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WINE POACHED PEARS WITH RICOTTA CREAM

Eating Local
by Sur La Table with Janet Fletcher

Poached in a light red-wine syrup, pears don't immediately take up the color. But over several hours of steeping, they develop a deep burgundy hue. That color is just surface deep, however. When you slice and fan the pears, their creamy interior looks lovely against the ruby red syrup. Serve with a dollop of whipped and sweetened ricotta or with whipped cream.
Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup dry red wine with rich color such as Zinfandel
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup sugar ,
• 1 orange zest strip
• 2 ripe but firm pears

RICOTTA CREAM
• 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon very finely minced pistachios

DIRECTIONS

1. Put the wine, water, sugar, and orange zest in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over moderate heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Peel the pears with a vegetable peeler. Add them to the simmering liquid, setting them on one side. Cover with a round of parchment paper and tuck the edges of the parchment under the liquid to keep the paper in place. Adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook for 15 minutes.

2. Lift the parchment and turn the pears to the other side, then replace the parchment cover. Simmer until the pears are just tender when pierced, 10 to 12 minutes longer. They will continue to cook as they cool so don't overcook.

3. With a slotted spoon, transfer the pears to a refrigerator container. Simmer the poaching liquid until reduced to 3/4 cup. Cool the syrup completely, then pour it over the pears. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 1 day, turning the pears in the syrup every couple of hours so they color evenly.

4. To make the ricotta cream, put the ricotta, sugar, and vanilla in a food processor and process until smooth.

5. At serving time, cut each pear in half lengthwise and core with a melon bailer. Put each pear half on a cutting board, cut side down. Thinly slice lengthwise, leaving the slices attached at the stem end.

6. Put a pear half on each dessert plate. Gently press on each pear half with your hand to fan the slices. Put a dollop of ricotta cream alongside and sprinkle the ricotta cream with the pistachios. Spoon a little of the poaching syrup over the pears.