Poire Belle Hélène (Poached Pears)

Serves: Serves 6

Prep Time: 15 Minutes + waiting

Cook Time: 10 Minutes

Ready In: 25 mins
+ waiting

Ingredients

7 - Pears

5 oz - Demerara Sugar

1 - Vanilla Pod

3 - Cloves

1 teaspoon - Powdered Ginger

1 tablespoon - Cinnamon Powder

2 oz - Flaked Almonds

5 oz - Dark Chocolate

5 fl oz - Liquid Double Cream

6 - Scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream

Directions

  1. Place a glass-and-a-half or water into your pressure cooker. Split the vanilla pod and scape out the seeds. Add these and the brown sugar, to the pan. Sprinkle in the ginger and cinnamon, and add the cloves.
  2. Peel the pears and, using a standard peeler, remove the cores, leaving the pears whole. Add six of these pears to the pan. Cut the seventh pear into pieces the size of a dice and add to the pan. Secure the lid and cook for seven minutes from the moment the valve begins to rotate.
  3. Take out the whole pears and place them upright in a flat dish. Reserve six tablespoons of syrup along with the pear bits. When cooled, place these in a refrigerator to chill (they are served cold).
  4. Grill the almond flakes in a non-stick pan. Keep turning them and remove from the heat as soon as they begin to turn brown. Set these aside to decorate your dish.
  5. To serve, melt the chocolate in a microwave, stirring in the cream and three tablespoons of the reserved liquid. When melted, add the pieces of diced pear and stir them in.
  6. Place the pears on a plate or in a dish, along with a scoop of ice cream. Pour some chocolate sauce over each pear and sprinkle the roasted almonds to decorate.