Poached Pears

This year has flown by and its already the holidays! Its my favorite time of year when family and loved ones gather to laugh and feast. With all of the cookie exchanges, cakes, and pies during this season, it can be easy to indulge in sugared treats. Yet, its also the perfect time of year to relish in local, seasonal fruits such as crisp apples, fresh citrus, and delicious pears.

Poached Pears with Creme Fraiche is an easy to prepare and impressive dish! With the perfect amount of sweetness and spice, poached fruit is delicious served with a meat course or dessert and can be made up to 2 days ahead! It is almost as foolproof as a dish can get and can be substituted with other hard fruits you may have on hand such as apples. Serving the poached pears with creme fraiche takes this over the top! Enjoy!

This recipe is from the Joy of Cooking cookbook.

INGREDIENTS
YIELD: 6 Servings

  • 4 cups water

  • 1 1/2 cup sugar

  • 2 cinnamon sticks

  • 1 inch piece of fresh ginger peeled

  • 1 tablespoon vanilla

  • zest of 1 lemon removed in strips with a vegetable peeler

  • 6 small pears, peeled, halved, and cored

  • 1 8 ounce container of creme fraiche for garnish

  • 1/4 chopped almonds for garnish

PREPARATION

  • Set a pot over low heat and bring the first five ingredients to a simmer. Cover and cook for 5 minutes,

  • Add 6 small pears to the pot. Raise the heat to high and bring to a simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring the fruit frequently until the fruit is tender when pierced with a knife, 5 to 10 minutes.

  • Once tender transfer fruit to a dish, reserving the syrup in the pot.

  • Boil the syrup down until it is reduced by half.

  • Then pour the syrup over the fruit.

  • Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled with a dollop of creme fraiche and chopped almonds to taste.

Sweet Treatscarmen JohnsonPears1 Comment