Poached Pear Chocolate Tart

I came across this mini paradise pear at the local market and thought "How cute are they?!". So, needless to say, I bought them out of curiosity and also how adorable they look, tasted them and thought, maybe I could just poach them and serve as plated dessert and for a chocolate tart. As an individual fruit, they taste just like Packham pear with a really nice crunchy texture. I believe these pears only come in limited seasons but I am glad I put them to good use.

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RECIPE

Yield : 2 x tart

Equipment: 200mm diameter x 30mm height round tart ring

Note: Divide the recipes into halves if you want to make only 1 tart

POACHED PEAR IN RED WINE

600ml Red Wine

40g juice of lemon⁠

80 g juice of an orange

300g Caster sugar⁠

2 Cinnamon stick

6 -8 Firm pears⁠ (Large) -Packham or beurre bosc

Note: You can substitute larger pears as specified since it is rare to find such small pears. *This recipe is enough for 2 x 200mm tart

Method

1. Place the red wine, lemon and orange juice, cinnamon stick and sugar into a pot and bring to a simmer.

2. Meanwhile core the pears from the base then peel the skins. Once the poaching syrup are simmering, add the pears in and place a cartouche on top to keep the pears submerged. Boil for 15 to 20 minutes depending on the ripeness and size of your pears until just tender but still hold its structure. Transfer the pear into a bowl, reserving the syrup for later.

POACHED PEAR SYRUP

Reduce the poached pear syrup by boiling it over medium heat until it reaches a thick consistency or when the thermometer reads 106 - 108°C. Reserve for serving.

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HAZELNUT SABLE

110 g Unsalted Butter

85g Icing Sugar- sifted

40 g Hazelnut meal

180 g Plain Flour

40 g Bread Flour

1.5 g Salt

50 g Eggs

*This recipe is enough for 2 x 200mm tart

Method

Place the cold and pliable butter into a mixing bowl with the plain and bread flour. Pinch and rub the butter in with the flour until you get a nice even bread crumb texture.

Add in the salt and icing sugar, followed by the hazelnut meal and mix to combine. Add in the cold eggs then gently knead to bring the ingredients together to form into a rough dough. Transfer the mixture onto your work bench then gently knead until smooth.

Press the sable dough to a nice flat square then wrap and reserve in the fridge or for at least 4 hours to rest.

Once rested, remove the dough from the fridge to room temperature until just pliable enough to roll.

Dust the dough with some flour then roll to approximately 4mm thick. Cut a strip of 4mm width long enough to go around the border of the 200mm tart ring. You can cut several strips to join if necessary, just ensure that you press the seam nicely to seal. Line the strips of pastry around the border of the tart rings. Place the rest of the rolled pastry onto a parchment paper then place the tart ring over and press it down on to the pastry to create a base.

If necessary, reroll the pastry to make two tart cases.

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CHOCOLATE SPONGE

10 g Cocoa Powder

60 Egg whites

35 g Caster sugar

55 g 70% chocolate (64% for me)

40 g Egg Yolks

30 g Cream 35% Fat

*This recipe is enough for 2 x 200mm tart

Method

1. Heat the cream and chocolate over a bain marie until fully melted to create a ganache. Leave to cool to below 50°C then whisk in the eggs. Set aside to cool.