Cookbook Challenge: Week 38, Spice
Tea spiced pears
From: Lighten Up
It’s spice week for the Cookbook Challenge and I had SO MANY IDEAS. But guess what else I had a lot of? PEARS. FRIGGIN PEARS. After a brief break from them in my fruit and vegetable delivery box – they reappeared in this week’s box.
So a recipe that used pears that also ticked off this week’s theme? Bonus!
With this recipe, the pears are steamed in a tea, sugar and spice mixture. The book suggested jasmine, but surprisingly (considering I have about 20 types of tea in the pantry) I was all out of jasmine tea. Well, I thought chai tea would be more interesting anyway. And it was! The pears picked up the lovely aroma and flavours from the chai and additional spices. And the house smelt amazing while they were cooking. These pears would make a good light dessert, or perhaps just eaten with porridge or yoghurt.
I certainly won’t be rushing out to buy pears just to make this recipe, but it was a good way of dealing with some of the ones hanging around my house. Fingers crossed that it’s nearly the end of pear season!
Oh, and it’s also my Bro’s birthday today. Happy birthday, Pat! <3 See previous Cookbook Challenge posts here.
Update: See the round up for this week at My Food Trail.
Tea Spiced Pears
From Lighten Up
Serves 4
1 tablespoon jasmine tea leaves (I used chai)
150g unrefined brown sugar
4 pears
2 slices fresh ginger
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
Place the tea leaves and sugar into a bowl and pour over 1 litre of boiling water. Stir to combine and set it aside for 10 minutes.
Peel the pears and cut them in half. Scoop out the cores and then place into a heatproof bowl. Strain the tea over the pears. Add the ginger, cinnamon and star anise.
Place the bowl into a steamer and let it steam for about 15 minutes, or until the pears are tender.
Scoop out the pears into bowls. Strain the tea into a small pot, keeping the spices, and boil the tea mixture until it has reduced by about half.
Pour the tea over the pears and scatter with the spices.
August 9, 2010 @ 10:54 am
I poached pears on the weekend too! I love your photosss!
August 9, 2010 @ 2:24 pm
I’ll have to print this out for my mum – we’ve made a lot of poached pear desserts over the years (it suits the bajillion allergies in my extended family) but I’ve been getting bored of the same old, same old. My BFF to the rescue!
August 9, 2010 @ 8:34 pm
I’m taken by the juxtaposition of “FRIGGIN PEARS” and the elegant little tea party you appear to be having with them. Lovely lovely.
August 10, 2010 @ 1:23 pm
I agree with Penny, beautiful photos!
Cookbook Challenges are the best when you can use up ingredients as well as tick off a recipe!
August 10, 2010 @ 2:01 pm
Lovely recipe, and congrats with this new virtual home! {Sorry I’m a bit slow lately with online activities}
August 10, 2010 @ 3:47 pm
Love pears cooked in spices, dont think I would ever get sick of them – yummo
August 11, 2010 @ 12:26 am
What a beautiful new website.
Well done
August 11, 2010 @ 1:30 pm
Love the new site, twinsy! By the way, can you text me your home address? I’m sending Alex’s baptism invite off to you š
August 11, 2010 @ 9:11 pm
Penny: I think you had the better idea with covering them in chocolate and putting them on a pizza base! Yum!
Hannah: Hah, I’ve been bored of pears full stop. Stupid things! Too bad you’re in Canberra, otherwise I could foist all my pears on to you!
Conor: That’s me – classy and crude, all in the same post. š
April: Thanks š I wonder what I can use up for this week’s challenge – hah.
Anh: Thank you, thank you! š
Ange: Oh Ange, I’m so over pears! But I’m glad that they’re enjoyed by other people!
Delphie: Thank you š
Jennie: Ta Twinsy! xx
August 23, 2010 @ 2:35 pm
This is so different. I’ve never actually had tea poached pears before but I’m definitely willing to give it a go with your awesome photo. š
August 23, 2010 @ 9:44 pm
Thanks Sarah! š I’m always on the look out for a different way of cooking pears because I don’t really like them raw.