Ginger Pear and Almond Crumble

Scott and I have had an empty nest for over a year now and it has impacted us in several ways.  First and most obvious, the house is quieter. Some might say peaceful, others would get creeped out by the sheer lack of volume.

Second, our environs are cleaner (usually).  No shoes and backpacks lying around.  No dirty socks dribbling down the hall or piles of laundry laying in wait for my next load of whites.

Third, and most distressful for Scott, is that there’s no one else to blame for eating the last of the cookies, chips (insert addictive snack here).   If it wasn’t me — it had to be him.  I think that’s why he’s talked about getting a dog.

Case in point: this ginger pear and almond crumble.  I think I had two servings. (it makes 6).  Now I’m not pointing fingers, but if it wasn’t him, I think we should set out some big rat traps.  

I adapted this recipe from Maida Heatter’s recipe in her book Pies and Tarts.  The ginger gives what would be a ho-hum fruit dessert a warm, tingly kick. Crystallized ginger is the key.  It has an intense ginger flavor that turns up the volume of the pears.  

And the crumble is sublime – with sugar, butter, a little ground ginger and sliced almonds.  You’ll want a bit of this streusel-ly goodness with every bite of the fruit.   Serve this crumble hot from the oven, preferably with a scoop of vanilla.   Em – sorry, but you’re missing out!

Ginger Pear and Almond Crumble

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 279 kcal

Author: Maida Heatter

Crystallized ginger and ripe pears make an incredibly zingy combination.  

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Ingredients

• 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
• 3/4 cup almonds sliced
• 2 tablespoons crystallized ginger candied, finely minced
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 5 very firm Bartlett Comice or Anjou pears -- must not be overripe or soft
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8x8 baking dish with vegetable spray and set aside. Place the flour, sugar, ginger and butter into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer to a bowl and with your fingers, work the mixture, squeezing to create a lumpy, crumbly texture. Add the almonds and toss to combine. Refrigerate until ready to top the crumble.
2. Peel the pears and halve them with a sharp knife. Cut the halves in half again and remove the core and stem. Cut pears into thin slices lengthwise. Transfer pears to a large bowl and sprinkle with the lemon juice. Add the minced ginger and toss together. Sprinkle the pears with cinnamon and nutmeg.
3. In a small bowl, mix the water and cornstarch together to form a slurry. Pour over the pears and toss to coat the pears with the slurry and spices. Transfer the pears to the prepared baking dish.
4. Liberally sprinkle the almond topping over the pear filling. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour until the fruit is tender, but not mushy and the topping is a warm, golden color.
5. If the fruit is tender, but the topping is pale, place it under the broiler for 4-5 minutes to get a little color. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla or a drizzle of cream.

Nutrition Facts

Ginger Pear and Almond Crumble

Amount Per Serving

Calories 279 Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 7g 11%

Sodium 46mg 2%

Potassium 263mg 8%

Total Carbohydrates 51g 17%

Dietary Fiber 6g 24%

Sugars 27g

Protein 5g 10%

Vitamin A 4.3%

Vitamin C 7.7%

Calcium 5.2%

Iron 18.5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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