Pear Conserve

Submitted by P.Q. Butterfat

"Pear Conserve is essentially diced pears in pear syrup. It is best used as a topping for crepes, French toast, bread pudding, ice cream, etc. It is also good as an addition to cocktails and to marinades and sauces. This recipe is based on strawberry conserve, and the method can be applied to other fruits, as well. This recipe is high in sugar, but you're only meant to use a little bit at a time of the final product."

 

• Ready In: 20hrs 30mins
• Ingredients: 4
• Yields: 12 8 oz containers
• Serves: 50-60

ingredients

• 4 lbs pears, ripe but on the firm side
• 4 lbs white sugar
• 1⁄4 cup lemon juice
• 1⁄4 cup pear brandy

directions

1. Peel, halve and core your pears.
2. Dice the pears finely, but not as small as brunoise. I am not going to go into detail here, but one thing I must say is keep your peeled pears submerged in a bowl of water and lemon juice so that they do not oxidize (turn brown).
3. In a large, non-reactive (glass, plastic, ceramic) container, layer the sugar and the diced pears. Start with a thin layer of sugar on the bottom and end with sugar covering the top.
4. Drizzle the lemon juice over the top layer.
5. Close this container tightly and refrigerate overnight (for at least 18 and up to 24 hours).
6. Next day, pour out the pears and the syrup they have formed into a deep pot.
7. Scrape out the bottom layer of sugar into your pot as well.
8. Bring this mix to a boil over high heat, uncovered, stirring.
9. When the conserve is quite hot but not boiling, add the pear brandy. It should boil all at once. Stir well.
10. Boil the conserve to thicken it and expel alcohol. For true, syrupy conserve, do not overcook. Boil for a scant 3 - 5 minutes. The conserve is done.
11. The conserve can be waterbath canned. Properly prepared 6 - 8 oz glass containers should be processed for 10 minutes.