Poached pears in a beautiful pink raspberry puree and served with a homemade chocolate sauce.
All the dessert lovers of the world, in my opinion belong to two broad categories. The chocolate lovers and the non-chocolate lovers (do they even exist?). Okay, let me rephrase that…the chocolate lovers and the fruits-over-chocolate lovers. And of course, there are the ones like me who fall somewhere in between. The ones who like to enjoy the best of both worlds!
Poached pears make for a fancy yet healthy dessert. Though I have experimented with various fruits, pears are my favourite poach-able fruit. Not only do they take in the colour and the flavour, of the poaching liquid (which can be totally customised to your preference), they are pretty simple to cook with a handful of ingredients and can be made ahead in time. At one time, I was so obsessed with poaching pears in different combinations that I think I would have to create a separate category if I had to blog about them. The bottom line is, that the possibilities with them are endless.
There are so many varieties of pears to choose from but I personally prefer to use the Bosc pears as they retain their long slender shape well. Though it’s a fairly simple process, they key is not to undercook or overcook the pears. What we are looking for is a firm fruit, cooked evenly, without resistance when you cut through with a spoon. For this purpose, the pears need to be turned around in between. Also, letting the pears cool down in the liquid, intensifies the flavour and colour.
The chocolate sauce complements the deep flavour of the raspberries and elevates the dessert to a whole new level. I have included a non dairy version of the sauce too that will be slightly thinner than the first one but tastes almost as good. You can have the poached pears warm or cold. I like them warm with a bit of whipped cream to go alongside.
Raspberry Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce
Serves 4
1 cup frozen raspberries
1 cup sugar
4 cups water
4 Beurre Bosc pears, peeled and cored
For the chocolate sauce
100 g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
1 cup pouring cream/single cream
25 g butter
For a dairy free, chocolate sauce
1 tbsp castor sugar
½ cup cocoa
¼ cup boiling water
Trim the bottom of the pear to make a flat surface so it can stand upright. Retain the stems for a nice presentation. Combine all the ingredients except the pears in a large saucepan. Over medium heat, bring it to a boil, stirring in between till the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat to a simmer and gently add the pears. Cover and cook till tender turning in between until cooked evenly. To test this, poke with a fork. Remove from heat. Let the pears stand in the poaching liquid till cool. Remove the pears and strain the liquid to remove seeds or any fruit bits that may be present.
Pour the liquid back to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce it till it reaches a syrupy consistency. Keep aside.
For the chocolate sauce, heat cream in a saucepan over medium heat, bring to a simmer, add the chocolate and whisk until melted, add the butter and continue to whisk until well combined.
For the dairy free version, combine sugar, cocoa and boiling water in a small bowl and whisk together until smooth.
To Serve, place a poached pear on a plate. Pour over the reduced raspberry sauce. Drizzle with warm chocolate sauce. Add a dollop of whipped cream or pipe little flowers of whipped cream around the pear.
These pears are exquisite Sonali! Absolutely beautiful, in terms of both flavour profile and presentation! I’ll try to make these for my next dinner party I think. Pears and chocolate are such a killer combination! xx
Thank You Laura. You are very sweet!
Thank You Laura! For me its the raspberries too. I just cannot get over that combination:-)
How absolutely gorgeous Sonali! So elegant. Out of desserts from fruit, my favourite have to be berries and pears. I am a huge fruit dessert fan and usually like chocolate by itself. I think I try to fool myself into thinking that fruit in desserts is healthy 🙂
Works every time.
Nazneen
I cannot agree more. It feels a little less guilty if fruits are present. Even though they are poached in sugar syrup. Ha Ha. Thank you Nazneen:-)
Non-choc lovers do exist and I am one of them. Chocs have never been what I like to eat, non sure why but that’s how it has been.
Good use of the raspberries and I will skip the choc but I want the cream. the pears with the choc and cream are so beautiful and I love the color so much.
Thank you Nava! I totally understand…we all have preferences. There are times I get into a complete no-chocolate mode too. Fruits and cream make such a lovely dessert:-)
Ai, ai, ai…I so love poached pears…This one is unique because it was poached in raspberries syrup instead of wine which adds a bright red color to it as well as a delicious berry flavor. Great idea!
Thank you Denise! You are so very sweet:-)
mmm, I love poached pears! look at that lovely color of raspberry sauce, love how you decorated with cream flowers and chocolate sauce. I haven’t tried in a long time, definitely want to make it again.
Thank you Balvinder! The colour is what I love the most about the dessert. I hope you try it:-)
I’m one of those “kinda likes chocolate” people…just not with peanut butter. But this…definitely! This is such a classy dessert! You always amaze me!
Thank you Gloria! Peanut butter and chocolate is something I am yet to try…never been very excited though. Thank you for the lovely words:-)
such lovely red hue of the poached pears and the chocolate on top…amazing and absolutely drool worthy 🙂
Thank you Kumar! I am for anything with colours too:-)
Wonderful pictures and a classy dessert! I can imagine the flavors of all these at one bite… irresistible!!!
Thank you Deepti! Yes, the pears take up the flavour of the raspberries and are delicious:-)
Incredible gourmet presentation. I’m kinda towards the chocolatey end, although I don’t like to eat chocolate as a plain chocolate bar…I love it in cakes, pastries or over anything in the liquidy or semi solid format..But never have enjoyed so much fruits in sweet…but this poached pear looks drool worthy and perfect. Love the usage of raspberries, perfect color!!
I am like you Pavithra in preferring chocolate in a dessert than eating it as it is. Cooking it gives it a new dimension. And you know my love for raspberries:-) Thank you!