Poached pears make a great Lenten dessert…and since the season is upon us, poaching fruit is a great option that allows us to keep our traditions and promises without cheating. Of course poached fruit goes great with ice cream, custard or a little whipped cream, but since most of us have given that up this time of the year, those little extras are a no no. Another really great option with poached pears is something I’ve loved as an ice cream topping since I was a kid…those delicious wet nuts! They are easy to make, especially since you have the poaching syrup left over that you can easily reduce a little further before you add the nut mixture. I usually use walnuts, but you can use just about anything you like. I find that the reduced flavor of the white wine (make sure it’s a good one) and the pears is really delicious and satisfying.
Poached Pears with Wet Nuts
1 recipe poached pears
1 cup ground walnuts (or nuts of your choice)
ground cinnamon
1 cup reduced syrup (poaching syrup)
Prepare the pears according to the directions and once they are tender, remove them from the liquid and set aside. Reduce the poaching liquid further until it is almost reduced by half and has thickened. Add the crushed nuts to the warm liquid and allow the mixture to cool slightly before serving. When ready to serve, place the pear in your serving dish and spoon over the wet nuts. If the syrup is a little too thick, you may thin it out with a little more white wine.
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