Recipe courtesy of Jill O'Connor
Caramel Pears Belle Helene
This classic French dessert is enriched by poaching the pears in a caramelized sugar syrup spiked with fresh ginger and Poire William, a heady pear brandy. You can drizzle caramel sauce over the pears and ice cream instead of the more traditional chocolate sauce.
- Yield: Serves 8
Ingredients
2-inch piece fresh ginger
1 cup sugar
3 cups warm water
1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
4 firm, barely ripe Bosc pears
1 or 2 tablespoons Poire William or other pear brandy (optional)
1 1/2 pints vanilla ice cream
Chocolate sauce or caramel sauce for serving
2 tablespoons chopped pistachios for garnish
Directions
- 1. Peel the ginger and cut into 1/4-inch-thick disks.
- 2. In a deep saucepan large enough to hold the pear halves in a single layer, combine the ginger, sugar, and 1/2 cup of the water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cook the syrup until it turns a medium amber brown. Remove the pan from heat and carefully add the remaining 2 1/2 cups water. Stir until the caramel is completely dissolved. Add the vanilla bean to the syrup.
- 3. Peel the pears, leaving the stems intact. Cut the pears in half lengthwise. Use a melon baller to remove the central core. Draw the melon baller from the core to the top of the pear, removing the interior stem, up to the top of the pear. Add the pears to the caramel syrup.
- 4. Simmer and cook the pears, uncovered, until they are tender but not mushy when pierced with a sharp knife, 15 to 20 minutes (the length of poaching time depends on the ripeness of the fruit). Stir in the pear brandy, if using.
- 5. Remove the pan from heat and let the pears cool to room temperature in the poaching liquid. The pears can be served immediately, or covered and refrigerated in the poaching liquid for up to 2 days.
- 6. To serve, drain the pears and place each pear half on a dessert plate. Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream alongside or on top of the poached pear. Drizzle with chocolate or caramel sauce. Sprinkle with the pistachios and serve immediately.
Get the Recipe
Whole Cauliflower Wellington
Herb butter and mushrooms complement the cauliflower in this main dish.
Now Playing
Whole Cauliflower Wellington 01:09
Herb butter and mushrooms complement the cauliflower in this main dish.
Get the Recipe
Now Playing
Now Playing
Peanut Butter Molten Bundt 00:44
This decadent chocolate bundt cake is filled with molten peanut butter.
Get the Recipe
Now Playing
Chicken and Dumplings 04:08
Roasted chicken adds big flavor to Tyler's Chicken and Dumplings.
Now Playing
Ree's Perfect Pot Roast 04:14
Lots of trial and error went into the recipe for Ree's Perfect Pot Roast.
Get the recipe
Now Playing
Giant Peanut Butter Cookie 00:59
Win the next cookie swap with this gigantic cookie-cake.
Get the Recipe
