Poached Pears

Name: Poached Pears
Yield: makes 4; serves 4 to 8
Ingredients: 7 star anise; 10 whole cloves; 8 black peppercorns; 1 1/4 cups (375g) honey; 6 1/2 cups (1,560g) water; 2 1/4 teaspoons (9g) coarse salt; Grated zest of 1 lemon; Grated zest of 1 orange; 2 ounces (57g) fresh ginger, peeled and sliced; 4 slightly under-ripe pears (Bosc or Bartlett)

December 9, 2011

While I serve these pears with Semolina Pancakes (page 97), you could spoon them over any pancake and replace the traditional maple syrup accompaniment with this poaching liquid instead. Poached pears are also great in a simple trifle, with layers of ice cream and crisp cookies. Poaching is a long, gentle cooking process, so firm fruit is what you want. Choose pears of equal ripeness for poaching, and they will all be equally tender.

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