Pears with Chocolate: Pere al Cioccolato
- Butter, for greasing
- 6 Bosc or other firm pears, peeled
- 1/4 cup honey
- Pinch cinnamon
- 5 ounces semisweet chocolate
- 2 eggs*
- 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Using the butter, grease an ovenproof casserole.
- Cut a slice off the bottom of each pear to make it stand upright, then place them in the casserole.
- Add 1/2 cup water and place the pears in the oven to soften for 40 minutes, basting 3 to 4 times throughout the process.
- Combine the pan juices with the honey and cinnamon in a small bowl and whisk together until it's the consistency of a light emulsion.
- Augment with hot tap water if necessary.
- Drizzle the pears with this mixture, return the pears to the oven, and let cook for another 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and set aside until ready to serve.
- In the top part of a double boiler, melt the chocolate, stirring constantly to avoid scorching.
- Set aside to cool.
- Separate the 2 eggs and beat the yolks into the chocolate, which should be cool but still liquid.
- Whisk the chocolate to make sure it is well mixed.
- Beat the egg whites and confectioners' sugar together, to form stiff peaks, and then, fold this mixture into the chocolate mixture.
- Place 1 pear on each of 6 dessert plates and top with some of the chocolate mixture.
- Serve immediately.
- *RAW EGG WARNING
- Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs due to the slight risk of Salmonella or other food-borne illness.
- To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.
butter, honey, cinnamon, chocolate, eggs, sugar
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/pears-with-chocolate-pere-al-cioccolato-recipe.html (may not work)