This luscious pear dessert is baked in a glorious fruit syrup and topped with almond flavoured biscuits or crisp, browned, roasted almonds, to add a crunchy texture.
ingredients
serves: 4
1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
1 tablespoon superfine sugar
4 large, firm, ripe pears
4 tablespoons white wine or orange juice
1/4 cup apricot jam or 2 tablespoons honey
6 Amaretti biscuits or
2/3 cup blanched almonds
method
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Grease a shallow, round ovenproof dish with half the butter and sprinkle the superfine sugar evenly over the top to coat the butter.
2. Peel the pears and halve them, then cut them lengthways into slices about 1/2 inch thick. Arrange the slices in a single, overlapping layer in the bottom of the dish.
3. Mix the wine or orange juice with the apricot jam or honey and pour the mixture over the pears.
4. Crush the Amaretti biscuits with a rolling pin or finely chop the almonds. Sprinkle them over the pears. Dot the remaining butter evenly over the pears.
5. Bake in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes, until the pears have softened and the biscuits or nuts are lightly browned. Serve with cream or Greek yoghurt.
