Indulge in a rich and luscious combination of flavours with this delectable homemade pear and chocolate sorbet. The iconic flavour pairing was first made famous by the artistry and creativity of Chef Escoffier. This godfather of chefs created the dish which combined pear, vanilla ice cream, chocolate and almonds. Variations can still be found today in fine dining restaurants but with my simple recipe you can bring this flavour pairing together in your own home. Bursting with natural flavours and velvety smoothness, this refreshing treat is a perfect blend of fruity sweetness and decadent chocolate. Get ready to tantalise your taste buds and embark on a delightful culinary journey.
To make this beautiful sorbet, you’ll need ripe pears, high-quality dark chocolate, sugar, a touch of lemon juice for a hint of tanginess and a little sugar. Begin by chopping and peeling (most of) the pears, removing the cores, and then gently simmer them in a saucepan with the sugar and water until they turn tender and fragrant.
Next, incorporate the chocolate and lemon juice and blend everything together until you achieve a velvety texture. Allow the mixture to cool before transferring it to your ice cream maker. Let the machine work its magic, churning the mixture into a heavenly sorbet.
If you don’t have an ice cream maker, fret not! Simply pour the mixture into a shallow dish and place it in the freezer. Every 30 minutes, take it out and vigorously stir the mixture to prevent crystallisation and ensure a creamy consistency. Repeat this process a few times until the sorbet reaches the desired texture.
The resulting homemade pear and chocolate sorbet is an unexpected joy. The natural sweetness of ripe pears pairs perfectly with the intense richness of dark chocolate, creating a harmonious balance. Each spoonful delivers a burst of fruity freshness followed by a velvety chocolate finish, leaving you craving for more.
This homemade pear and chocolate sorbet is not only a delightful treat for your taste buds but also a healthier alternative to many traditional desserts. Pears are packed with vitamins, fibre, and antioxidants, while dark chocolate contains beneficial compounds that promote heart health. With this sorbet, you can enjoy the goodness of real fruit and the indulgence of chocolate in an (almost) guilt-free way.
Serve this exquisite homemade pear and chocolate sorbet as a grown-up summer cooler or a refined dinner party course. Perhaps garnish with a sprinkle of flaked almonds or a few pear slices for an elegant presentation.
This pear and chocolate sorbet is a true delight that will leave you craving for more. So, grab your ingredients and unleash your inner Escoffier with this simple but refined delight.
Equipment: An Ice Cream Maker is optional for this recipe but if you don’t have one never fear. Get out your Blender and some basic equipment like a set of Electronic scales and a Resealable, freezer-safe container and follow the instructions below
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Homemade Pear and Chocolate Sorbet Recipe
Homemade Pear and Chocolate Sorbet
Equipment
- 1 Blender
- 1 Ice Cream Maker Optional (See recipe for a simple, manual alternative)
- 1 Resealable, freezer-safe container At least 1lt in size
Ingredients
- 360 grams Pear A sweet and juicy variety like Bartlett
- 170 ml Water
- 185 grams Sugar (Caster or superfine)
- 1.5 tsp Lemon juice (Fresh if possible, bottled will do)
- 85 grams Dark chocolate Grated
Instructions
Prep
- Core the pears and cut them into small (roughly 1 cm) cubes, leaving the skin on 1 for extra fragrance
- Weigh/ measure out the other ingredients
To Make
- Over a medium heat, cook all the ingredients, apart from the lemon juice and the chocolate, until the pears are soft when poked by a knife
- Add the grated chocolate and whisk well until incorporated
- Remove from the heat and pour into a bowl Use a blender to blitz the mixture until smooth. The smoother the puree, the smoother the final sorbet
- Add the lemon juice, mix and leave to cool. Place in an ice bath if you wish to speed up the cooling process (See notes)
- If using an ice cream maker, follow the user guidelines for best results. Eat immediately or for a firmer texture, place in a resealable, freezer-safe container and store in the freezer
- If making this recipe manually place in a resealable, freezer-safe container and place in the freezer for 1 hour. After the hour, remove from the freezer and mix well with a spatula or a spoon, making sure to scrape down the sides of the container. Repeat this every hour until the desired consistency is reached. Store in the freezer
To Serve
- Remove from the freezer 10-15 minutes before serving (depending on your ambient temperature) to allow the sorbet to soften slightly
Notes
- For this purpose, an ice bath is just placing your bowl inside a slightly bigger bowl with ice and/ or cold water at the bottom. Make sure not to overfill so the water doesn’t reach into the sugar syrup and stir occasionally until cooled