Recipe Book/Europe/Italy/

 

One of a selection of seasonal Gabbiano recipes from Giancarlo & Katie Caldesi:

Pere cotto in Chianti
Pears poached in Chianti

Katie Caldesi says: "These make a heavenly combination served with a little piece of rich chocolate cake like torta caprese and some Amaretto cream."

Serves 6

Ingredients:

6 fat, ripe pears e.g. Comice
6 cloves
1 stick cinnamon
1 vanilla pod, split in half lengthways
1 piece of lemon zest, 5cm long
1 piece of orange zest, 5cm long
1 bottle Gabbiano Chianti DOCG red wine
100g caster sugar
100ml honey

Method:

Peel the pears and spike each one with one clove on its bottom, near the centre. Put them into a saucepan stems facing upwards. Pour over the Gabbiano Chianti wine, add the sugar, honey, vanilla, cinnamon stick and zests.

Bring the wine up to a gentle boil and then turn down to simmer for one hour, uncovered. Using a slotted spoon remove the pears to a serving dish. Reduce the wine for around ten minutes and then sieve it into a serving jug. Pour a little over the pears and put the rest on the table.