Crêpes with Spiced Poached Pears - A Guest Post by Soma @ eCurry

Crêpes with Spiced Poached Pears

If you are looking for an inspiration in food blogging world, you don’t have to go very far! There are many sweet and generous food bloggers who open then heart, kitchen, share their family recipes and also invite you to take a peek into their beautiful world. Soma of stunning food blog eCurry (apt name for food blog, don’t you think?) is one such inspirational blogger who is one of the most sweet person I have come across! Mother to two gorgeous girls, Soma shares her day to day life with beautifully woven stories, soulful narration and stunning photography. Her blog is something to be treasured and it is difficult not to fall in love with her awe inspiring posts. It is my greatest pleasure to have Soma here on my virtual kitchen. Please follow her on Twitter and become her fan on Facebook if you don’t want to miss out her unique, beautiful and delicious recipes.

Do you like crêpes?

These thin, gossamer, delicate, lightly crisped and curled at the ends butterfly wings are a hot favorite in my family.

Crêpes with Spiced Poached Pears

Be it for a luxurious weekend breakfast or dessert, or even a occasional indulgent snack for my kids when they get back from school (Mmmm.. with a generous spread of Nutella is how they have it), we enjoy these with all our senses. And we do tend to lean more towards the crêpes sucrées or the dessert crêpes.

Crêpes are quick! It is one of those easy to make desserts, with some dramatic results; the folded airy, subtle wings look spectacular and almost too fragile to touch.

Crêpes with Spiced Poached Pears

Another dessert that we heart is spice poached pears, especially during this time of the year when pears of all kinds are heaped up on the shelves.

Pear for Crêpes with Spiced Poached Pears

The fragrance of the citrus zest, and the spices simmering along with the juice or wine and pears transforms the home in to a warm and cozy holiday magic.

Poached Pears for Crêpes with Spiced Poached Pears

Today I have brought together two of our favorites; the crêpes and the poached pears.

The smooth, softened pears are subtly flavored with the spices, the liquid is slowly simmered down to a thick syrup to be spooned over the warm crispy in the edges almost translucent crêpes and you have a luscious and morish plateful.

Crêpes with Spiced Poached Pears

(Well it happened to be my meal a many times, long before dessert, but that is a different story.)

This special treat is for Sia of Monsoon Spice (isn’t that such a pretty name?!). I do not know how I stumbled into her fabulous virtual kitchen, but it was only couple of months after I had started blogging. There is no way one can miss this rich blog. Sia has been blogging for a very long time; probably since the the time when a food blog was an unknown entity to me. When the sweet lady herself asked me to do a post, I was surprised and really happy.

With all the festivities around, it is only fair that we have our share of it too! The warm crepes soak up the thick fragrant syrup. Few chopped fresh mint and a sprinkle of the ruby red pomegranates, transform this so simple dessert into an elegant holiday treat.

Crêpes with Spiced Poached Pears

With so many years of almost consistently regular blogging, you can just imagine what a repertoire Sia must have. With her witty, charming style of writing, the photographs which makes you want to grab the food from the screen, and and unbelievable collection of drool worthy recipes, it is a hard to resist food blog and one of my very favorites. She will tell you how make vegetarian deliciously exciting.

Sia is also a super mom. Besides doing an exceptionally wonderful work in her blog, she also holds a job and most importantly she is a mom to a darling “little dumpling”. Now how to find time to do all these so perfectly, I do not know. You have to ask her.

Crêpes with Spiced Poached Pears

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Crêpes with Spiced Poached Pears

Prep Time: Approx. 10 mins for the poached pears + 30 mins for the crepes (includes standing time)

Cooking Time: 45 mins - 1 hr for the poached pears + 20 mins for the crepes + 6-8 mins to assemble

Serves: 2 people (makes 4 crepes and 2 poached pears)

Shelf Life: Best served immediately, but crepes can be stored in refrigerator for a day 9will lose the crisp) and warmed before serving. Poached pears will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days

Recipe Level: Intermediate

Spice Level: A lot of spices are used, but the spice heat level is low

Serving Suggesion: Warm crepes stuffed or topped with poached pears and syrup. serve as breakfast or dessert

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Ingredients:
For Poached Pears:
2 ripe but not soft pears, cored and peeled
1 inch long stick of cinnamon
2 cloves
1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into very thin strips or grated
1/2 tablespoon orange zest (orange/lime or both mixed)
2.5 cups water
3/4 cup orange juice
1.5 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar, or as needed to taste

Some extras:
Some flaked/slivered almonds, lightly toasted
Fresh mint and pomegranate arils, for garnish (optional)

For the crêpes: (makes about 4)
1/2 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
2 teaspoon oil or melted butter
1/2 teaspoon sugar
a pinch of salt
few drops of almond extract
oil or melted butter for cooking the crepes

Method:
Preparing and cooking the pears:

1. Peel and core the pears keeping the stems intact. In a deep non reactive pot, combine the orange juice, water and sugar & bring to a boil. Add the zest, spices, lemon juice, ginger.
2. Simmer the liquid at low heat for about 8 minutes. Place the pears in the liquid and let them simmer for about 15-2o minutes or until the pears are just tender (poke with a toothpick to check). When done they should be tender, but not mushy and must not fall apart.
3. Remove from the poaching using a slotted spoon and allow to cool on paper towel. After they cool, slice them gently.
4. Simmer down the liquid until it gets thick with a consistency of that of syrup, for another 10-15 minutes or until you get the right consistency. This is going to be drizzled over the crêpes. (If you wish, you can strain the syrup to remove the bits and pieces of the spices).

Making the Crêpes:

1. In a bowl, whisk the flour with the salt. Add the milk, egg, sugar, almond extract and 2 teaspoons of oil and whisk well until smooth or blend until smooth in a blender. Cover and let it rest for 20-30 minutes.
2. Heat an 8-inch skillet and rub it with an oiled paper towel. Add about 2.5 – 3 tablespoons of the crêpe batter, swirling the pan to coat thinly & evenly; pour off any excess. Cook the crêpe over moderate heat until the bottom is brown in spots and the sides are crisp and start to curl, about a couple of minutes. Flip the crêpe over and cook for 1 minute longer.
3. Assembling the pears and the crêpes:
4. Place the folded crêpes on each plate. Top or stuff the crêpes with poached pears. Spoon over the spiced syrup over, top with the lightly toasted almonds and garnish with fresh mint and pomegranates.

Crêpes with Spiced Poached Pears

Dig in and enjoy!!

Crêpes with Spiced Poached Pears