spiced poached fruit

frutta cotta speziata

TOTAL TIME: 35 minutes

MAKES: 4 servings

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Ingredients

1 (750-ml bottle) prosecco

1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped
2 tablespoons sugar

2 whole star anise

1 (2-inch) cinnamon stick plus more for garnish, if desired
2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns

2 bay leaves plus more for garnish, if desired

2 firm-ripe Bartlett pears, peeled, quartered and cored

1 Gala apple, peeled, quartered and cored

1/2 medium pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch cubes (2 cups)

Instructions

Bring wine, vanilla bean and seeds, sugar, star anise, cinnamon, peppercorns and bay leaves to a boil in a large, wide saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved.

Add pears, apple and 1 cup water; cover fruit directly with a round of parchment paper. Simmer, turning occasionally, until fruit is tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in pineapple and cook for 1 minute more.

Discard cinnamon and bay leaves from liquid; transfer fruit and liquid to a large bowl and cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Serve fruit with some of the liquid. Garnish with spices from fruit, and fresh bay leaves and cinnamon sticks, if desired.

October 2009