Pears in wine and chocolate

Pears in wine and chocolate are a delicious dessert that combines the sweetness of pears with the aroma of wine and the intensity of chocolate. Here is how to prepare this dish:

Ingredients

• 4 ripe but still firm pears
• 750 ml of full-bodied red wine (such as Chianti or Barolo)
• 150 g of sugar
• 1 stick of cinnamon
• 2 cloves
• The zest of one untreated orange
• 100 g of dark chocolate
• 50 g of butter

Preparation

1. Peel the pears, keeping the stem attached. In a pot large enough to contain the pears, pour in the red wine and add the sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest.
2. Bring to a boil and let the wine reduce for about 5 minutes.
3. Add the pears to the pot, making sure they are at least three-quarters covered by the wine. Cook over medium-low heat for about 25-30 minutes, turning them occasionally to cook evenly.
4. When the pears are tender (check with a skewer), carefully remove them from the pot and set aside.
5. Continue to cook the wine until it is reduced by about half and becomes a syrup.
6. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate with the butter in a double boiler until you get a smooth cream.
7. Serve the pears warm or at room temperature, dressing them with the melted chocolate and drizzling with the reduced wine syrup.

Curiosity

Pears cooked in wine are a traditional Italian dessert found in many regional variations. The addition of chocolate is not always present in the more classic versions but offers an intriguing contrast of flavors that is very pleasing. Furthermore, this dessert pairs wonderfully with a glass of wine of the same type used for cooking or with a dessert wine.