Riesling Poached Pears with Cardamom Cream
- 1 (750 ml) bottle Riesling, preferably Spatlese
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 ripe pears, such as Bartlett, Bosc, D'Anjou, Fiselle or Seckel
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoons superfine sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- Pour the Riesling into a medium saucepan and whisk in the sugar until it dissolves.
- Peel the pears, leaving stem intact, if present.
- Remove bottom stem end with a small melon baller, and continue to scoop up into the pear to remove the core.
- Place the pears right in the Riesling mixture (poaching liquid) after they are peeled and cored to prevent them from discoloring.
- (The acidity of the wine keeps them from browning).
- Add just enough water to cover the pears.
- To keep the pears submerged in the poaching liquid, cut a circle of parchment paper the size of the pan and lay on the surface of the liquid.
- Place a small plate on top of the paper to make sure the pears are completely submerged.
- Cook the pears over medium-high heat, just until the liquid comes to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and poach the pears until they are just soft.
- The pears should be tender enough to pierce with a knife.
- This takes about 20 to 25 minutes for ripe medium pears, but this can vary depending on the size, variety and ripeness of the pear.
- Remove the pan from the heat and cool the fruit completely in the poaching liquid.
- Refrigerate the fruit in the liquid in a sealed container until ready to serve.
- (The fruit will hold for 4 to 5 days, the longer the fruit is stored in the poaching liquid, the fuller the flavor).
- Pour about half of the poaching liquid into a skillet and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Continue to cook and reduce until the liquid gets syrupy and about the consistency of honey.
- Meanwhile, whip the cream together with the sugar and cardamom until cream just holds soft peaks.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- To serve, place a pear in a bowl or on a plate.
- Drizzle with reduced Riesling syrup and garnish with a dollop of whipped cream.
spatlese, sugar, bartlett, heavy cream, sugar, ground cardamom
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/riesling-poached-pears-with-cardamom-cream-recipe.html (may not work)