecans; not white choc. chips. And I add 2 teaspoons of instant granular coffee. Serve with vanilla ice cream.