This recipe is free from wheat, gluten and eggs and can be adapted to be free from dairy, soya and nuts!
Sift the flour or flours with the xanthan gum into the bowl of a food processor.
Cut the margarine or butter into the flour and blend it until it resembles breadcrumbs.
Add the water and blend again; if it looks dry, add a little more water. Blend until the dough forms a ball.
Remove from the processor, wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
Remove the pastry from the fridge. Roll it out onto a well floured board and line a 20-25cm/8-9in loose-bottomed flan tin. The pastry will be quite soft, so you may need to patch any bits that tear. Line the pastry with greaseproof paper and weight with baking beans.
Bake for 15 minutes then remove the beans and paper and bake for a further 10 minutes to crisp the pastry. Cool.
Meanwhile, gradually mix whichever milk you are using into the cornflour and heat slowly, stirring continually until it thickens. Cook for a minute or two then remove from the heat.
Break up 60g/2½oz of the chocolate and add it to the cornflour mix, stirring until it is all melted.
Stir in the liqueur or brandy.
Quarter the pears, core and peel them and arrange them, pointed side to the middle, in the flan dish.
Spoon the chocolate sauce over the pears and allow to cool entirely.
Grate over the remaining chocolate before serving.
