Pears with amaretto

Pears with amaretto are a delicious dessert that combines the sweetness of pears with the intense flavor of amaretto. Here’s how to prepare this dish.

Ingredients

• 4 ripe but still firm pears
• 4 tablespoons of sugar
• 1 glass of amaretto
• Grated zest of 1 lemon
• Crumbled amaretti biscuits, to garnish
• 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
• Water, as needed

Preparation

1. Begin by peeling the pears, being careful to keep the stalk attached and the bottom intact. If you wish, you can also cut them in half and remove the core.

2. In a large pot, immerse the pears with enough water to cover them halfway. Add the cinnamon stick if you’re using it and the grated lemon zest.

3. Add the sugar to the water and bring it to a gentle boil, until the sugar is completely dissolved.

4. Lower the heat and add the pears to the pot. Let them simmer gently for about 15-20 minutes, or until they are tender but not mushy. The cooking time may vary depending on the size and ripeness of the pears.

5. With a slotted spoon, remove the pears from the pot and arrange them on a serving dish.

6. Increase the heat under the pot with the cooking liquid and add the amaretto. Let the sauce reduce until it becomes slightly syrupy.

7. Pour the warm amaretto and lemon sauce over the pears and sprinkle with the crumbled amaretti biscuits.

8. Serve the pears with amaretto warm or allow them to cool, according to your preference.

Curiosity

The combination of pears and amaretto is very common in Italy, where the sweet scent of amaretti biscuits perfectly matches the fruit. This dessert becomes even more special when accompanied by a glass of sweet wine, such as Passito di Pantelleria.