An Easy Dessert: Vanilla Poached Pears
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 17:45
Elegant desserts don’t have to be difficult, as this one proves. It takes very few ingredients and only a little over 30 minutes to prepare this easy dessert recipe. We have been served this dessert in 5 star restaurants and at a cost of close to $20, yet it costs very, very little to make. We can almost guarantee that these poached pears will be a big hit the next time you need new and easy desserts.
Vanilla Poached Pears
Ingredients
2 cups good quality sherry
1 vanilla bean pod
6 ripe pears
2 teaspoons arrowroot
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup chopped almonds
Preparation
In a large sauce pan over low heat, bring the sherry and the vanilla bean pod to a simmer. Carefully peel the pears leaving the stems.
Carefully stand the pears in the pan and spoon the cherry over them. Cover tightly to keep the moisture in and simmer to poach the pears, turning occasionally and spooning sherry over them until tender, about 20-25 minutes
Remove the vanilla beans. Cut open the beans and scrape out the seeds. Set the seeds aside. Gently remove the pears from the sherry and place on serving dishes.
Add the vanilla seed to the sherry and bring to a slow boil. Cook down the liquid until only about 1 cup remains. Mix the arrowroot with a little cold water then whisk into the reduced sherry. Continue whisking until it starts to thicken. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Allow to cool, then spoon over pears and top with the chopped almonds.
Happy New Year from Peppercorn Press!
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie says:
January 1st, 2009 at 5:46 am
This is a wonderful combination of vanilla and pears. delicious! Happy new year!
Natasha – 5 Star Foodie’s last blog post..My Year in Review
Judy says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 7:35 am
You are so right about this being elegant. I can’t believe though how simple it is!!!
Judy’s last blog post..Best of 2008…
Rico says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:11 pm
It still amazes me how a classic recipe is still so popular but it does not surprise me, I just love pears done this way and will always do. And the photography here is excellent. Thanks for sharing.
Alta says:
January 4th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
These are so elegant and sound yummy! I have never poached pears but this recipe makes me want to try! Thanks!
Alta’s last blog post..Black-Eyed Peas
Ramya's Mane Adige says:
January 5th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
oh, this looks yummy!!!!! Hard to believe its that simple to make… New Year wishes to you as well!!
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The Wind Attack says:
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:24 am
Interesting that you leave the vanilla bean whole until after the poaching. I wouldn’t have thought of that! I will have to give that a try.