Poached Apples and Pears in Orange Blossom Water
Serves 4
3/4 cup honey
1/3 cup orange blossom water
5 cardamom pods, or 1teaspoon ground cardamom
Salt
2 apples (Gala, or Golden Delicious), peeled, quartered, and cored
2 Bosc pears, peeled, quartered, and cored
4 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup toasted almonds, coarsely chopped
1) Choose a medium-sized saucepan in which to poach the fruit, and cut out a circle of parchment paper to fit just inside the pan.
2) In the saucepan, bring to a boil 4 cups water, the honey, orange blossom water, cardamom, and salt, stirring to dissolve the honey. Decrease the heat to a simmer. Add the fruit to the simmering liquid, and place the parchment directly on top of the fruit to cover. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is just tender, about 15 minutes.
3) To serve, place the fruit in bowls with a few tablespoons of the cooking liquid. Add a teaspoon of lime juice and a tablespoon of almonds to each bowl. Serve hot or cold.
