Green tea poached pears

Recipe for Green Tea Poached Pears

Hello! We are going to prepare some green tea poached pears, a healthy dessert that combines the softness of cooked fruit with the fresh and light aroma of green tea. This recipe is ideal for those looking for a light preparation that highlights natural flavors and the antioxidant benefits of tea.

Preparation time

To help you organize your time precisely, here are the details on the preparation and cooking of the green tea poached pears.

• Preparation: 15 minutes
• Cooking: 25 minutes
• Total: 40 minutes
• Servings: 4 people
• Difficulty: Easy

This recipe is accessible to everyone, even those new to cooking, thanks to its technique of slow cooking and few steps.

Ingredients

For the green tea poached pears

• 4 medium pears, ripe but firm
• 1 green tea bag
• 200 grams of brown sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Water, amount needed to cover the pears
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 80 ml of honey

If you don't find green tea in a bag, an option is to use loose-leaf tea with an infuser or strainer to extract the leaves before starting to cook. Brown sugar can also be replaced with panela or coconut sugar for a more caramelized flavor.

Utensils we will use

• Small pot for poaching
• Sharp knife for peeling the pears
• Cutting board
• Wooden spoon or silicone spatula
• Strainer for filtering the tea
• Serving dish
• Jug or container for measuring liquids

If you don't have a small pot that fits the pears upright, a wider container where they can be well covered also works. The key is that the pears can remain submerged in the liquid for even cooking.

Preparation

Preparing the syrup and tea

1. Calculate water and heat: Place the whole pears in a small pot and cover them with water. That is the amount of water you will need for cooking. Remove the pears from the pot and set aside.
2. Sweeten the water: In the same pot with the water, add the brown sugar and cinnamon stick. Heat over medium heat and stir with a spoon so that the sugar dissolves completely before it boils.
3. Tea Infusion: When the water is boiling, turn off the heat and submerge the green tea bag. Let it steep for approximately one minute so that it releases its aromas without becoming bitter. Remove the bag and if you used loose-leaf tea, reserve a few leaves for decoration.

Preparing the pears

1. Peel and protect: Wash the pears well and peel them carefully so that they remain whole, keeping the stems if possible. Sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent them from oxidizing and turning dark. This preserves their fresh appearance during cooking.
2. Poach the pears: Place the peeled pears in the pot with the infusion and honey, making sure they are covered by the liquid. Cook over low heat with the lid off and simmer for 25 minutes. This time allows for a slow cooking that guarantees a soft texture without falling apart.
3. Control the cooking: If the pears are still very firm after 25 minutes, leave them for a few additional minutes until they are tender when pricked with a fork. Conversely, if you notice they are too soft, reduce the cooking time in future preparations.

Finishing the dessert

Carefully remove the pears to prevent them from breaking and place them on a plate. Let the infusion continue to reduce in the pot over low heat until it forms a slightly thick syrup, almost at a caramel point. Drizzle this syrup over the pears. To cool them, you can leave them at room temperature and then refrigerate them. When serving, add some reserved green tea leaves for decoration and a little more syrup if you like.

This dessert can be enjoyed immediately or stored in airtight jars with syrup to preserve for several days, ideal for preparing in advance for events or special dinners.

Benefits and properties of green tea in desserts

The green tea is known for its high content of antioxidants, substances that help combat cellular aging and promote a healthy metabolism. Incorporating green tea into desserts like these poached pears adds extra nutritional value without the need for large amounts of sugar.

The mild nature of the tea combines with the sweet flavors of brown sugar and honey, enhancing the fruit's flavor without overpowering it. Furthermore, the infusion carefully performed allows the aroma and properties of the tea to delicately integrate into the cooked fruit.

Consuming desserts with ingredients like green tea can be an alternative for those looking for sweet options that add benefits and maintain lightness. Therefore, this recipe is ideal for those who prefer light recipes and less processed, taking care of both health and the pleasure of eating.

If you want to complement this dessert, you can accompany it with toasted nuts or a light cream, as in this caramelized pear salad with walnuts and blue cheese, which also respects freshness and natural flavors.

Pear varieties for poaching and their adaptations

The pears used to make these recipes should be ripe but firm so that they maintain their shape during the slow cooking. Among the most recommended are the Bartlett, Conference, and Anjou pears. Each variety brings subtle differences in texture and aroma.

The Bartlett pear, for example, is juicy and becomes very soft when cooked, requiring strict time control to prevent it from falling apart. In contrast, the Conference pear resists a bit more without losing juiciness, being preferred for dishes where a compact shape is desired.

If you don't have access to any of these, any firm pear can work as long as it is carefully peeled and the cooking point is well controlled. It is essential to pay attention to prevent the pear from breaking, especially when removing it from the pot.

For an original touch, some preparations incorporate spices such as star anise or fresh ginger to enrich the aromatic profile of the rustic pear with walnut and salted caramel, demonstrating how this fruit, adapted to different flavor profiles, can accompany both classic and innovative desserts.

Techniques for achieving perfect texture in poached pears

Achieving an ideal texture for poached pears, soft yet firm, largely depends on managing heat and time with precision. The slow cooking in infused liquid allows heat to penetrate evenly without overcooking the fruit.

It is important not to boil strongly the liquid; it is enough to keep it at a very gentle simmer or low heat. This prevents the pears from cracking or falling apart and the syrup from absorbing a bitter tone from the tea.

When extracting the pears from the syrup, do so carefully using a slotted spoon or skimmer to keep the fruit intact. You can let the syrup reduce longer to intensify the flavor and achieve a thicker consistency for drizzling.

If, when inserting a fork or toothpick, the pear feels a bit firm but tender, it's time to remove it from the heat; the point is for the fruit to retain its shape and pleasant texture. This care in technique ensures a delicious and visually appealing result.

Ideal combinations and pairings for these poached pears

This dessert can be served alone or accompanied to enhance its natural charm. Green tea poached pears pair well with fresh fruits or light creams that provide texture and thermal contrast. For example, a scoop of natural yogurt or a little unsweetened whipped cream.

For a crunchy touch, nuts such as toasted walnuts or almonds enhance the whole and add rich notes that complement the smoothness. The cinnamon stick used in cooking can also be sprinkled a little in the presentation.

As for drinks, it is accompanied by both cold or hot infusions such as green tea itself, or a white wine smooth, dry and aromatic, which does not overshadow the delicate flavors of the dessert.

For broader ideas of healthy and varied accompaniments, I recommend exploring recipes like this one spinach salad with pear which also combines fruit with fresh and nutritious flavors.