Pear Granita Recipes

PORT-AND-SPICE POACHED PEARS WITH GRANITA

Steps:

• Peel pears, leaving stems intact. Cut a round of parchment paper to fit inside a wide 4-quart heavy pot.
• Bring grape juice, Port, sugar, spices, and 1 cup water to a boil in pot over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add pears, arranging them on their sides in 1 layer (pears will not be covered by liquid). Cover pears directly with round of parchment. Reduce heat to low and poach pears, turning occasionally, until just tender when pierced with a sharp knife, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat and let pears steep in liquid, covered with parchment, turning occasionally, at least 2 hours and up to 3.
• Carefully transfer pears with a slotted spoon to a shallow dish, reserving poaching liquid. Let pears stand at room temperature or chill, covered with parchment.
• Pour poaching liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl (discard spices) and return to pot. Boil, uncovered, until liquid is reduced to about 2 1/2 cups, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and remaining 1/4 cup water. Pour liquid into an 8- to 9-inch square baking pan (not nonstick).
• Freeze liquid 1 1/2 hours, then scrape and stir with a fork, crushing any lumps. Repeat, scraping every hour until evenly frozen, about 4 hours more.
• Bring chilled pears to room temperature before serving, about 30 minutes.
• Cut a thin slice from bottom of each pear, then stand pears upright on chilled plates. Scrape granita, then serve pears with granita and créme fraîche.

PEAR AND CRANBERRY GRANITA

Steps:

• Combine pears and honey in processor; puree until smooth.
• Pour reserved pear juices into 2 cup measuring cup.
• Add enough cranberry juice to pear juices to measure 2 cups.
• Add juice mixture to processor and process until well blended.
• Transer to 13x9x2" glass baking dish.
• Freeze until frozen, at least 5 hours or overnight.
• Using fork, scrape surace of granita to form crystals.
• Divide among 6 dessert glasses.
• Garnish with cranberries and mint sprigs, if desired.

PEAR AND CRANBERRY GRANITA

Steps:

• Combine pears and honey in processor; puree until smooth. Pour reserved pear juices into 2-cup measuring cup. Add enough cranberry juice to pear juices to measure 2 cups. Add juice mixture to processor and process until well blended. Transfer to 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Freeze until frozen, at least 5 hours or overnight. Using fork, scrape surface of granita to form crystals. Divide granita among 6 dessert glasses. Garnish with cranberries and mint sprigs, if desired.