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Riesling-Poached Pear with Caramel Sauce
Share a silky, wine-poached pear with your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day. Both the pear and the luscious caramel-yogurt sauce can be prepared ahead, so dessert will be ready when you are.
Pairs With
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250 ml) Riesling
- 1 cup (250 ml) water
- 6 tablespoons (3 oz/90 g) granulated sugar
- ½-inch piece of vanilla bean
- 1 ripe but firm Bartlett or Anjou pear
Caramel Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- ¼ cup (2 oz/60 g) plain whole-milk Greek yogurt, at room temperature
- Small chunk of bittersweet chocolate, optional
Instructions
In a small saucepan, combine the wine, water, sugar, and vanilla bean. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Peel the pear with a vegetable peeler, leaving the stem intact. Place the pear on its side in the simmering liquid. Spoon some of the liquid over the exposed pear. Cut a parchment round a little larger in diameter than the saucepan and place it over the pear, tucking the edges under the liquid to hold the parchment in place. Adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook 10 minutes.
Remove the parchment and use 2 large spoons to gently turn the pear over without damaging the flesh. Recover with parchment, tucking the edges under as before, and continue simmering until the flesh is just tender when pierced, about 10 minutes longer. The pear will continue to cook as it cools. With a slotted spoon, transfer the pear carefully to a lidded container. Remove the vanilla bean from the poaching liquid. Simmer the poaching liquid until reduced to ½ cup (4 fl oz/125 ml). Cool completely, then pour it over the pear.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 1 day, turning the pear every few hours in the syrup.
Make the caramel sauce: In a small saucepan, combine the sugars and water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Simmer until reduced to 2-1/2 to 3 tablespoons, about 4 minutes. Do not reduce further or the caramel will be too sticky. Pour into a measuring cup and let cool 2 minutes. Put the yogurt in a small bowl and gradually whisk in the caramel. Cover and refrigerate until chilled.
To serve, cut the pear in half lengthwise. Core both halves with a melon baller. Put the halves, cut side down, on a work surface and thinly slice lengthwise, leaving the slices attached at the stem end. Using a spatula, transfer each pear half to an individual plate, maintaining the shape of the pear half. Press lightly on the slices to fan them. Spoon the caramel sauce alongside and drizzle about 1 teaspoon of the pear poaching syrup over the pear. If desired, use a rasp grater or other fine grater to grate a little bittersweet chocolate over all. Serve immediately.
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