For an impressive yet fast dessert, serve poached pears for the perfect end to a meal.
Yield: |
4 servings |
Active Time: |
20 minutes |
Start to Finish: |
1 hour, 20 minutes |
For this recipe you’ll need:
-
3 cups white wine
-
3 cups water
-
1/2 cup granulated sugar
-
1/2 vanilla bean, scraped
-
2 strips orange zest
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Four small, ripe-but-firm pears, peeled and cored
-
1/3 cup hazelnuts, toasted and rough chopped
For the chocolate sauce:
- 4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
- To poach the pears, place the wine, water, sugar, vanilla pod and scrapings, and zest in a saucepan large enough to hold the pears. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and submerge the pears in the liquid. Poach at a gentle simmer until the pears are just tender when a knife is inserted.
- Cool the pears in the poaching liquid. Note: Pears may be refrigerated, once cool, in their liquid for several days.
-
To make the chocolate sauce, gently heat chocolate, cream and butter in small saucepan over low heat. When chocolate begins to melt, whisk until smooth. Mix in the vanilla and serve warm.
- To serve the pears, spoon a pool of Chocolate Sauce in the center of a plate or shallow dish. Place a poached pear in the center of the sauce. Drizzle the pear with additional chocolate sauce and garnish with a sprinkling of the hazlenuts.
