Poached Pears with Vanilla Lemon Syrup and Dark Chocolate

Name: Poached Pears with Vanilla Lemon Syrup and Dark Chocolate
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 2 pears (ripe); 1 lemons ((zest + juice)); 500 ml of water; 150 g of sugar; 1 vanilla bean; 100 g of dark chocolate (baking); 50 ml of heavy cream; mint (fresh)

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Poire Belle-Hélène is a chilled poached pear served with a warm chocolate sauce. 🍐 The dessert plays on the contrast between hot and cold.

Total time: 50 min
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 30 min
Rest: 2 h
Difficulty: Easy
Per person: €3.00

By the CookinBreak team

Ingredients 8

servings

Estimated cost €6.00

Equipment

Saucepan
Paring knife
Vegetable peeler
Cutting board
Wooden spoon
Bowl
Whisk
Mixing spoon
Soup plates
Baking sheet

Instructions

Tap a number to check off the step, and a time to start a timer.

Gently peel the pears, keeping the stem on. Trim the base if needed so they stand upright.

In a saucepan, pour in the water, add the sugar, the lemon juice and zest, and the vanilla bean split in half lengthwise. Bring to a simmer.
Add the pears to the hot syrup and cook over low heat for about , until tender but not too soft.
Remove the pears, place them in a dish, strain the syrup if needed, then let them chill in the refrigerator for at least .
Melt the dark chocolate with the heavy cream in a double boiler or gently in the microwave, stirring to get a smooth, glossy texture.
Place each pear on a plate, generously coat with melted chocolate and garnish with a mint leaf.

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Goes well with

🎅 Christmas: all recipes

As a starter

Christmas Salad

20 minEasy

As a main

Roast Christmas Goose

3 h 30Medium

To drink

5.0

Christmas Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

15 minEasy

Nutrition facts

per serving · estimate

290kcal

Protein3 g4%
Carbs42 g58%
Fat12 g38%
Fiber5 g

Share of each nutrient in the calories of one serving.

Good to know

Chef's tip

For an even more indulgent touch 😋, add a pinch of fleur de sel to the melted chocolate: it brings out the cocoa flavors and creates an irresistible sweet-salty contrast ✨🍫🧂.

Freezing : Can you freeze this recipe?

Yes

Well-drained poached pears: up to 2 months in freezer bags. Texture may be slightly altered. Chocolate sauce: 1 month in an airtight container.

Storage : How long does it keep?

Poached pears: 3 to 4 days max in an airtight container in the fridge. Chocolate sauce: store separately, 5 days in the fridge.

Making ahead : Can you make it the day before?

Yes

Poached pears and chocolate sauce can be prepared the day before. Keep refrigerated.

Reheating : How do you reheat it?

Pears: Eat cold or at room temperature. Chocolate sauce: Reheat gently in a saucepan over very low heat or in the microwave at low power.

Variations

Garnish with a fresh mint leaf.
Strain the syrup if needed.
Serve the cold pears with the warm chocolate sauce.

Mistakes to avoid

Overcooking the pears: 20-30 minutes over low heat, tender but not too soft.
Peeling off the stem.
Serving without chilling: at least 2 hours in the refrigerator.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make Poires Belle-Hélène?

Poach the peeled pears for 20 to 30 minutes in a syrup of water, sugar, lemon and vanilla, chill them for 2 hours, then coat with melted dark chocolate made with the heavy cream.

How do you make the chocolate sauce?

Melt 100 g of dark chocolate with 50 ml of heavy cream in a double boiler or gently in the microwave, stirring for a smooth, glossy texture.

How do you poach the pears?

Bring the water, sugar, lemon juice and zest, and the split vanilla bean to a simmer, add the pears and cook over low heat for 20 to 30 minutes, until tender.

Why does this dessert play on hot and cold?

The poached pears are served cold with a warm chocolate sauce, which creates the hot-cold contrast typical of this dessert.