Christmas Countdown Recipes: Almond Pears

Kathy Tsaples

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And what better way to celebrate than with our first Christmas Recipe Advent Countdown! 9 days to go...

Our second Christmas countdown recipe - Almond Pears!

These beautiful delicacies are traditionally made in Greek islands such as Hydra and Mytilini. They are a celebratory treat offered at weddings and christenings. At christenings, we pin a pink or blue bow with a clove to the pears.

I always make a platter of Amigthalota Ahlathia (Almond Pears) for Christmas. I learnt to make these from my neighbours Milton and Dimi, as he is from Mytilini. Milton’s sister Alexandra also makes them.

Today I present on GCT, how to make the most delicious Almond Pears.

Ingredients

• 1 kg almonds, blanched, dried and ground
• 3 tbsp fine semolina
• 3 egg whites
• 3 tbsp honey
• 1  cup of rosewater
• 2  cups of caster sugar
• 25 g packet of vanilla sugar
• 2 cups of pure icing sugar
• cloves (as garnish)

Method

1. Dry the blanched almonds in the oven, then grind them finely in a food processor. Combine the egg whites (lightly beaten with a fork), almonds, semolina, caster and vanilla sugars, and half the rosewater in a bowl, and mix to make a pliable paste. Allow this mixture to rest overnight.
2. The next day, knead the paste again while adding in the honey. If the paste is too dry, add a little more rosewater. If it is too wet and can’t be moulded, add a little more semolina.
3. Preheat your oven to 180 ̊C.
4. Mould small amounts of the paste into pear-like shapes and add a clove on top. Bake for 15–20 minutes.
5. Once out of the oven, brush with rosewater and thoroughly cover with icing sugar.

Kathy Tsaples, living her ‘Sweet Greek’ dream

• Instagram: Sweet Greek Shop
• Facebook: Sweet Greek Shop
• Website: sweetgreek.com

Christmas Countdown Recipes:

• Galaktoboureko