All you need to have on hand to make this delightfully simple and relatively wholesome dessert are two ingredients—pears and sugar (plus water). A melon baller makes quick work of coring pears, but a small spoon can be used instead.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 4
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Halve pears lengthwise; remove cores. Place sugar on a plate.
Step 2
Heat a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium. Press cut side of each halved pear in sugar, then place, cut side down, in skillet (fit will be snug). Cook (uncovered) until sugared sides are beginning to brown, 7 to 8 minutes.
Step 3
Pour water into skillet. Cover; simmer until pears are tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, 5 to 10 minutes (depending on ripeness), adding more water if sugar begins to burn. Remove pears from skillet with a slotted spoon.
Step 4
If liquid in pan is thin, simmer until thickened to a sauce-like consistency; if it is very thick, add more water. Serve sauce over pears.
