VANILLA POACHED PEARS WITH CHOCOLATE SAUCE AND ICE CREAM (A.K.A. "POIRE BELLE HELENE")

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Vanilla Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce and Ice Cream (a.k.a.

Provided by Tyler Florence

Categories     dessert

Time 1h45m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

6 cups water
3 cups sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 lemon, zested
1 vanilla bean
6 firm pears such as Bosc or Bartlett
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 quart store-bought vanilla-bean ice cream
Wafer cookies, for serving

Steps:

  • Combine the water, sugar, cinnamon sticks, and lemon zest in a medium saucepan. Split vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape out the seeds and add both the seeds and the pod to the pan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 5 minutes.
  • Peel the pears. Reduce the poaching liquid to a simmer and add the pears. Cook until just tender (the tip of a paring knife will go through the flesh of a pear with just a little resistance), about 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and cool the pears in the poaching liquid, until completely cooled, about 45 minutes.
  • Heat the cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Put the chocolate and butter into a medium-size bowl. Pour the cream over the chocolate and stir until smooth and glossy.
  • Serve the pears with a scoop of ice cream, a little pear-poaching syrup and warm chocolate sauce drizzled over the top. Garnish with a wafer cookie and serve.

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