Poached pears with star anise, ginger and lemongrass

4 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
10Whole star anise
1Piece lemon grass, 6\" long, cut in 4 pieces
1Piece ginger, 2\" long, peeled and sliced
¾cupSugar
750millilitresDry Sauvignon Blanc
4Hard Anjou pears
1teaspoonLemon juice
4Sprigs mint

Directions

In a medium saucepan simmer the spices, sugar, and wine for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile halve, peel and core the pears. Add the pear halves to the infused wine and poach about 20 minutes or until just soft enough to be easily penetrated with a toothpick.

Remove saucepan from heat and let the pears cool in the poaching liquid for one hour. Remove the pears with a slotted spoon, cover and refrigerate.

Reduce the poaching liquid to ½ cup. Strain it and add it to the pears.

Chill 2 hours or overnight.

Remove the pears, drain them over the bowl and slice the wide end on the bias. Place 2 halves on each serving plate with the stem ends touching and press down lightly to fan them out.

Spoon 3 tablespoons of reduced liquid over each serving. Garnish the stem ends with a sprig of mint.

>From Taste Show #TS4796

Recipe by: David Rosengarten Posted to MC-Recipe Digest V1 #548 by "Master Harper Gaellon" <gaellon@...> on Apr 4, 1997