Unlike many fruits, pears are not best when ripened on the tree, and the unripe fruit after picking needs to be kept at low temperature for a certain length of time in order to develop the ability to ripen optimally off the tree1. One of my earliest recollections of this fruit as a dessert comes from an image of a whole pear shared with family at a restaurant in Connecticut. It was not so much the flavor - which was quite good - but the structural integrity and shape that it retained even after being cooked.
While poaching is a method popularly associated with cooking eggs in liquid at low heat, firm fleshed fruits like pears also lend themselves well to being cooked by this method. And, often times the poaching liquid is flavored to gradually infuse the poaching fruit with new flavors. The final poaching liquid itself extracts fruit juices, and when reduced serves as a complementing sauce to the poached fruit.
Here is a method to poach pears:
Water
Sugar
Spices of choice (cinnamon, cloves, star anise etc.)
Lemon
Pears
Peel and core pears, and rub with lemon to prevent discolorization. In a pan dissolve sugar with water over moderate heat, add spices of choice, and lemon slices. When the poaching liquid comes to a boil, reduce heat, add the pears, cover loosely with parchment paper and depending on firmness of the pear cook at a very gentle simmer for 10-20 minutes or until fork tender. Remove pan from heat, let cool down, remove pears, and then reduce the poaching liquid to a sauce the consistency that coats a spoon. Serve the pear glazed with the sauce and any other complimenting accompaniment.
One friend from across the Atlantic emails a long, detailed, traditional pear recipe; another friend from near home emails an invitation to a home cooked dinner on Thanksgiving day while enquiring about the next blog entry; and then, some family drive all the way from Connecticut to visit for a few hours – the moment seems to pair well with poached pears.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Reference:
1. Ripening of European Pears: the Chilling Dilemma by Villalobos-Acuna, M and Mitcham EJ in Post Harvest Biology and Technology, 49 (2008) 187-200.
Post script: A reader emails a salad suggestion that pairs sliced pears with sliced fennel bulbs, tossed in olive oil and maple syrup, seasoned with salt and pepper, and then oven roasted.
Love this, Bala. Happy Thanksgiving to yo and yours. Andrea
Thank you, Andrea.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, too! Hope you're having a lovely time in North Carolina!
Compliments for sharing the recipe of an elegant desert and even more elegant writing. You have given a new dimension to the fruit. Next time I see a pear I am sure your picture perfect photograph of the pear with the blue cheese perched elegantly ,roasted walnut and cream in a fall setting will flash before my eyes.
It brought back my memory to the fruit grown in India, particularly in the hilly regions of Kodaikanal where we plucked them from the tree took a bite and threw it away if it was not tasty before we tried another. While both crunchy to the bite and soft pears are locally grown in Kodaikanal the firm crunchy and juicy ones are prevalent and available during the festive seasons of Vinayaka chaturthi and saraswathi pooja.
Thank you.
I don't recall having tasted pears from Kodaikanal, at least knowingly haven't, so I will look out for them when I can - the association between pear season and festive season is interesting.
Thank you for sharing your experience.