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Delicious Chocolate Poached Pears with a Rich Sauce
Chocolate Poached Pears are an elegant dessert where pears are cooked in a flavored syrup and served with a decadent chocolate sauce. It's a delightful winter treat that is surprisingly easy to make.This dessert is quick to prepare and combines the sweet flavor of fruit with the richness of chocolate, creating a treat that everyone will love—even those with the most refined tastes.
Ingredients
- 4 pears - medium size
- 500 ml water - ~2 cups
- 2 tablespoons cane sugar - whole
- 1 stick cinnamon
- 1 lemon
- 100 g dark chocolate - 3.5 oz
- 100 ml milk - ~½ cup
- orange zest - candied, to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Start by pouring water and brown sugar into a thick-bottomed saucepan. The thick bottom will help distribute the heat evenly and prevent the sugar from burning.
- Add a piece of cinnamon stick or, if you prefer, a teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the pan. This will give the syrup a warm, aromatic flavor that pairs perfectly with the pears.
- Squeeze the juice from a fresh lemon using a citrus squeezer. Make sure to strain the juice through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any seeds or pulp. Add the strained lemon juice to the saucepan with the water, sugar, and cinnamon.
- Place the saucepan on the stove over low heat. Let the sugar dissolve slowly, stirring occasionally to help it along. Keep an eye on it to ensure the sugar doesn’t burn, as this would give the syrup a bitter taste.
- While the syrup is heating, prepare the pears. Peel them carefully, leaving the stems intact for a beautiful presentation. Avoid cutting off the bottom of the pears so they stay whole and can stand upright when plated.
- Once the syrup is ready, gently place the peeled pears into the saucepan. Cook them over medium heat for about 30 minutes, or until they are tender but still hold their shape. Turn them occasionally to ensure they cook evenly. When done, remove the pears from the syrup and let them drain on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess liquid.
- While the pears are cooking, you can prepare the chocolate sauce. Pour the milk into a heatproof bowl, add the chopped dark chocolate, and melt it using a double boiler. Stir occasionally until the chocolate is completely smooth and glossy.
- To serve, arrange the cooked pears on individual dessert plates. Drizzle them generously with the warm chocolate sauce. For an extra touch of flavor and elegance, garnish with small cubes of candied orange peel. Serve immediately and enjoy this stunning and delicious dessert.
Nutrition
Serving: 100gCalories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 4gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 24mgPotassium: 465mgFiber: 9gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 105IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 86mgIron: 4mg
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