Gingered Pear Sorbet Recipes

PEAR AND GINGER SORBET

Steps:

• Place the sugar, measured water, and lemon juice into a saucepan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil, add the pears, and poach gently, basting occasionally with the sugar syrup, for 20 to 25 minutes, until the pears are tender. Cool, then puree in a food processor.
• Add the chopped ginger to the pear puree. Pour the pear mixture into a freezer container, and freeze for 2 hours, until just mushy. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and whisk gently to break down any large crystals.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry, then fold into the pear mixture. Return to the freezer and freeze until firm. Transfer the sorbet to the refrigerator to soften for about 30 minutes. Garnish with the strips of ginger. Serve and enjoy!

GINGER PEAR SORBET

Steps:

• Line 9-inch glass pie dish with plastic wrap. Drain syrup from pears into small bowl; transfer pears to prepared dish. Add sugar, ginger and lemon peel to syrup and stir until sugar dissolves. Pour syrup mixture over pears. Cover and freeze until solid, at least 6 hours.
• Turn pear mixture out onto work surface; peel off plastic. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Place in processor; blend until smooth. Freeze in covered container 1 hour. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep frozen.) Scoop sorbet into glasses. Garnish with mint sprigs, if desired.

PEAR SORBET

Steps:

• Cut the pears into 1-inch (3-cm) chunks. Put them in a large, nonreactive saucepan along with 1/2 cup (125 ml) of the water. Cover and cook over medium to high heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pears are cooked through and tender when poked with a paring knife.
• Transfer the cooked pears to a blender (you should have 2 cups, 500 ml, of purée) and add the remaining 3/4 cup (180 ml) water, sugar, and lemon juice. Purée until smooth.
• Chill the mixture thoroughly, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Variation
• For Pear-Ginger Sorbet, add 1/4 cup (25 g) very finely chopped candied ginger to the sorbet during the last few minutes of churning.
• Perfect Pairings
• Serve Pear Sorbet with a scoop of Chocolate Sorbet (page 120) or Chocolate Ice Cream (pages 26 and 28).