We use cookies and similar technologies to improve user experience, and analyse activities and performance. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. 
Recipe Detail Page
Honey-Roasted Pears with Buttermilk Snow
Autumn 2018
Plump pears are roasted and basted with honey, wine and spices, then paired with a tangy, refreshing buttermilk granita. When selecting pears for this recipe, look for specimens that are firm but fragrant. The clever idea to use buttermilk as a granita base comes from Alexander Talbot and Aki Kamozawa of the blog Ideas in Food.
Serves 6
BUTTERMILK SNOW
2 cups (500 mL) shaken buttermilk, preferably organic
6 tbsp (90 mL) sugar
Large pinch fine sea salt
PEARS
6 firm-ripe Bosc pears
1½ cups (375 mL) fruity red wine, such as Spanish Garnacha or Australian Shiraz
⅓ cup (80 mL) honey
3 wide strips orange zest
1 cinnamon stick, 3 inches (8 cm)
3 cloves
Mint leaves to garnish (optional)
1. For the buttermilk snow, whisk buttermilk, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl until sugar is dissolved. Pour into an 8- to 9-inch (20- to 23‑cm) square non-reactive baking dish and place in freezer. After 1 hour, stir, scrape and mash with a fork to prevent large ice crystals from forming. Stir, scrape and mash every 30 minutes until dry and fluffy, another 2 to 3 hours more. (Snow will keep covered and frozen for 5 days. Fluff with fork before serving.)
2. For the pears, preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
3. Cut a ¼-inch (5-mm) slice off bottoms of pears. Remove cores from bottom with a melon baller or tip of a sharp paring knife. Peel pears and place on sides in a baking dish.
4. In a small saucepan, combine wine, honey, orange zest, cinnamon stick and cloves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking to dissolve honey. Pour boiling wine mixture over pears. Bake pears, turning and basting every 10 to 15 minutes, until tender and the liquid is syrupy, about 1 hour 15 minutes. (Add a splash of water if the liquid gets too thick.) Remove from oven.
5. Stand pears up and occasionally baste with syrup as they cool. (Pears can be cooled, transferred to airtight container, and refrigerated up to 3 days.)
6. Pears can be reheated in a microwave or in a cooling oven from dinner or served at room temperature. Place standing up on chilled plates on a bed of buttermilk snow. Garnish with mint leaves, if desired.
Serves 6
