Pears Belle Helene

Here is the recipe for Pears Belle Helene, a classic and sophisticated dessert. It consists of poached pears, served with vanilla ice cream and topped with a delicious chocolate sauce.

Ingredients

• 4 ripe but still firm pears
• 1 lemon (juice)
• 150 g of sugar
• 500 ml of water
• 1 vanilla pod (or a teaspoon of vanilla extract)
• Vanilla ice cream
• Dark chocolate (100 g)
• 50 ml of fresh cream

Preparation

1. Peel the pears while keeping the stem intact. Cut the base of the pears so they can stand upright.
2. In a large pot, combine the water, lemon juice, sugar, and vanilla pod seeds (or vanilla extract). Stir well and bring to a boil.
3. Once the syrup starts boiling, gently immerse the pears in the pot. Let them cook over low heat for about 15-20 minutes or until they are tender but not mushy. The cooking time will depend on the ripeness of the pears.
4. Carefully remove the pears and allow them to cool. Meanwhile, continue boiling the syrup until it has reduced by almost half and has thickened slightly.
5. For the chocolate sauce, break the dark chocolate into small pieces and melt it in a double boiler, then add the fresh cream and stir until you have a smooth and uniform sauce.
6. To serve, place each pear on a dessert plate, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream next to it and drizzle the pears with the warm chocolate sauce.
7. If desired, you can pour a little of the reduced syrup around the pear to add extra sweetness.

Curiosity

The story goes that this dessert was created in the 19th century in honor of the French actress Belle Otero. The name “Belle Helene” derives from the Italian version of the name “Belle Hélène,” which refers to the elegance and beauty of the actress.

An additional tip: if you want to emphasize the connection with Italian cuisine, you might consider using Williams pears, which are particularly juicy and sweet, and perhaps a bit of grappa or vin santo when reducing the syrup. Enjoy your meal!