Maple Poached Pears & Black Sesame Granola

Look no further for a delicious recipe that strikes the perfect balance between sweet, succulent pears and savoury, crunchy granola. This melt in your mouth dessert is easy to prepare ahead of time and can be served hot or cold – perfect for any upcoming festivities you may have planned.
Serving: 4

 

For the Poached Pears:
1.2 litres water
4 Bosc or Barlett pears, skin peeled (stem-on)
120 ml maple syrup (or honey)
1 cinnamon stick
1 thumb fresh ginger, thinly sliced

 
For the Granola:
80 g rolled oats
120 g oat flour
110 g pistachios, chopped
40 g black sesame seeds
Pinch of sea salt
45 ml coconut oil
3 tbsp  maple syrup (or honey
3 tbsp coconut sugar
Zest of 1 large orange
1 tsp fresh ginger root, grated, or ginger powder
235 ml yoghurt or Crème fraîche
(or use a dairy free yoghurt for a vegan version)

 

Making the Poached Pears:

Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Lower the heat to a simmer and add the maple syrup (or honey), cinnamon stick and ginger. Gently add the peeled pears. Cook for about 20 minutes, or until soft. Remove from the heat and let cool at room temperature. Refrigerate the pears in their poaching water to infuse for at least 2 hours or overnight. (If you’re pressed for time, you can also serve them right away).

Making the Granola:

Preheat the oven to 180°C Fan / Gas Mark 3  and line a baking pan with parchment paper. 

In a large bowl, mix the oats, oat flour, chopped pistachios, sesame seeds and sea salt.

In a small saucepan on low heat, warm the coconut oil, maple syrup (or honey), coconut sugar, orange zest and ginger for about one minute. Pour onto the oat mixture and mix until everything is evenly coated.

Pour the granola on the lined baking pan. Firmly press the granola with your fingers to make it compact. 

Bake for 15 to 17 minutes until golden and crispy, flipping the granola once halfway through.

Remove from the oven and let cool. Store in an airtight container. The granola will keep for up to a few weeks.

 

Place a spoonful of yoghurt or Crème fraîche in the bowls. Add the poached pears (whole, or sliced in half) and sprinkle with granola. Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup or condiment of your choice and enjoy!