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

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.