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Pear-Cumin Granité

The warm richness of pear and the earthiness of cumin combine to create a new flavor that to me is the epitome of fall. This granité isn’t too sweet, so you could also serve it as a middle course of a big dinner, before the meat. You could substitute sparkling apple cider mixed with an equal amount of pear puree for the pear cider.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 6 to 8 on it¿s own or 10 as part of fourplay

Ingredients

1 (750ml) bottle sparkling pear cider, such as Eric Bordelet Poiré Authentique or Granit
1 teaspoon powdered gelatin (or 4.5g sheet gelatin; see page 276)
2 tablespoons (30g) water
1 1/4 cups (250g) sugar
2 teaspoons (4g) freshly ground cumin (don’t grind it too fine)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Set up an ice bath in a large bowl.

    Step 2

    Pour about 3 tablespoons of the pear cider into a small bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over the surface and let sit for at least 1 minute. Microwave for 45 seconds or heat gently in a saucepan until melted.

    Step 3

    Put the water and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Whisk in the gelatin and strain into a medium bowl. Gradually stir in the remaining cider and the cumin and set into the ice bath, stirring to chill quickly.

    Step 4

    Pour into a baking dish and freeze for at least 8 hours.

    Step 5

    To serve, scrape across the top of the granité with a fork to make small crystals.

Reprinted with permission from Dessert Fourplay: Sweet Quartets from a Four-Star Pastry Chef by Johnny Iuzzini and Roy Finamore. Copyright © 2008 by Johnny Iuzzini and Roy Finamore. Published by Crown Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Johnny Iuzzini,, executive pastry chef of the world-renowned Jean Georges restaurant in New York City, won the award for Outstanding Pastry Chef from the James Beard Foundation in 2006. This is his first book. Roy Finamore, a publishing veteran of more than thirty years, has worked with many bestselling cookbook authors. He is the author of three books: One Potato, Two Potato; Tasty, which won a James Beard Foundation award; and Fish Without a Doubt.__
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