Poached Pears Recipe Jacque Pepin Food

JACQUES PEPIN'S BRAISED PEARS IN CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Peel pears and cut in half lengthwise. Remove cores. Place pear halves flat side down in single layer in 1 or 2 large baking or gratin dishes. Sprinkle sugar over pears and dot with butter.
• Place in oven and bake 35 minutes. By this time sugar should have caramelized and pears should be tender when pierced with point of knife. If pears are not tender continue cooking 5 to 10 minutes. Pour cream over pears and return to oven. Bake 10 to 15 minutes more, basting every 5 minutes with cream.
• Cream should have reduced and thickened and turned nice ivory color. If sauce seems to be separating, add a tablespoon or two of hot water.
• Remove pears from oven, allow to cool slightly. Serve directly from baking dish.

POACHED PEARS

Steps:

• Combine all except pears in saucepan. Boil till sugar is dissolved then add pears.
• Cover and cook 8-10 minutes turning occasionally.
• When pears are barely tender remove from syrup and put in individual serving bowls.
• Boil remaining syrup rapidly uncovered until reduced to 1 cup. Pour over pears.
• Let cool before serving or serve chilled.

POACHED COD WITH LEMON-PARSLEY SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix the lemon-parsley sauce ingredients together thoroughly in a small bowl, then set aside.
• At serving time, bring the 6 cups of water to a boil in a large saucepan. Holding the fish fillets with a slotted spoon or skimmer, lower them individually into the pan, and bring the water back to a boil. Reduce the heat to very low, and poach the fish, cooking the pieces at a very light boil for 3 to 4 minutes, until they are barely cooked through.
• Using a slotted spoon or skimmer, lift the fish from the water, drain thoroughly, and arrange one fillet on each of six warm plates. Press the fish lightly with a spatula or fork to make it separate a little into flakes, which will permit the sauce to be absorbed and to penetrate the interior of the fish.
• Spoon the sauce over the fish. Serve immediately.

EASY POACHED PEARS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine lemon zest, cinnamon stick, allspice, ground pepper, apple cider, and water.
• Add pears. Cover with waxed paper to prevent discoloring. Bring to a simmer. Cook, turning pears occasionally, until easily pierced with the tip of a paring knife, but not falling apart, about 20 minutes. Remove pears from liquid; transfer to large bowl.
• Raise heat to high; boil cider mixture until reduced to a syrup, about 15 minutes. Discard cinnamon. Pour syrup over pears; refrigerate. To serve, slice off a sliver from the bottom of each pear (so it stands upright). Serve pears with lemon sorbet, if desired.