Best Asian Pear Caramel Sundaes Recipes

PLUM WINE POACHED ASIAN PEAR

Steps:

• Cut the Asian pears in half vertically. Use a small spoon to scoop out the core. Put the 4 halves in a pot large enough to fit the pears in a single layer.
• Cover the pears with the pomegranate juice and plum wine. Add more juice and wine if the pears are not completely covered. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Take the pot off the heat and let the pears come to room temperature in the pot. Remove the pears and juice from the pot and put in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat a grill to high.
• When you're ready to serve the pears, dry each half thoroughly using paper towels. Put the sugar on a shallow plate and dip the flat side of each half in the sugar. Put each pear half, flat side down, on a very hot grill and grill until the sugar is brown and bubbly.
• Transfer the pears to serving plates, flat side up. Put a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the middle of each pear and garnish with mint.

PEAR-CARAMEL ICE CREAM SUNDAES

Steps:

• For Ice Cream:
• Melt butter in heavy 10-inch skillet over medium-low heat. Add sugar and cook until sugar melts (mixture will be grainy for first 10 to 12 minutes) and turns deep amber, stirring occasionally and pressing on sugar lumps to break up, about 20 minutes. Add pears (caramel will bubble and harden). Increase heat to medium-high and boil until liquid thickens and pears are very tender, breaking up large pieces of caramel and stirring occasionally, about 14 minutes. Transfer mixture to blender.
• Beat yolks to blend in medium bowl. Bring cream to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Gradually whisk hot cream into yolks. Return cream mixture to same saucepan. Stir over low heat until custard thickens slightly and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 2 minutes; do not boil. Immediately add to pear mixture in blender. Add brandy if desired. Blend until smooth. Cover custard and refrigerate until well chilled.
• Process custard in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Freeze ice cream until firm. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Keep frozen.)
• For Pears:
• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-low heat. Add sugar and cook until sugar turns deep amber, stirring occasionally and breaking up sugar lumps, about 20 minutes. Add pears and sauté until tender but not mushy and caramel thickens slightly, about 9 minutes.
• Arrange 6 pear slices decoratively on each of 6 plates or in shallow bowls. Scoop ice cream atop pears. Drizzle with caramel syrup from skillet and serve.

CASHEW CARAMEL SUNDAES

Steps:

• Bring 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon each light corn syrup and water to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat; swirl (don't stir) until dark amber, 8 minutes. Remove from the heat; whisk in 1/2 cup heavy cream. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped cashews, 1 tablespoon butter, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla and a pinch of salt. Sever over ice cream.