Pear and Fingerling Potato Ragout

 Marcus Samuelsson: Why He Loves Cooking Delicious, Quick Side Dishes

Yield:
4 to 6

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Ruby Port or Madeira

  • 1 cup dry red wine

  • 2 tablespoons honey

  • 2 sprigs fresh tarragon

  • 3 ripe but firm Bosc pears, peeled, halved and cored

  • 1 cup heavy cream

  • 1 cup chicken stock

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • 1/2 pound fingerling or Yukon Gold potatoes

  • 2 endives, trimmed, cored and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch wide strips

Directions

  1. Combine the port or Madeira, red wine, honey and tarragon in a medium saucepan. Add the pears and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the pears are slightly softened. Remove from the heat and let the pears cool in the cooking liquid.

  2. With a slotted spoon, remove the pears from the cooking liquid; set aside on a plate. Combine the cream, chicken stock, butter and 1 1/2 cups of the pear cooking liquid in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the liquid is reduced by half.

  3. Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a small saucepan, add salted water to cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat slightly and cook the potatoes for 18 to 20 minutes, until just tender. Drain and let cool slightly, then peel and cut into 1/4-inch thick rounds.

  4. While the potatoes are cooking, cut the pears crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices. Set aside.

  5. When the sauce has reduced, add the pears and potatoes and heat through. Fold in the endive and serve.

Serve With

Coffee-Roasted Duck with Pear and Fingerling Potato Ragu .

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