GRAPPA-POACHED PEARS WITH SPECK

Grappa-Poached Pears with Speck image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Time 1h5m

Yield 24 bites

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 cups grappa
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon orange zest (from 1/2 orange)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
8 cloves
8 black peppercorns
2 sprigs rosemary
3 Forelle pears, peeled, halved and cored
1 1/2 cups baby arugula
12 thin slices speck ham, halved lengthwise

Steps:

In a medium Dutch oven, combine the grappa, sugar, orange zest, salt, red pepper flakes, cloves, peppercorns, rosemary and 2 cups water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar; cook for 5 minutes. Carefully place the pears halves, cut-side down, in the poaching liquid. Cover with a piece of parchment pressed directly to the surface of the liquid, and simmer gently for 10 to 12 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the pears to cool in the liquid for 5 minutes. Then remove the pears with a slotted spoon to a plate to cool completely, about 15 minutes.
Cut each pear half into 4 wedges. Gather a few leaves of arugula and bundle them together with a pear wedge. Lay the bundle on one end of a piece of speck and roll up to enclose; secure with a toothpick. Repeat with the remaining pears, arugula and speck.