Minted Pears Recipes

PEARS IN SYRUP AND MINT

Steps:

• Mix the corn syrup, lemon juice, and mint together in a bowl.
• Peel the pears and cut the flesh into 1-inch pieces. Add to the mixture, and refrigerate until cold.
• Serve the pears in wine glasses with some of the syrup and mint.

PEAR AND MINT CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Place a skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. When hot, add the onions and cook until very soft, about 3 minutes. Add the cardamom and fennel seeds and cook for 30 seconds. Set aside.
• Put the pears into a food processor along with the mint and onion mixture. Season with some salt, and then puree until it has a smooth but slightly chunky texture. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Place a skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. When hot, add the onions and cook until very soft, about 3 minutes. Add the cardamom and fennel seeds and cook for 30 seconds. Set aside.
• Put the pears into a food processor along with the mint and onion mixture. Season with some salt, and then puree until it has a smooth but slightly chunky texture. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

PEARS IN MINT AND TEA

Steps:

• Pour 2 cups water into a stainless steel saucepan. With a vegetable peeler, peel the surface of the lemon, removing long strips of peel. Cut the lemon in half and press it to extract the juice. You should have 2 to 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. Add the lemon peel and juice to the water with the sugar, and mix to combine.
• Peel the pears and cut them into quarters. Remove the cores and place the pear wedges in the saucepan. Add the ordinary tea bag and, if fresh mint is not available, the mint-flavored tea bag. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, cover, reduce the heat to low and cook gently for about 20 minutes, until the pear pieces are tender when pierced with the point of a knife or with a fork. Remove from the heat.
• Immediately add the dissolved cornstarch to the saucepan and stir it into the juices to thicken them slightly. Let the pears cool in the syrup.
• When ready to serve, remove the tea bag and discard. If using fresh mint, stir it gently into the syrup. Divide the pears among six plates, about 4 wedges per plate. Spoon some of the syrup over the pears and serve.

MINTED PEAS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-low heat. Add 2 thinly sliced scallions (below); cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 2 minutes.
• Add 3 packages (10 ounces each) thawed frozen peas, 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until peas are tender and heated through, about 5 minutes.
• Add 1/3 cup finely chopped fresh mint, 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons butter; swirl pan until butter is creamy, 1 minute more.

BROILED LAMB CHOPS WITH MINTED PEARS

Steps:

• Season lamb chops and place on a boiler pan.
• Arrange pear halves, cut side up in an ovenproof dish; or can arrange around the lamb on the broiler pan if desired.
• Mix butter (or margarine), lemon juice and mint in a small bowl.
• Brush mixture over the pear halves, reserving mixture.
• Broil chops until done, turning lamb midway through cooking. Check on pears and can baste with the mixture again. Turn pears if you like.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining lemon juice mixture and and serve with the broiled pears and lamb.
• If desired, fill pear halves with mint jelly.